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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Kathy W.
My husband is already receiving retirement benefits. He is also diagnosed with terminal cancer. I am 63 yrs and 6 mos. I would like to begin receiving benefits. If I receive spousal benefits and my husband dies before my FRA can I postpone receiving survivor benefits until I reach FRA? What is that process? Will I need to suspend spousal benefits at that time? I have searched through the benefits planner and cannot find the answer. My husband called SSA and after 3.5 hours on the phone including wait time did not receive a clear and definitive answer. Thank you for your help.
Kathy W.
I apologize for the repeat of the question.
Kathy W.
I am 63 years and 6 months. I am considering filing for retirement benefits. My spousal benefit is higher than my own. My husband has terminal cancer and is already receiving benefits. If I file for benefits now and then my husband passes away before my FRA can I delay filling for survivor benefits until my FRA or will my benefit automatically become a survivor’s benefit? If I can delay filling do I have to suspend the benefit I would be receiving at the time?
V.V.
Hi Kathy, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. Because there are many variables that you are inquiring about, visit the Survivors Planner: If You Are The Survivor and scroll down to the “A few other situations” section. That addresses the variables that you are inquiring about. We hope this is helpful.
Samuel R.
my E Mail, sammygromo@gmail.com if I marry a lady from Columbia and she has a social security working card and a permanent residentuial card. she is over 60. if I die will she be able to receive my social security income. she has been here for six months in U. S. thank you
Mai P.
I will be 66 in March 2020. My husband has collected his SSR benefit at age 66 in 2012. Can I apply for spousal benefit now and switch to my own SSR when I reach age 70.
A.C.
Hi, Mai. 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. We hope this helps.
Mai P.
Thanks for your speedy response. I need a clearer explanation. My husband is getting Social Security benefit now. For example, his SS benefit is $2000/mo. So to apply for spousal benefit, I would have $1000/mo (1/2 of his SS). I’m 66 now and when I reach to age 70, the SS benefits on my own record is about $2100/mo. Can I apply for the spousal benefit now and switch to my own SS benefits at age 70 which is higher than the spousal benefit?
Thanks again for your assistance.
Steve w.
My wife started drawing ss at 62 years of age, her full retirement is 66 and 2 months. Now that I am fully retired which was 66 years can she get 1/2 of my amount of 2640.00 which would be 1320.00 The ss office told her she could only get 1030.00 . Even if she waits until she is 65 would it stay the same amount of 1030.00 or could it go up to 1/2 of my amount?
Lois B.
Just to clarify- I want to start collected at age 65. I realize I will not get 100% of my own benefits, they will be reduced. Can I get the full 50% of what my husband is collecting? If he passes first, will I get the full amount of his check every month, or will that be reduced?
A.C.
Hi, Lois. If a person begins to receive benefits at age 62 or prior to their full retirement age, their benefits are reduced. The reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits to which the person may qualify. You may still be eligible to collect reduced benefits on your spouse’s record when you apply. Remember, when you qualify for Social Security benefits on your own record, we pay that amount first. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information. As far as widow’s benefits, the amount of your widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of your husband, when he started receiving his benefits, your age, and the amount of your own retirement benefit. We compare your own benefit with your potential survivor benefit. If your survivor benefit would be higher than your own current retirement benefit, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. For information about survivors benefits visit here. To learn how much you could be eligible for, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day. We hope this helps.
Colson
Hello how are you Comunidad a great article 2019
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JR
I would like to understand what happens to my benefits if I file on my own record at 62 (FRA is 67) my husband will delay his benefits until he is 67 or later, he is older than I am by a year and a half. So when he activates his record I would then be eligible for a higher spousal benefit but reduced. How can I determine what my new spousal amount at that point or what it would be if he delays later past his FRA age of 67? I’m trying to figure out why I wouldn’t receive half of his PIA
K.O.
Hi JR, thank you for reading our blog post. We will always pay a person’s own retirement benefit first. If their benefits as a spouse are higher than their own retirement benefits, they will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, keep in mind that a spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of the worker’s full retirement amount (not their reduced benefit amount). So, a person is only going to receive additional spouse’s benefits if their own full retirement benefit (not their reduced benefit) is less than half of their spouse’s full retirement benefit.
For example, if a worker’s full retirement benefit amount is $1,100, the spousal benefit is 50 percent of that, or $550. However, if that spouse is eligible for a full retirement benefit on their own record of $400, then their actual spouse’s benefit would be an additional $150 which equals that 50 percent. If the spouse waited until their full retirement age to file, they would receive one payment of $550, even though $400 was from their own retirement record and $150 was from their spouse’s record. Both the retirement and the spouse’s benefits are reduced if the individual files prior to their full retirement age.
beatrice
Hello,
how do i claim for my late husband social security benefit he died in 2018 and the family have blocked me from receiving it plus death certificate and was legally married to him.
kindly help am in Kenya and wish to get what is mine rightful.
K.O.
Hi, Beatrice. We are sorry to hear about your loss. Unfortunately, but for your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community continue to work with our offices with specific questions. Since you are outside of the U.S., you can contact your local Federal Benefits Unit. For additional information, check out our publication, Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States. We hope this helps.
Jackie
I am 65 and my full retirement age is 66. I do not plan on applying for my benefits until 70. My husband is drawing SS now. Can I draw half from his account and it not effect his amount and also not reduce my benefits when I start drawing on mine at age 70. If so when can I apply for half of his?