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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Shirley S.
I’m widow I would like know if I can receive pension for my husband, how can I do for apply .
Thank you
L.A.
Hi Shirley. We are sorry for your loss. You may be eligible to receive survivors benefits, if you meet certain requirements. Please remember that we will always pay you on your own benefits first. If you are eligible to receive benefits as a surviving spouse, you will receive a combination of benefits that will equal the amount you could receive as a surviving spouse. For more information about survivors benefits, visit our Survivor Planner: If You Are The Survivor. You may also call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Sherry P.
How do I find out if my husbands benefit is greater than mine? I am retiring at age 62 at the end of 2020.
L.A.
Hi Sherry. For your security, we do not have access to your aunt’s 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. We hope this helps.
Ted T.
My partner of 37 years died in August 2018. He had been receiving social security disability since 2003. He was paralyzed and unable to speak from a stroke. I took care of him in our home for fifteen years until his death.
We were not allowed to be married until the laws changed but found that if we were to marry he would lose Medicaid and we would not be able to afford commercial healthcare for him. I am 71 and existing on reduced social security income due to having to retire early to take care of my partner. Am I not able to claim any spouse SSI assistance at all?
L.A.
Hi Ted. We are sorry to hear about the passing of your 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. For specific questions, 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.
Roy D.
I was laid off of work with IBM after being on there long term disability program of 2 years. I was allowed 30 days to look for work before being laid off at IBM.
Am I eligible for unemployment? I remain on SSDI I was placed on SSDI June 2015. I was laid off in June of 2017.. If I am eligible is it retroactive (to when)
L.A.
Hi Roy. Please note that for your security, we do not have access to your Social Security record in this forum. Please call our toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or follow up with your local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this helps.
Edward N.
MY WIFE DIED ON OCT. 5, 2019. She was receiving SS payments of $1,107.00 per month. Will I receive any of that money?
L.A.
Hi Edward. We are sorry to hear about your loss. You may be eligible to receive survivors benefits, if you meet certain requirements. Please remember that we will always pay you on your own benefits first. If you are eligible to receive benefits as a surviving spouse, you will receive a combination of benefits that will equal the amount you could receive as a surviving spouse. For more information about survivors benefits, visit our Survivor Planner: If You Are The Survivor. You may also 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. We hope this helps.
John K.
My wife passed away in 2017 when she was 65 years old. She was receiving 50% of my monthly benefits. She started receiving this when she was 63. Since she passed away will it affect (increase) the amount of my monthly benefits?
L.A.
Hi John. We are sorry for your loss. Please note that the benefits your wife used to receive do not affect the amount of benefits that you receive. Just so that you know, there will be a 1.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2020 for all beneficiaries. This new increase will take effect for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments on December 31, 2019, and for Social Security payments in January 2020. You can find out more information on the new COLA here. 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. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. We hope this helps.
Freddie
Hi
my spouse is 62 and qualifies for Social Security. I am 70 years old and do not qualify for Social Security. Can I file for my spouse half of my wife Social Security since she is 62 years old.
L.A.
Hi Freddie. Thank you for your question. Based on your note that you do not qualify for Social Security benefits under your own earnings record, it sounds like you may be receiving a pension not covered by Social Security (for example, federal civil service, and some State and local government agencies that do not pay Social Security taxes). You have the right to apply for spouses’ benefits, but if you are receiving a pension that was not covered by Social Security, then the government pension offset (GPO) provision may affect how much benefits you can receive. Please visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information. If your wife has not already done so, she can file for an application for retirement benefits online, and she can include you in her application as a spouse. 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. We hope this helps.
Stan M.
Your retirement conditions are not clear to the simple payout of benefits to my spouse at my death. No, reduced benefits. No, one receiving and the other not receiving. I simple want to know what she will get at my death. Both of us receive benefits taken at our benefit dates. Thanks
L.A.
Hi Stan. For information about survivors benefits, visit our Survivor Planner: If You Are The Survivor. However, please note that for your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. You may also 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. We hope this helps.
william g.
my wife is on ss disability now. when i retire will her benefit increase. she gets about $700 now
A.C.
Hi, William. Thanks for your question. For your wife to qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, if she qualifies for Social Security benefits on her own record, we pay that amount first. But if she also qualifies for a higher amount as a spouse, she’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. For more information, visit here. We hope this helps.
Steve L.
How do I apply for spousal benefit. My wife collects SS and I was born in 1953. I understand that I could collect 50% of her full SS until I apply for SS, plus the amount of 6 months prior
A.C.
Hi, Steve. If you were born before January 2, 1954 and have already reached full retirement age, you can choose to receive only the spouse’s benefit and delay receiving your retirement benefit until a later date. For more information, visit here. Retroactivity involves all months before the month of filing that a claimant is eligible to receive benefits. Generally, we allow retroactive payments up to 6 months for unreduced benefits. 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. We hope this helps.