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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Ed h.
Hi I am disabled from a civil service job get disability from them but heard I am eligible to collect social security from my wife who is still working. Just need to know if it’s true and how I go forward with this. Thanks
Ed hoffman
L.A.
Hi Ed. Thank you for your question. You have the right to apply for spouses’ benefits, but if your pension from the the civil service was not covered by Social Security (did not pay Social Security taxes), then the government pension offset (GPO) provision may affect how much you can receive in benefits. 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.
Marie
I have a question. My husband is 70 and taking social security. Can I apply for 1/2 of his social security when I turn 66, next year, but delay my benefits until I turn 70. Then when I turn 70, can I switch to my benefit. My benefit at 66 would be greater than 1/2 my husband’s current benefit.
L.A.
Hi Marie. Thank you for your question. Please note that if you are eligible to receive 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 about your or your wife’s application, If you need to file an application with us, 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.
Linda B.
I was married for 10 years, divorced and never remarried. Am I eligible for my ex-spouses retirement benefit if it is higher than mine when I am ready to retire?
L.A.
Hi Linda. According to our rules, to be eligible to get Social Security benefits as a divorced spouse, you have to be 62 years old, must have been legally married to the worker for at least 10 years, and not be remarried. For more information about divorced spouses benefits here. We hope this information helps.
George L.
Who gets my SSI benefits when I die? My first or second wife?
L.A.
Hi George. If your first and second wife are receiving retirement benefits on each of their own earnings record, they can only apply for benefits as a widow or surviving divorced spouses if the retirement benefit amount they receive from Social Security is less than the benefits they would receive under your earnings record as a survivor. Generally, survivor’s benefits are paid at a higher percentage than regular spouse or divorced spouse benefits. Visit our Survivor’s Benefits web page for more information. We hope this helps.
Judith A.
I receive a CSRS retirement. I am 72 yrs old. I would like to receive social security benefits from my spouse because I did not pay into social security after 1981. I started to work for the federal government under the CSRS retirement program in 1981. I know there is a Windfall program but I am not sure if it would benefit me to try and claim on my spouse social security. How do I figure how much his social security would offset my annuity?
A.C.
Hi, Judith. A pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies, such as police officers and some teachers) may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your benefit can be reduced based on one of two provisions: The Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision(WEP). You can use the GPO Online Calculator to calculate benefits as a spouse if you are affected by the GPO. We hope this helps.
LJ Y.
Very upset and disappointed that you have to wait on line for like almost an hour…I hope my phone charge lasts…In the mean time I am trying to use your website…but I just clck a page and it came up UNSECURED…So I don’t feel comfortable using your website.
A.C.
We’re sorry that you had difficulty reaching someone by phone. We may have been experiencing higher than normal call volume. Representatives at our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), are available between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will generally have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day. Through our Blog, we respond to questions and provide general information on our Retirement, Survivors, Disability, Medicare and SSI programs. If you have a general question, we encourage you to ask here. But remember, never post personal information on social media.
We take protecting the public’s personal information very seriously. All of our online applications use an identity verification process to protect the privacy of your identity and your Social Security information. Our online services are safe and secure. Our links are legitimate and trustworthy. We can assure you that using our online services is safe and secure. You can safely create a my Social Security account to get estimates of your retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, and review your earnings record and the estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid. We hope this helps!
James L.
If my wife is 68 and starting to collect her benefits and I start to collect at 70 can she apply for spouse’s benefits
at that time
A.C.
Hi, James. Thank you 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.
Iris c.
When will I get my check for this month,
A.C.
Hi, Iris. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. 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 future pay dates, you may find the schedule of Social Security benefits payment calendar useful. We hope this helps.
Diane a.
My mom went on Ssi at 62 and my dad was 69 . My dad died at 72 which forced my mom to get a job after he died she then work until 92 and was wondering if she could collect hers instead because she would get more. She was on his at 62 can you please clarify
Thanks
BERNIECE j.
My husband and I need the new social security cards . Can you send us our new cards, please?
L.A.
Hi Berniece. Good news! You may be eligible to apply for a replacement Social Security card online. We hope this helps.