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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pamela b.
I have a question. I am 71 and my husband of 33 years passed away 15 years ago. I am getting my social security. I was wondering (I have heard) am I entitled to getting a portion of his social security benefits? Please let me know and if I am how I go about applying for this benefit. Thank you.
L.A.
Hi Pamela. We are sorry for your loss. Please note that for your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. Typically, a surviving spouse is eligible for benefits under her/his deceased spouse’s earnings record. For more information see our Widows and Widowers information on the internet. In your situation, please call 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. You may also contact the local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Claudette S.
When a spouse dies, where does their ss benefit go?
If the surviving partner has their ss income, who receives the expired spouse’ ss income?
In an honest system, the surviving spouse would get both. After all, ss is EARNED monies and NOT an entitlement as our elected leaders assume.
When people are married and both are on ss income, this income is based on a livelihood for TWO. When one dies, the survivor is reduced to one income which creates a hardship. This is overlooked by the SS Administration and our Congress. Why? Please explain.
Virginia F.
My husband has died and I am not certain how that will affect my monthly income. The funeral director said that Social Security will be notified of my husband’s passing. I elected to receive my own reduced Social Security benefits at age 62. My husband continued to work until he was past age 70 and received his full benefits; he was 87 at the time of his death. I am 79 years old at present. What must I do now?
paul p.
how can i find out my spouses benefit when i die ?
L.A.
Hi Paul. On our internet page titled Benefits Planner: Survivors | Planning For Your Survivors, you will find information about benefits for survivors. For specific questions, please call 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. You may contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
MFailor
1. Assuming retired US citizen worked over 50 years and does not take full retirement until age 70 (actual retirement age 66), is the SS payment at 70 based on 8% compounded annually since age 66 for each years total or collectively at 32% additional at age 70?
2. Does the widow benefit taken on the spouse’s SS# (at the retired widows age of 62–obviously they received lesser benefits on widowed surviving spouse) but does that interfere with what the individual will receive on their own SS payout at 70 years of age? This assumes the individual surviving widow will now switch their benefits to receiving their own SS on their work record (compounded 8%annually at age 66 to age 70) and no longer receive widow benefits.
L.A.
Hi Mfailor. Thank you for your question. For your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. On our internet webpage, you can find information about Delayed Retirement Credits. Please visit our Retirement Planner: If You Are The Survivor for more information. For specific questions, please call us at 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. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. You may also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Steve M.
Who is getting,( Mining) all the bitcoin, produced by the government’s efficiency, when it goes paperless? Should this defray SSN’s cost and that cost savings be reallocated to SSN Beneficiary Account? This would be a way to keep SSN solvent longer? Forgive me, if this idea is not possible, I’m still learning how BitCoin and other forms of alt currencies work?
Robert L.
I stoped working at 63 my wife at 67 how does that come out if one of us dies first ?
Russell t.
Here’s an issue I’ve had, I took my widowers benifit 5 years ago, at time I was still working, but was not told at time I would have be on limited income myself to receive, at time I took mine at 63, I was informed and have since been having an extra 100 a month they take out of mine by gov. So I assume that even now in full retirement st 66, I’ll nit be able to draw that when repaid. As my SS is all the income I have now it isn’t easy to live on 1177.00 month. Certainly doesn’t seem fair.
L.A.
Hi Russell. Unfortunately, but for your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. For specific questions about your account, please call 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. You may also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Marjorie R.
I have applied for spousal benefits this year and I need to know if I can also collect unemployment during this time? I have recently left my job. So I do have earnings for the year. Am I allowed to collect unemployment for the next 2 months.
L.A.
Thanks for your question, Marjorie. Unemployment insurance benefits are not counted under the Social Security annual earnings test and therefore do not affect your receipt of Social Security benefits. For more information about receiving Social Security and unemployment at the same time, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps
Anita d.
I retired at 63 spouse at 62 I make a larger amount than he does. If he dies before me will I get part of his social security amount.?
L.A.
Hi Anita. The amount that you might receive as a widow is based on several factors, including: the earnings of your husband, when he started receiving his benefits, your age, and the amount of your own retirement benefit. We compare your own benefit with your potential survivor benefit. If your survivor benefit is higher than your own current retirement benefit, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. For information about survivors benefits, visit our Survivor Planner: If You Are The Survivor. For specific questions, you can call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day. We hope this helps.