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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Janet H.
At 65, I applied under my spouses social security. I am now almost 70 and would like to file for retirement under my own SS number. I got a letter today that said I could apply for this at social security.gov, but cannot find out where to do this. Could someone help me?
L.A.
Hi Janet. You can apply for Social Security retirement benefits using our internet application, in as little as 15 minutes. To get started, please go to our Retirement Benefits web page. You may also contact us by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. and ask a representative to assist you with an appointment. Finally, you may contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
deb
just sharing info
JOHN F.
WHAT IF MY SPOUSE AND I LIVED TOGETHER FOR FIFTEEN YEARS BUT WERE ONLY MARRIED GOING ON SIX YEARS?
L.A.
Hi John. For your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. You can read more about spouses’ benefits here. 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 also ask members of this forum not to post personal information, as this venue is a public domain and not secured. We hope this helps.
Michael A.
Is there a special benefit for my wife to draw from my PIA benefit?
L.A.
Hi, Michael. Please note that if your wife is receiving Social Security retirement benefits under her own record, we pay that amount first. If she also qualifies for a higher amount as a spouse under your earnings record, she 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.
Linda C.
My ex-husband recently passed away at 67 yrs. We were married 20 yrs. He never remarried.
How do I fill for benefits.
Do I need the death record?
L.A.
Hi Linda. For your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. Generally speaking, a divorced widow may be eligible for benefits if you were married to the deceased for 10 or more years, and are between ages 50 and 60. Also, if you qualify for Social Security benefits on your own record, we pay that amount first. But if you also qualify for a higher amount as a divorced spouse on your deceased ex-husband’s record, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. For more information, visit our internet page titled Benefits Planner: If You Are The Survivor. For specific questions about your case, please call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and ask to speak with a representative. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day. You may also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Sally C.
As a retired teacher I collect STRS retirement. My husband is retired and collects social security only
($2300 per month). I would like to know if/when he dies will I be able to collect his social security?
Kathy O.
How do I receive the benefits from my ex spouses Social Security benefits. I have been on Workmen’s Comp. for a year. I receive my own Social Security benefits each month. At this point, it does not look like I can get a job due to a physical restriction. Are there any other benefits that I am might be eligible
Cheryl D.
my husband receives police pension benefits 2,020,00 monthly and receives social security benefits of 433.00 monthly. I receive teacher retirement benefits 1,065.00 a month and social security benefit 1,199.00. these amounts are after tax and medicare. If I die first can my husband receive my S.S. benefit ? We both retired at age 62 before full benefit age 65.
Phillip M.
can I receive benefits from my deceased ‘domestic partner, who was receiving disability benefits?
L.A.
Hi, Phillip. We are sorry to hear about the passing of your domestic partner. We recognize same same-sex couples’ marriages in all states, and some non-marital legal relationships (such as some civil unions and domestic partnerships), for purposes of determining entitlement to Social Security benefits, Medicare entitlement, and eligibility and payment amount for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). For more information please take a look at our webpage for same-sex couples. When you are ready to make an appointment, please contact us by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M., or contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Margaret M.
I quit working and took my SS when I was 62.
My husband retired at 65. It’s been 5 years, can I get half of my retired 70 yr. old husbands SS. now?
I so what do I have to bring to the SS office to
get my SS increased?