Spousal Benefits: How They Work
Married and some divorced individuals may receive Social Security benefits based on a spouse's work record. Learn who qualifies, how much is possible and how timing matters.
The short version
- A spouse can receive up to 50 percent of the worker's full benefit if claimed at the spouse's full retirement age.
- Claiming spousal benefits early reduces them, and they do not increase after full retirement age.
- Divorced spouses may qualify if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.
In this guide
Social Security is not only based on your own work. If you are married, or were married for a long time, you may be able to receive benefits based on your spouse's earnings record. These spousal benefits can be especially valuable for people who earned less or spent years out of the workforce caring for family.
Who may qualify
You may be eligible for spousal benefits if:
- You are at least 62 years old, or you are caring for a child who is under 16 or disabled and entitled to benefits on your spouse's record, and
- Your spouse has filed for their own retirement or disability benefits.
Generally, you must have been married for at least one year, with some exceptions.
How much can a spouse receive?
A spouse can receive up to 50 percent of the worker's full retirement age benefit, if the spouse claims at their own full retirement age.
If you claim spousal benefits before your full retirement age, the amount is permanently reduced. For example, if your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, you would receive about 32.5 percent of the worker's full benefit instead of 50 percent.
Unlike your own retirement benefit, spousal benefits do not increase if you wait past full retirement age. There is generally no benefit to delaying a spousal-only claim beyond FRA.
If you have your own work record
If you are eligible for both your own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit, Social Security will pay your own benefit first. If the spousal benefit is higher, you will receive a combination equal to the higher amount.
Under current rules, for most people, when you apply for one type of retirement benefit, you are considered to be applying for both. This is called "deemed filing."
The worker's claiming decision matters
The spousal benefit is based on the worker's full retirement age benefit, not on what the worker actually receives. So if the worker claims early or late, the spousal benefit itself is not reduced or increased because of that choice. However, the spouse cannot receive spousal benefits until the worker has filed.
The worker's claiming age does matter for survivor benefits. If the higher earner delays claiming, the surviving spouse may receive a larger benefit later.
Benefits for divorced spouses
If you are divorced, you may be able to receive benefits based on your ex-spouse's record if:
- Your marriage lasted 10 years or longer
- You are currently unmarried
- You are 62 or older
- Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits
- The benefit you would receive on your own work is less than the benefit based on your ex-spouse's work
If you have been divorced for at least two years and your ex-spouse is at least 62, you may be able to receive benefits even if your ex-spouse has not applied.
Benefits paid to a divorced spouse do not reduce the benefits of the worker or the worker's current spouse.
How to apply
You can apply online at ssa.gov, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or at a local office. Have your marriage certificate (and divorce decree, if applicable), birth certificate and Social Security numbers available.
Plan together
Couples may benefit from looking at their claiming strategies together, since one person's decisions can affect the other's benefits now and in the future.
Terrameritavi is an independent publication and is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration. This article is general information, not financial advice.
