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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TERRY D.
I AM 64, TURNING 65 SOON. I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING SSDI FOR 10 YRS. I HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN ALSO RECEIVING 50% OF MY BENEFIT. THATS A TOTAL OF 150% OF MY BENEFIT. WHAT HAPPENS AND WHEN DOES MY DISABILITY TURN TO RETIREMENT. CAN MY WIFE THEN APPLY FOR SS ON MY RECORD?
Jacqueline
My mother is very ill and will leave behind her recent husband. She draws her deceased husband’s social security benefits which are twice as much as her recent husband. Will her recent husband be able to draw off the benefits she receives from her late husband?
brenna
hello
Robert H.
my wife is a permanent resident (not a USA citizen). she has green etc. (she is legal).
will she be eligible for spousal benefits?
please add this information to your website (if it is already there please unhide it)
Sharie
I’m trying to find out if COLA applies to spousal benefits. My husband started SS benefits at 70. I understand I can receive half of what he would’ve received at 66, if I start receiving SS at 66, but is there a COLA in that amount?
Sheila A.
My husband passed away last night. He wanted me to ;have his SSI instead of mine. How do I go about getting it?
Terry P.
my spouse took spousal benefit, but her own benefit amount exceeds her spousal benefit and she wishes to change to her full benefit now. She will turn 67 on 4/10/53. Can she do this?
Ryan W.
Our situation: both at full retirement age. I’m the primary income earner and if I delay taking my ss benefit, but my wife (1-1/2 years older than me) starts taking her much smaller benefit now, will hers STILL increase to the “spousal benefit” amount once I decide to start taking my own benefit? In other words will hers INCREASE to half of my benefit the moment I start mine? Or, is she stuck at her lower amount forever? Thank you for any info, or a link the the specific area at SS.gov where I can get an answer.
Jim
My social security benefit is considerably higher than my wife’s. I am deferring mine to age 70 but my wife has already claimed hers at, for example, full retirement age. If I pass away at, say, age 69 and haven’t claimed my benefit yet does my wife then assume my deferred benefit amount even though I had not yet claimed it? I understand that she continues to receive her benefit and any increase is deemed her spousal benefit. Thank you
pamela j.
spouse under 60, who was receiving ssi benefits, but had work at one time has died. am i entitled to any benefits based on his work history?
A.C.
Hi, Pamela. We are sorry to hear about your loss. If your spouse worked long enough to be insured under Social Security, you may be eligible for a Lump Sum Death Payment. In addition, eligible family members may be able to receive monthly Survivor benefits. At this time, we do not offer an online application for survivors benefits. To learn more about benefits that may be available to you, please visit here. If you have specific questions about your case or to apply, please call 1-800-772-1213 and ask a representative to assist you or you can contact your local office.