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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Richard
How do i apply for spouse support
A.C.
Hi, Richard. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, your spouse 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. We hope this helps.
James A.
I elected to take early social security at 62 and was married for over 10 years and am now divorced am I entitled to any of my ex wife’s social security benefits besides mine.
A.C.
Hi, James. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years, and you cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. For more information on how to qualify for divorced spouse benefits, visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are Divorced. We hope this helps.
Timothy M.
I am 73, wife of 35 years is 61. I am retired federal worker on CSRS. I am working part time now to get to 40 qtr’s. to draw social security, even though it will be a reduced amount because of my CSRS. My wife will draw SS at some future date. Once i reach 40 qtr’s, I will apply for SS. But could I not work anymore toward the 40 qtr’s and wait for my wife to retire and draw SS and apply as a spouse and get 50% of her SS amount??
A.C.
Thanks for your question, Timothy. Keep in mind, we reduce spouse’s benefits if you also get a pension based on your own federal, state or local government work not covered by Social Security. A pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies) may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your benefits can be reduced based on one of two provisions. Your own Social Security benefit can be reduced based on the Windfall Elimination Provision. Your spouse’s under Social Security may be affected by the Government Pension Offset. 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. We hope this helps.
L B.
My husband died at 47, (I was 46) he was on d’s disability at the time. I was still working at that time but since have lost my job (I am now 49) wpuld I be eligible for his ss now?
A.C.
Hi. 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). For more information about widow’s benefits, check out our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Nancy J.
I am 66 and I have signed up to receive my retirement payments in January. My husband will be 66 in July. Do we qualify for file and suspend.
A.C.
Hi, Nancy. Under the new law, you can still voluntarily suspend benefit payments at your full retirement age (FRA) in order to earn higher benefits for delaying. But during a voluntary suspension, other benefits payable on your record, such as benefits to your spouse, are also suspended. And, if you have suspended your benefits, you cannot continue receiving other benefits (such as spousal benefits) on another person’s record. For more information, visit here. We hope this helps.
Daniel D.
I am 65 and currently working. Wife is 66 and not working but collecting her ss benefit. Can she collect my ss benefit(higher amount) while I am still working. Thank You
A.C.
Hi, Daniel. 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. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For Your Spouse for more information. We hope this helps.
Sandra T.
Can I check to see if my ex husband is getting social security. If he is I’d like to sign up to get added social security from his. He is still living I was married to him 22 years.
A.C.
Hi, Sandra. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years, and you cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. For more information on how to qualify for divorced spouse benefits, visit here. 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.
Carolyn A.
Can I collect a portion of my deceased spouse social security and still be employed.?I am 60 yrs
A.C.
Hi, Carolyn. You can still work and receive your Social Security survivors benefits at the same time. However, if you are younger than full retirement age and make more than the yearly earnings limit, we will reduce your benefit. If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, we deduct $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2020 that limit is $18,240. For more information about survivor benefits and working, visit here. If you have additional specific questions, you can call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and speak with one of our representatives. Thanks!
gary m.
my wife and i both have united health care aarp medicare advantage. why does she have a premium for medicare medical insurance of 157.90 and mine is 144.60. why does she also pay a premium for part D of 25.70 and mine is 0. she retired with hers and some of mine @ 62 so we had expensive insurance on her till she was 65 and received medicare and AARP medicare advantage. i don’t understand the difference. as a side note i like talk to a person and can never get through. thank you
A.C.
Hi, Gary. 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 and your wife 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.
Judith M.
I receive surviving spouse benefits but have never received my own benefits. My understanding is age 70 mine will continue to grow, is this true? and if yes, how can I get an estimate of that benefit?
I am still working and still contributing.
A.C.
Hi, Judith. You will automatically earn Delayed Retirement Credits if you withhold receiving benefits until the age of 70. Delayed retirement credits are added for months of non-payment between full retirement age and age 70. For specific questions about your record, 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.