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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Kim T.
As what SSA is , one part of the federal government. As you find every way possible to not pay out SSA funds, by making the program as difficult as possible to understand. On the flip side the government cuts taxes to corporation a straight 15%. On top of every deduction possible, clearly the corporate welfare, far exceeds a fair and equal structure, favoring the rich. Until those who make these rules have to live by these rules , You will never know how much our quality of life goes to crap under these rules that are to by design discourage us from getting these benefits we paid for our entire lives.
Mark C.
Not much to say….
JoAnne K.
I think I qualify to receive ss benefits on my husband’s account. We’ve been married over 10 years. I have been receiving benefits on my own but believe I would receive more if I changed to his. Can you help me on this. I tried in the to do this past but was able to succeed.
A.C.
Hi, JoAnne. 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 usat 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.
eugene r.
if my wife did not apply for social security benefits and she died several years ago, can I receive the monthly benefits she would have received if she had applied during her lifetime.
A.C.
Hi, Eugene. We are sorry to hear about your loss. You are eligible to apply for survivor benefits when you reach age 60 (age 50 or over if disabled). You can find more information about survivors benefits here. We hope this helps.
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Patricia A.
I would like to know if when I turn 65,will I be able to draw more from my late husband
A.C.
Hi, Patricia. 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. We hope this helps.
Brenda L.
I receive SS Disability payments on a monthly.
I plan to marry soon and I need to know if I should die before my future husband, will he be eligible to receive my monthly SSD benefits?
A.C.
Hi, Brenda. Thanks for your question. You spouse may eligible to apply for survivor benefits at age age 60 (age 50 or over, if disabled). However, there are other factors that may affect entitlement to these benefits. You can find more information on survivors benefits here. We hope this helps.
Richard
Hello
i am trying to find out if my wife can get spouse support off of mine. Lets say i make 2000.00 a month . How much would she get..and would it effect mine
A.C.
Hi, Richard. 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 later on, she’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. Benefits paid to her as a spouse will not decrease your retirement benefit. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For Your 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.
Marie R.
Can you get benefits for a child who is deceased when the mother will recieve disability due to my lupus.. I will be filing I have lupus and CVID and depression, for losing my child. Help me pls!!
A.C.
Hi, Marie. We are sorry to hear about your loss and health condition. Social Security pays disability benefits to people if they have a medical condition that has prevented them from working or is expected to prevent them from working for at least 12 months. We use the same five-step process to make a decision on each application. We hope this helps.