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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Tina H.
My husband passed away September 14,2019. I married him on August 1, 2004. His name is Dr. Thomas Milach Nosser. I am Tina Irene Hemphill Nosser.
V.V.
We are very sorry for your loss, Tina. The amount of a widows benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of the person who died, when the deceased worker started receiving their benefits, the widow’s age, and the amount of the widow’s own retirement benefit. We compare their own benefit with the potential survivor benefit. If the survivor benefit would be higher than their own current retirement benefit at the time of their spouse’s passing, they would be eligible for survivor benefits.
Typically, a widow or widower at full (survivors) retirement age or older generally receives 100% of the deceased worker’s amount, a widow or widower under 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 widow’s benefits, visit our Survivors Planner.
To make an appointment to file for widow’s benefits, call us at 1-800-772-1213 or contact the local Social Security office. 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.
Ronald B.
I am retired military 66 years old receiving Medicare A and B and TRICARE for life. My wife will be 65 next month and has never worked, can she get the same Medicare coverage that I have. How can she qualify for 50 percent of my Social Security since she has never worked?
V.V.
Hi Ronald, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. Even if your spouse has never worked under Social Security, your spouse may be able to get benefits if they are at least 62 years of age and you are receiving or eligible for retirement or disability benefits. Your spouse can also qualify for Medicare on your record at age 65. Also, if your wife is eligible for Social Security retirement benefits on her own record, we pay that amount first. But, if she also qualifies for a higher amount on your record as a spouse, she 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.
Your spouse can apply online by using our Social Security Retirement/Medicare Benefit Application to apply for retirement, spouse’s, divorced spouse’s or Medicare benefits.
Peter
If my wife and I sign up for ss at the same time, do we both receive our estimated monthly amount or is it adjusted. If I am to receive $2,600.00 per month and her statement shows she would receive $2,000.00 per month would we receive $4,600.00 per month?
V.V.
Hi Peter, thank you for your question. There is no marriage penalty or limit to benefits paid a married couple. If you are married and you and your spouse have worked and earned enough credits individually, you will each get your own Social Security benefit. So, for example, if you are due a Social Security benefit of $1,200 per month and your spouse is due a Social Security benefit of $1,400 per month, the two of you will get $2,600 per month in retirement benefits. We hope this helps!
Robert A.
I have a question.
My wife and I are both 67 years old. We have applied for and received social security benefits for several years. If I remember correctly we did that at age 63.
Anyway, I receive a monthly benefit amount that exceeds my wife’s monthly benefit amount.
If I die, does she begin to receive my higher monthly benefit amount?
V.V.
Hi Robert, thank you for your question. Your wife’s survivor amount is based on your earnings. The more you paid into Social Security, the higher her benefit will be. If you are already receiving reduced benefits when you die, survivors benefits are based on that amount.
Widows benefit are payable as early as age 60 (for a reduced benefit) or a full widows benefit at full retirement age or older.
Use our Survivors Planner to look at how your family members are protected if you die.
Damian I.
Wife pass away on 7/3/2020 need to reported
V.V.
We are very sorry for your loss, Damian. Typically, the funeral director notifies us of an individual’s passing by contacting the local Social Security office. To verify this information was reported, you can 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.
denise c.
i have been married over 20 years my husband would pay for house and utilities with his social security disability income but now hes abandoning the marriage can i receive social security benefits
V.V.
Hi Denise, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Social Security Retirement Benefits Planner for details on retirement and spouse’s benefits. We hope this is helpful!
Olivia A.
How do you a apply for spousal benefits? Where do I go? Can I APPLY online??? If so, where??? Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
V.V.
Thanks for the question, Olivia. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on spouse’s benefits, including how to file. We hope this helps.
Jonathan
How many years of marriage is required for a surviving spouse to collect social security benefits?
V.V.
Hi Jonathan, thanks for using our blog. Generally, a surviving spouse meets the marriage requirement if the marriage took place no later than 9 months immediately preceding the day on which the worker died. To learn more , visit our Survivors Planner: Survivors Benefits For Your Widow Or Widower.
Barbara K.
Can I choose to receive half of my living husband’s social security instead of mine?
Carolyn S.
Good day!
My name is Carolyn S Brown-Freeman. My husband William Ellis Freeman passed on 01/18/2015 and I want to know if I am eligible for my husband’s social security or retirement benefits and if so what steps do I need to take?
Please advise!
Thank you kindly!!!
V.V.
Hi Carolyn, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Benefit Planners to learn more about eligibility requirements for both retirement and widow’s benefits.
To check on potential 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.