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.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: retirement, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Robert
My wife is a recent permanent resident who is over 65 years of age. She ha never worked in the United States. I have worked here in the U.S.my entire life. I am collecting social security benefits . Is she entitled to collect spousal benefits? If she collects spousal benefits, does that reduce my benefits?
A.C.
Hi, Robert. Thanks for your questions. You should know that even if you wife never worked, she may be able to get spouse’s benefits. To learn more about spouse’s benefits, please visit here. Benefits paid to her as a spouse will not decrease your retirement benefit. We hope this helps.
Frederick P.
My wife passed away in Oct.2013.
I am collecting SS at this time.
How can I receive the SS benefit my wife paid during her working time?
A.C.
Hi, Frederick. We are sorry to hear about your loss. In order for you to be eligible for survivor benefits, your wife must have worked long enough to be insured under Social Security. To learn more about benefits that may be available to you, please visit here. If you have specific questions about your situation, please work with your local office for assistance. We hope this helps.
Barbara S.
I receive SSI for a disablity. Iwas told I have to file for spousal benefits at age 62, is this right?
A.C.
Hi, Barbara. Thanks for your question. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, your husband must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, when 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 spouse, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information. For specific questions, please 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.
Sherri W.
I am retired and would like to start receiving spousal benefit how do I find out about this. Is there a form on line I can fill out and submit I live over 45 miles away from the closet ssi office.
A.C.
Hi, Sherri. Thank you for your question. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, your husband must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, when 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 spouse later on, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information. For specific questions, please 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.
Betty w.
My husband started drawing soc..sec.in 2012 he had to retire because of health problems someone told me that I should be drawing a check to is that correct
A.C.
Hi, Betty. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, your husband must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, when 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 spouse later on, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information. For specific questions, please 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.
Bonnie
Hi. I am currently on my spouses social security benefit. I turn 70 in April 2020. How and when do I file for my own social security benefit??
A.C.
Hi, Bonnie. Social Security retirement applications can be filed up to 4 months in advance. Since you are already receiving benefits, you can schedule an appointment with your local office to file for benefits on your own record by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. We hope this helps.
Kathleen D.
My mother passed away November 19, 2019. She had a funeral plan for $5,000 She was on Medicaid and lived in a Long Term Care Facility before her death. Her funeral expenses were $7153.14. Does Social Security have any death benefits? Her husband died 5 years ago. The funeral cost expenses were $2153.14. Of course she did not have enough to pay that. Will Social Security pay for this?
A.C.
Hi, Kathleen. We are sorry to hear of your loss. Social Security does not pay burial expenses. The Lump-Sum Death benefit of $255 (a one-time payment) may be payable upon the death of a person who has worked long enough to be insured under Social Security. Only eligible family members may be able to receive the one-time payment and monthly survivor benefits. For more information, please see our publication, How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies. We hope this helps.
Beverley
If a married couple are in their 50s and the wife dies. Does the husband get any of her social security at anytime in his lifetime? Or, does he get just his when he reaches retirement age.
A.C.
Hi, Beverly. An individual is eligible to apply for survivor benefits when they reach age 60 (age 50 or over if disabled). A widower’s benefit is based on several factors, including: his wife’s earnings, when your she started receiving benefits, his age at the time of his wife’s death, and the amount of his own retirement benefit. We compare his benefit with his potential survivor benefit. If his survivor benefit is higher than his own current retirement benefit, he would still be eligible for survivors benefits. You can find more information on survivors benefits here. We hope this helps.
Sunda S.
my spouce is of age and receiving full benefits,I will be 62 in 3 mo. can I receive spoucal benefits?
A.C.
Hi, Sunda. Thanks for your question. Thank you for your question. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, your husband must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. 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 spouse, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. For more information, visit here. We hope this helps.
Kenneth B.
I went on total disability at age 55 i am now 72 my spouse is 77. If i die will she receive my full benefit?
A.C.
Hi, Kenneth. Thanks for your question. The amount of your wife’s potential widow’s benefit would be based on several factors, including: your earnings, when you started receiving your benefits, her age, and the amount of her own retirement benefit. We compare her own benefit with her potential survivor benefit. If her survivor benefit would be higher than her own current retirement benefit, she would be eligible for survivor benefits. For specific questions, please 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.