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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diane
my husband is 62 and filing for retirement benefit i am 50 and still working can i apply for spouse benefits off of his as well?
Vonda V.
Hi Diane, thank you for your question. For you to qualify for spouse’s benefits on your husband’s record, you must be 62 or older and your husband must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, if eligible, you must file for Social Security retirement benefits on your own record first. If you also qualify for a higher amount on your husband’s record as a spouse, you may be able to get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information.
Nancie N.
I am 64 in August and husband will turn 59 in November. He is still employed and has higher projected benefits than I do. Can I claim a spouse benefit or does he also have to be retirement age? DOeshe have tome collecting benefits himself as well?
John P.
I began collecting SS at age 62. My wife began collecting SS at 62, 3 yrs after me. My benefit is about $500 more than hers. Is she entitled to a spouse benefit at this time?
Vonda V.
Hi John, thank you for your question. 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. Benefits are reduced if the individual files prior to their full retirement age.
Check out our Benefits Planner: Benefits for you as a Spouse for additional details.
imtiyaz K.
my name is imtiyaz.i have a quation about my wife disabled social security benefits. right now i have a laid off my part time job. and one part time job is still working. so i apply my unemployment. so i receive my unemployment after my wife social security are same or close?
Linda
I’m 65 I have been receiving his Social Security, however in 6 months I will been 66 and his been afforded a job cooking how much and I make monthly.
Vonda V.
Hi Linda, thank you for the question. When you reach full retirement age, your earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn.
Also, as long as you continue to work and receive benefits, we will check your record every year to see whether the additional earnings will increase your monthly benefit. If there is an increase, we will send you a letter telling you of your new benefit amount.
For more details, visit our Getting Benefits While Working web page.
Donna Y.
My husband passed on April 17. . I have been collecting ss based on my own salatry as it was slightly higher than half of his. How will the benefits be calculated.How and where do I apply for spousal benefits?
Vonda V.
We are very sorry for your loss, Donna. Typically, if you file for a widow’s benefit at your full (survivors) retirement age or older, you’ll receive 100% of the deceased worker’s benefit amount. If you file for a widow’s benefit and you’re under your full retirement age, you’ll receive about 71 to 99 percent of the worker’s benefit amount. To apply for widow’s benefits, you need to make an appointment by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Charlotte P.
My husband died 10/29/2019 after 40 years of marriage. At that time, we both were retired. He only received a small SSI check each month due to most of his employed years with our county putting funds into a pension and not SS. Am I entitled to any spousal support and, if so, how do I apply?
Thank you
Joan
A friend of mine husband passed away 3 months ago. He was 77 and she’s 52. Her husband was married before and has been divorce for 20 years. His ex wife is 68 yrs old. He and his new wife has been married for 5 yrs. My question is, who is entitled to his widows benefits, his ex wife or his second wife (1) If it is his 2nd wife when will she be entitled to collect SS benefits?
(2) Is the first wife entitle to any widows benefits and why?
I believe the ex wife is already collecting her own retired SS benefit, but a lower amount.
Dania M.
Hello, my mom has to establish presence in US every 6 months to received her benefits, but by now the SSA offices are closed and the bordes are closed so she is not able to come to U.S for the actual situation that is causing the COVID pandemia, she should be at US in may to not lose her benefits, and the order of stay home is been extended until the end of may, what she needs to Prevent the suspension. Thank you.
M. S.
My husband died in 2018 and had been collecting disability benefits. I will retire in three years, at age 65.
According to my local SSN representative, I can begin to collect my own at that age, approximately $1550/mo. and then switch over to the Widow benefit in 12/24 (I will be 66 and 4 months) at $2024.00. Is this the correct path I should take?
Thank you,
Vonda V.
Hi there, M. Sullivan. Thank you for using our blog. It’s a personal decision based on your situation and, ultimately, it’s your choice. The Social Security representative gave you the options and you now get to decide what’s best for you. Our Benefits Planners are also very helpful.