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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Carol H.
How do we change our status from single/divorced to married? We were legally married on September 10, 2020. I will not be changing my name. We are both on social security now. Please email instructions to me.
V.V.
Congratulations on your marriage, Carol! When you get married or divorced, your Social Security benefits may be affected, depending on the kind of benefits you receive. 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.
Roberta C.
My brother is 83 and going to marry a widow who is 85. She has never worked and is collecting Social Security benefits from her husband. Will her social security stop if she marries my brother?
V.V.
Hi Roberta, 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 their new spouse is a Social Security beneficiary, they may want to apply for spouse’s benefits on that record. If that amount is higher, they may be entitled to the higher amount, based on both records. Generally, they must be married for one year before they 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!
BARBARA A.
Can I suspend my SS benefit until I reach the age of 70?
V.V.
Hi Barbara, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for the rules on voluntary suspension of your benefits. We hope this is helpful!
LORETA L.
what is the mailing address for SSA? Can I mail my application to my local social security office?
V.V.
Hi Loreta, thanks for using our blog. Use our Social Security Office Locator to obtain your local office mailing address. We hope this helps!
Elizabeth P.
I need to Switch from my SS payments to my husband’s payments which will be higher even at 1/2 of his. Please let me know the forms to switch to spousal SS.
V.V.
Hi Elizabeth, thanks for using our blog. 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.
Elizabeth A.
I was married 30 yrs and got divorced. Can I get the same amount as my ex husbands. His is more than mine will be. Also if I remarried would that matter?
V.V.
Hi Elizabeth, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. We will always pay your own retirement benefit first. If your benefits as a divorced spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, the divorced spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your ex-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 ex-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.
Brenda H.
HI!
I was told I would receive part of my husbands SS in Sept. since he retired Aug. 31st of this year and I retired 2 yrs ago. The additional amount of $194 was not included in my Sept. payment.
Thanks,
Brenda Humphrey
V.V.
Hi Brenda, thanks for using our blog. 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 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.
Gail D.
We are reviewing for retirement. Can both husband and wife draw ss at the same time upon full retirement age of both.
V.V.
Hi Gail, 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. Check out our factsheet: 5 Things Every Woman Should Know About Social Security.
Evelyn d.
If I am collecting my deceased husband social security but decide to remarry will I lose his social security?
V.V.
Hi Evelyn, 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!
Floy
I WANT TO RECEIVE MY SPOUSAL BENEFITS, I AM NOW 71 YEARS OLD
V.V.
Hi Floy, thanks for using our blog. 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 spouse’s full retirement amount (not their 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 spouse’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.