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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Evaline A.
I just turned 65 in August. I work full time and plan to continue for another year. My health insurance is through my employer.
Do I need to do anything at this time in regards to social security? I am waiting to claim social security benefits at 66.2.
Vonda V.
Hi Evaline, thanks for using our blog. In most cases, if you don’t sign up for Medicare when you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a higher monthly premium which is why we advise people to apply for Medicare benefits as soon as they are eligible. However, if you are covered under a group health plan based on your or your spouse’s current employment, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that will let you sign up for Medicare Part B. You have an 8-month SEP to sign up for Part A and/or Part B that starts at one of these times (whichever happens first):
• The month after the employment ends
• The month after group health plan insurance based on current employment ends.
Usually, you don’t pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during a SEP.
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.
Marilyn P.
Why did I get my Social Security retirement benefit a week early this month? It came as a direct deposit on Sep 3 instead of sept 9.
Ann C.
Hi, Marilyn. 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, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Mary e.
When I got divorce we agree not to ask for either one of our pension and we would not file on the other social security….now I have change my mind…can I get his as even thou I agree not file????
Ann C.
Hi, Mary. 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 do ask that members in our Blog community refer to their local office on specific questions about their case. Please contact your local Social Security office for assistance. Look for the general inquiry telephone number under “Show Additional Office Information.” We hope this helps.
HOW C.
Upon the death of my spouse in 2017 i was switched from my own benefit to my spouse’s since his was higher. However, I have continued to work and contribute to FICA as a self-employed person. How can I determine what my individual benefit would be now? And, if it is higher, can I switch from survivor to my individual?
Vonda V.
Hi Dolores, thanks for using our blog. Each year we review your work record. If your earnings for the prior year are higher than one of the years we used to compute your retirement benefit, we will recalculate your benefit amount. We will pay the increase retroactive to January the year after you earned the month. To inquire, 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. We hope this information helps.
Donna A.
I would like to know if I can receive half of my husbands benefits if I give up my benefits? He is 91 and I am 83.
Vonda V.
Hi Donna, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. We will always pay your own retirement benefit first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, the spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your husband’s full retirement amount (not his reduced benefit amount). So, you can only receive additional spouse’s benefits if your own full retirement benefit (not your reduced benefit) is less than half of your husband’s full retirement benefit.
Generally, during the initial interview when applying for Social Security benefits, we typically explore all other benefits that could yield you a higher benefit amount. To find out if you are eligible for a higher benefit amount, 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. We hope this information helps.
Christine Z.
I am currently receiving spousal benefits. I will turn 70 in December and should start collecting my own social security benefits at the full amount. what do I need to do if anything to begin receiving my full benefits at 70? Does that change automaticly? I have called social security and get the recording to transfer my call to an agent but it just rings and rings now 30 minutes. Please advise what I need to do before my 70th birthday . Do I need to make a new application?
Vonda V.
Hi Christine, thanks for using our blog. Our system is set up to take applications four months in advance, and when you’re ready, you can apply for your retirement benefits online. We hope this is helpful!
Ivan w.
A wife does not pay enough ss in so she draws half her husbands. She dies her half is taken away from her husbands why?
Edmund I.
I am recently married, do I need to change my status to married from single?
Vonda V.
Hello Edmund, if you get Social Security disability or retirement benefits and you marry, your benefit will stay the same. See “If I get married, will it affect my benefits” for more information. Thanks!
Linda B.
Hi. I am having problems getting ahold of the proper person to take my husband off of spousal benefits.
Vonda V.
Hi Linda, thanks for using our blog. 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.
Larry R.
How many years one needs to be married to receive SS benefits if a spouse dies?
Vonda V.
Hi Larry, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. Generally, a surviving spouse or widow meets the duration of 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.