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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Sharon K.
I am 65 and have been recieving widow benefits from my late husbands SS I think for the past 2 to 3 yrs. I am still working but my health has gotten worse and I was told to apply for disability. I don’t want to take a lower amount of benefits and don’t know what to do. I will turn 66 in Sept. Naturally I need to know what I will be getting monthly to figure my finances. I’m also afraid I’ll apply and have to go with the disability amount Just from applying instead of choosing myself what I need to do. Im afraid I’ll end up with a lesser amount. I have read so many things and am totally confussed. I did read that if you have taken widow benefits at age 62 and now retirement age is near, a person is better off just retiring from work because disability could be less than what I am getting now or at retirement. And when I turn 66 do I get 100% of my husbands SSI? Or am I getting it already? Thank you SHARON Borsch
My email is skborsch@yahoo.com if you can kindly respond to my letter.
V.V.
Hi Sharon, thanks for your questions. You can apply for Social Security disability benefits but you cannot receive both widow’s benefits and disability benefits, only the higher of the two. You will need to speak to a representative to ensure you’re receiving the highest benefit payable. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance 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.
yunhee l.
I’ve filed my spouse benefit on march 11 2020.at social security office.
I expect payment on June but I have not received yet.
On June 14th I received mail of disqualify.
Would you please help on this matter be greatly appreciated.
SS# *** – ** – ***
yunhee lee
K.O.
Hi, Yunhee. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can answer in this forum. 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 can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. The Social Security Offices are currently closed for face-to-face service during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope this helps.
Martin L.
My wife will be 62 in Feb. 2021 at which time she would receive 1226.00 per month ( early retirement ). I am 66 and will work until I’m 70 in Dec. of 2023. If my with takes early retirement, can she switch to spousal benefits when I retire and get 1/2 of my benefits ( which will be around 3460.00 per months ?
Thomas M.
My wife died in February and I need to know if I have ant benefits that I may have coming to me. And can I get a review of what I may have coming to me. I have her death certificate and our marriage license.
K.O.
Hi Thomas. We are very sorry to hear of your loss. If your wife worked long enough under Social Security, there may be benefits payable to survivors. You may be eligible for reduced widows benefits as early as age 60 (age 50 if disabled) and at any age if caring for the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or disabled and receiving benefits on the deceased’s record. Survivor benefit amounts are based on your wife’s earnings. The more she paid into Social Security, the higher the benefits would be. The benefits will not be established automatically, you will have to contact us. For additional information, visit our Survivors Planner.
To apply for survivor benefits, call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance 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.
Kathy L.
I will be 62 in Dec 2020 and I have 40 credits to collect SSA on my own earnings. If I collect my at 62 and my husband collects his at his full retirement age, when my husband dies will I get his full retirement amount or will I get a reduced amount since I’ve started collecting at age 62? Thanks.
Diane M.
I am stupid about What to do after my Husbands passing help me please
V.V.
We are very sorry for your loss, Diane. If your husband worked long enough under Social Security, there may be benefits payable to survivors. You may be eligible for reduced widows benefits as early as age 60 (age 50 if disabled) and at any age if caring for the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or disabled and receiving benefits on the deceased’s record. Survivor benefit amounts are based on your husband’s earnings. The more he paid into Social Security, the higher the benefits would be. The benefits will not be established automatically, you will have to contact us. For additional information, visit our Survivors Planner.
To apply for survivor benefits, call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance 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.
Pedro S.
I receive my retirement how many propertys can i have
V.V.
Hi Pedro, thanks for using our blog. Assets do not affect Social Security retirement benefits. However, if you’re receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a needs based program, a change in your income and assets can affect your benefits and it must be reported. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance 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.
Pedro S.
I’m retarded how many propertys can I have
Paula H.
I work for a municipality that has PERS retirement system. Someone told me if my husband passes before me I am not entitled to his social security. Is this true? I am worried about my future should that happen.
Lou A.
If the deceased spouse was on disability then was converted to full benefit after the age requirement and the surviving spouse took SS before full benefit age, what is the surviving spouse benefit ?
A.C.
Hi, Lou. Thanks for your question. The amount of a survivors benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of your spouse, when they started receiving their 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. 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). You can also learn more information about Survivors benefits here. If you have not reached the required age, you can also visit our page, “Survivor Planner: If You Are The Survivor,” for more information. We hope this helps!