Understanding Spouse’s Benefits
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: May 25, 2021
Marriage is a cultural institution that exists all over the world. Having a partner means sharing many things including a home and other property. Understanding how your future retirement might affect your spouse is important. When you’re planning for your fun and vibrant golden years, here are a few things to remember:
Your full spouse’s benefit could be up to 50 percent of your spouse’s full retirement age amount if you are full retirement age when you take it. If you qualify for your own retirement benefit and a spouse’s benefit, we always pay your own benefit first. You cannot receive spouse’s benefits unless your spouse is receiving his or her retirement benefits (except for divorced spouses). If you took your reduced retirement first while waiting for your spouse to reach retirement age, when you add spouse’s benefits later, your own retirement portion remains reduced which causes the total retirement and spouses benefit together to total less than 50 percent of the worker’s amount. You can find out more on our website.
On the other hand, if your spouse’s retirement benefit is higher than your retirement benefit, and he or she chooses to take reduced benefits and dies first, your survivor benefit will be reduced, but may be higher than what your spouse received.
If the deceased worker started receiving reduced retirement benefits before their full retirement age, a special rule called the retirement insurance benefit limit may apply to the surviving spouse. The retirement insurance benefit limit is the maximum survivor benefit you may receive. Generally, the limit is the higher of:
- The reduced monthly retirement benefit to which the deceased spouse would have been entitled if they had lived, or
- 82.5 percent of the unreduced deceased spouse’s monthly benefit if they had started receiving benefits at their full retirement age (rather than choosing to receive a reduced retirement benefit early).
Knowing how your finances affect your spouse’s can help both of you avoid future impacts on your incomes. When it comes to information, we have over 80 years of experience. Access a wealth of useful information by visiting our benefits planners.
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Tags: retirement, Social Security benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Pat C.
I took early benefits at age 62 last year. My husband filed at age 66 for benefits.
Should I file for spousal benefits now? And if so, it’s it correct that I will only receive the higher of the two benefits?
L.A.
Hi Pat. Thank you for your question. Please note that since you are receiving Social Security retirement benefits on your own record, we pay that amount first. If you also qualify for a higher amount as a spouse, you will get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. Please visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information. For specific questions, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. We hope this helps.
Paul C.
OK, it’s true that I had not yet had my coffee when I tried to read this but I’ll bet that 99% of the people who read this article will not have a clue about how this all works. Sorry to say that this is probably one of the worst explanations I’ve seen concerning spouse benefits. Please try again and then hand what you have written to the first 10 people you meet at a Starbucks and ask them for their thoughts.
PEGGY B.
I never knew there was such a thing.
Can you collect on years missed?
L.A.
Hi, Peggy. We apologize, but your concerns are a bit more complex than we can address in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. If you are receiving Social Security benefits, we ask that you continue to work with your local Social Security office on specific questions about your case. You can also call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), from Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Luís S.
I am retired and with more than 65 years old; receiving now Medicare and a monthly check of Ss. My question is if I get married with a personnd who did not paid SS whilel she worked (Puerto Rico).. How will affect my status.
A.C.
Hi, Luis. If you receive retirement or Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, your marriage will not affect your benefit. If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), widow or widower’s benefits, your marriage may affect your benefit. To learn more about how marriage affects benefits, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
David M.
How can my adult son, who is now a widower at age 53, find out what his benefit will be at age 60 from his recently deceased wife’s earnings? Should we visit an SSA office?
A.C.
Hi, David. We’re sorry to hear about your loss. To learn how much he could receive, he can call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Generally, he will have a shorter wait time if he calls later in the day. For more information, he can also visit our Survivor Planner: If You Are The Survivor. Thanks!
Mik C.
Hi my wife is receiving $2,834.30 minus $135. for medicare part B. which leaves $2698. Am I entitled to a spousal benefit of 1/2 ?
Mik Cribben 917-513-3795
L.A.
Hi Mik. Thank you for your question. Please note that if you qualify to receive benefits under your own record, we pay that amount first. If you also qualify for a higher amount as a spouse, you will get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. Please visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information. For specific questions, please call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. We hope this helps.
nancie C.
my husband died oct.2 2019, will he get an oct. check
L.A.
Hi Nancie. We are sorry for your loss. Social Security benefits are paid the month after they are due. Based on the date of death, your husband was due the payment but since his death occurred before the payment date, his benefits may be returned. In some instances, the financial institution will automatically return payments upon notification of the beneficiary’s death.
We may pay amounts due a deceased beneficiary to a family member or legal representative of the estate. You may also be eligible for the Lump-Sum Death benefit of $255 (a one-time payment) and monthly survivor benefits. To determine if you are eligible, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. For more information, check out our publication, How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies. We hope this helps.
Evento M.
I have a question. My wife died in 2016 so she stopped receiving her pension after that. My question is: As a surviving spouse, am I entitled to receive part of her pension?
Thank you for your reply.
Evento Magno Villarin Senires
L.A.
Hi Evento. We are very sorry for your loss. For your security, we do not have access to information about your case in this venue. Please call our toll-free telephone number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. You may also contact your local Social Security office for specific questions. For more information on about survivor benefits, please visit our Survivors Benefit Planner. We hope this helps.
Daniel R.
My wife was getting spousal benefit but doesn’t appear to be receiving them now as her paymenthas decreased. Do the spousal benefits only last so long?
L.A.
Hi Daniel. Unfortunately, but for your and your wife’s security, we do not have access to your wife’s personal information in this forum. In her situation, we recommend she calls our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), from Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. She may also contact her local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this helps.
Marsha L.
I am 70 years old and receive a spouses ss benefit. If I were to remarry, will I lose this?
L.A.
Hi Marsha. If you receive retirement or Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, your marriage will not affect your benefit. If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), widow or widower’s benefits, your marriage may affect your benefit. To learn more about how marriage affects benefits, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.