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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John H.
In 2 months I will be eligible to collect my late Wife’s Social Security benefits that remain. My research shows I can’t do that on line. My question is how can I file with all of the offices being closed.
Vonda V.
Hi John, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. You are correct, you cannot apply for survivor benefits online. To schedule a telephone appointment, please call 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.
E M.
I’m 72 and receiving full retirement benefits, Do I qualify for additional spouse benefits? Wife is 61, considering early retirement at 62.
Thank you.
Vonda V.
Hi there E Miller. For you to qualify for spouse’s benefits on your wife’s record, your wife must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information. We hope this helps.
Ben D.
If my wife takes her SS early would she get my full SS when I die?
Vonda V.
Hi Ben, thanks for your question. Typically, a widow or widower at theirfull (survivors) retirement age or older generally receives 100% of the deceased worker’s amount. A widow or widower under their full retirement age receives about 71 to 99 percent of the worker’s benefit amount, and a widow or widower with a child younger than age 16 receives 75 percent of the worker’s benefit amount. For more information about how much your benefit would be, visit our Survivors Planner.
VELMA M.
Will I get 100% of his because he passed at 72 yrs. old and I am now 71. Will I get 100% of his and mines to.
Vonda V.
Hi Velma, thank you for your question. Typically, a widow or widower at full (survivors) retirement age or older generally receives 100% of the deceased worker’s amount. We are only going to pay the highest benefit amount from either record, meaning you don’t get both retirement and widow(er)s benefits but the higher of the two.
For more information about how much your benefit would be, visit our Survivors Planner.
Thelbert S.
wife died, like to end her SS payment.
Vonda V.
Hi Thelbert. We are very sorry for your loss. Typically, the funeral director notifies us of an individual’s passing by contacting the local Social Security office. To verify this information was reported, call 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.
See our Factsheet on How Social Security Can Help When a Family Member Dies.
Patricia B.
If my husband receives civil service pension and I have Social Security disability income how will this affect my husband if I die before him and I will my benefit reflect if he dies before me
VELMA M.
My husband just passed. Will I get his or will I get his and mine?
Constance D.
As the first wife (others have passed) can i apply for my ex husbands benefits? he is 67 but still working.
Vonda V.
Thank you for your question, Constance. If you are divorced and currently unmarried, you may be able to receive benefits on your ex-spouse’s record if your marriage lasted 10 years or longer. See our Retirement Planner: If You’re Divorced for other eligibility requirements and more detailed information.
If your ex-spouse qualifies for retirement benefits but hasn’t applied, you may be able to receive benefits on their record if you have been divorced for at least two years. We hope this information is helpful.
Constance D.
my ex husband is single and over 65, and still works. Can i draw off his soc. sec.
Linda M.
My husband passed away in February 2019, I am drawing off of his social security, if I get remarried will this change? I am 62 years old
Vonda V.
Hi Linda, thank you for the question. Widows that remarry after age 60 (age 50 if disabled), may continue to qualify for benefits on their deceased spouse’s Social Security record. If your new spouse is a Social Security beneficiary, you may want to apply for spouse’s benefits on that record. If that amount is higher, you may be entitled to the higher amount, based on both records. Generally, you must be married for one year before you can get spouse’s benefits.
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page to see how marriage can affect Social Security benefits. We hope this helps!