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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Donna A.
My husband will reach FRA – 10/2023
I’m on disability since 2010, My birthdate year is 1959.
He retires at his FRA, Do I still keep my full disability and he keeps his FRA SS benefits?
We are married now 24 years
Thank you
Vonda
Hi Donna, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. When you receive disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, we will automatically convert your disability benefits to retirement benefits, when you attain your Full Retirement Age. The benefit amount will generally remain the same.
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.
Donna A.
Thank you
Edward M.
How long does a person have to be married to qualify for survivor spouse death benefits?
Vonda
Hi Edward, thanks for using our blog. 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. We hope this helps!
Javier A.
I am 68 years old and have been receiving full retirement benefits for several years. My wife is currently 65 (DOB 1/11/55) and is retiring next year at her full retirement month starting March 24, 2021. She wants to take the Spousal benefit at that time and suspend her regular retirement until age 70. She then plans to claim her regular benefit and drop the spousal benefit, as her regular benefit should exceed the spousal benefit amount. Does this strategy apply without any issues or errors?
Vonda
Hi Javier, thank you for your question. Your wife may be able to get spouse’s benefits but, under existing law, if she’s eligible for benefits both as a retired worker and as a spouse, she must apply for both benefits and she’ll receive the higher of the two benefits. This requirement is called “deemed filing” because when you apply for one benefit you are “deemed” to have also applied for the other.
There is an exception to deemed filing for those who turn 62 before January 2, 2016. Check out our Deemed Filing For Retirement And Spouse’s Benefits web page for details.
Debbie H.
My husband who is 68 receives his retirement social security. I am 64 soon to be 65 and I am still working full time but earn under $48,000 per year. At what point am I able to collect from his benefit?
Bill C.
If the higher earner retirees before their full retirement age, is the primary insurance value used in the spousal benefit calculation also reduced?
Example
Higher earner’s PIA at Full Retirement is $1,000 and the max benefit for the spousal is $500. If the higher earner retires early and ends up with a benefit of $800, is the max benefit for the spousal now $400.
Or is the PIA used in the spousal calculation always the PIA of the higher earner at their full retirement age regardless of when they Retire? I know the PIA for spousal calculations is not increased if the higher earner delays claiming beyond the FRA.
Cannette a.
My husband receive as we been married over 20 years an I’m on disability can I get some of his ss
Vonda
Hi Cannette, thanks for using our blog. 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. Your benefit as a divorced spouse can be equal to one-half of your ex’s full retirement amount only if you start receiving those benefits at your full retirement age. If you begin to receive benefits at age 62 or prior to your full retirement age, your benefits are reduced. The reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits you qualify for once you opt to start benefits at age 62 or at any time prior to your full retirement age.
Remember, if you qualify for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a divorced spouse, we always pay your own retirement benefits 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 divorced spouse benefit.
Check out our Retirement Planner: If You’re Divorced for other eligibility requirements and more detailed information.
Vonda
Hi Bill, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. A spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of the worker’s full retirement amount (not the reduced benefit amount). So, an individual can only receive additional spouse’s benefits if their own full retirement benefit (not their reduced benefit) is less than half of their spouse’s full retirement benefit (again, not the reduced benefit amount).
Check out our Retirement Planner: Benefits for Your Spouse for additional details.
David F.
My wife is 64 and wants to file for her benefit which is about 40% lower than the spousal benefit on my account at my full retirement age. When I reach full retirement age and file for benefits, will she be able to get benefits that total half of mine or will hers be permanently lower because she started early.
Vonda
Hi David, thanks for using our blog. Your wife’s spouse’s benefit amount could be up to 50 percent of your full retirement age benefit amount. If she qualifies for a benefit from her own work history and a spouse’s record, we always pay her own benefit first. She cannot receive spouse’s benefits until you are receiving retirement benefits (except for divorced spouses).
If your wife takes a reduced retirement benefit first while waiting for you to apply, her own retirement portion remains reduced. When you add spouse’s benefits later, the total retirement and spouses benefit together will total less than 50 percent of your full retirement amount. You can find out more about this at our Benefits for Spouse’s calculator.
Tom C.
So I am currently receiving a benefit at full retirement age. My wife just applied and due to her limited work history she was notified that she was getting a benefit payment that is considerably less than half of my benefit. She applied at full retirement age. When I called the SS person said we will be getting another notice that she will get the additional benefit that brings the total up to one half of my benefit. Is that the way it works or do I need to do some follow up?
Vonda
Hi Tom, thanks for using our blog. Because your wife has to apply for her own retirement benefit first, and then, if benefits as a spouse are higher, she also applies for spouse’s benefits, she will receive two notices. She is getting a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit, but pulling from two records. We hope this helps!
Amy S.
I am receiving retirement benefits from my own part time work record plus an additional amount from my husband’s. I also collect a small government pension, which reduces my SS benefits. It has been impossible to find out how SS figures the amount that is taken out. Shouldn’t a portion be from the amount from MY work record and then a portion from my husband’s record? It seems like a full 2/3 of my pension is taken out, but I’m not sure because I don’t know whammy full SS would be if I didn’t collect a pension. How does SS base their figures and how do I find out what my full benefits are before they get reduced? Is COLA based on reduced amount or full amount? No-one is able to give me an answer, and I have received numerous letters that make it even more confusing.
Brian C.
Good afternoon,
I am 63 yrs. old. I retired from a State government agency in Michigan in 2015 and am currently receiving a pension along with working part-time (self-employed). I also haven enough quarters from other employment where I had paid into Social Security. My wife is 53 and is currently self-employed but paying into Social Security. My questions are:
-Can I claim spousal social security benefits now from my wife? I am currently eligible to claim my own now but her benefits would be more than mine due to the Windfall Provision. From what I understand, claiming spousal benefits while having a government pension would reduce the benefit by about 2/3 but that would still be more than what my personal benefits would be with the Windfall Provision.
-If I can claim spousal benefits, will her benefit amount e reduced when she begins to take her benefits?
Thank you in advance!
Vonda
Hi Brian, thanks for using our blog to ask your questions. A non-covered pension, a pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies such as police officers and some teachers), may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your benefit can be reduced based on one of two provisions: The Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. Check out our Information for Government Employees web page for details.
Susan A.
How can I find our my ex husbands primary insurance amount that I can receive? We were married for 20 years and he is 60, I am 62
Vonda
Hi Susan, thanks for using our blog. 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. Your benefit as a divorced spouse can be equal to one-half of your ex’s full retirement amount only if you start receiving those benefits at your full retirement age. If you begin to receive benefits at age 62 or prior to your full retirement age, your benefits are reduced. The reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits you qualify for once you opt to start benefits at age 62 or at any time prior to your full retirement age.
Remember, if you qualify for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a divorced spouse, we always pay your own retirement benefits 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 divorced spouse benefit.
See our Retirement Planner: If You’re Divorced for other eligibility requirements and more detailed information.
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.