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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Loretta C.
My ex husband who I was married to 20 yrs is remarried. Could I receive any benefits from his Social Security income. I am not married, 71 yrs old and need extra income .
A.C.
Hi, Loretta. Thanks for your question. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years, and you cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. For more information, visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are Divorced. For specific questions, you can 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. We hope this helps.
Peter R.
My first wife passed away 16 months ago, if I remarry will my new spouse be eligible for my benefits if i die before she does
L.A.
Hi Peter. Please note that if your future wife is receiving her own Social Security retirement benefits, we pay that amount first. If she also qualifies for a higher amount as a surviving spouse, she will get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. For more information, visit our Benefits Planner: Survivors | If You Are The Survivor. If you have specific questions, please call us 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.
Linda H.
I am retired and draw my deceased husbands survivor as benefits. Can I now draw my on as and draw part of his as well? I’ll be 67 at the end of November.
L.A.
Hi, Linda. You may be eligible to receive your own Social Security benefits. However, please note that for your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. 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., for assistance. You may also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Karen E.
Hi I think it’s unfair that my husband social Security was taken away from me when he pass because I get more in my social Security then he does,that’s unfair he work for that and I work for mines
Jesse D.
My wife is 67 and doesn’t have enough ssi credits (lacks 4) I’m 64 and working, can she receive 1/2 of my SSi before I reach age 66 and what must we do for her to start receiving benefits? and will I receive less of my benefits at FRA because she’s getting half of mine? Thanks
Mary J.
I started collecting my social security at age 62 (I was born in 1951). My husband started receiving his social security also at 62 (he was born in 1939). My social security is higher than my husband’s social security. If my husband predeceases me do I get any portion of his social security in addition to me still collecting my own social security. If I predecease my husband does he get my total social security being mine is higher than his and does he still collect any part of his social security.
L.A.
Hi Mary. If your own benefits are higher than what you can receive as a surviving spouse, there is no additional payment. If you precede him in death, and his survivor benefits are higher than his own, he may 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.
Erma J.
My husband has a child out side of the marriage the child receive the benefits and we have one too that receive benefits so when one of the kids come off can I receive it this is s a bad deal for me most of our 28 years of marriage I didn’t work out side of the home I’m 64 and my husband is 68 years old .do I have any option
L.A.
Hi Erma. Please note that for your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. 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. You will find information about family benefits here. We hope this helps.
Joanne j.
How can I find out if I can get my xspouse’s soc.security payment….RICHARD FRANCIS KIPP. DATE OF BIRTH;
7/18/33. Married in Olympia WA. DIVORCED 10/23/98
L.A.
Hi Joanne. Please note that for your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. 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., for assistance. You may also contact the local Social Security office. For more information about how to qualify divorced spouse benefits, please visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are Divorced. We hope this helps.
Karen E.
I think it’s unfair that my husband social Security was taken away from me when he pass because I get more in my social Security then he does,that’s unfair he work for that and I work for mines and I should be able to receive is after he passed who ever made that decision they need to change because it not fair to the spouse at all is money is going to someone else.
Linda L.
If your spouse dies first, do you receive only his benefit and not your own if yours is smaller?
Can you pick which husband to get benefits after death if you have had more than one and they dieA
When you get ss disability, do you still get your soc sec check also?
L.A.
Hi Linda. Thanks for your questions. First, when we calculate your survivors benefit amount, we take into consideration if you are eligible to receive your own Social Security retirement benefits. If you are eligible to receive your own Social Security benefits, we pay that amount first. Then, if you also qualify for a higher amount as a surviving spouse, you will get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. For information about survivors benefits, visit our Survivor Planner: If You Are The Survivor. Second, if you are eligible for survivors benefits on more than one husband, you have the option to choose from which record to receive. Finally, if you are receiving disability when you reach full retirement age, we will automatically convert your disability benefits to retirement benefits, but the benefit amount remains the same. We hope this helps.