One spouse spent decades in full-time work; the other worked part-time while raising children. When they retire, the lower earner’s own Social Security benefit is small. Spousal benefits exist for this situation — but they follow rules that surprise many couples.
Key Takeaways
- A spouse can receive up to 50% of the worker’s full retirement age benefit (PIA), if claimed at the spouse’s own full retirement age.
- Spousal benefits are reduced if claimed early, but they do not grow with delayed retirement credits after full retirement age.
- The worker must have filed for their own benefits before the spouse can receive spousal benefits.
- Deemed filing means that, for most people today, applying for one benefit counts as applying for all benefits you are eligible for.
Check details for your situation with the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov.
Who qualifies
You may qualify for spousal benefits if:
- You are married to a worker who has filed for Social Security retirement or disability benefits
- You are at least 62, or any age if caring for the worker’s child who is under 16 or disabled
- You have generally been married for at least one year
Divorced spouses may qualify if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and they are currently unmarried.
How much
The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of the worker’s primary insurance amount (PIA) — the benefit the worker would receive at full retirement age. It does not matter whether the worker claimed early or late; the spousal benefit is based on the worker’s PIA.
If your own retirement benefit is higher than the spousal amount, you receive your own benefit. If your own benefit is lower, you receive your own benefit plus a spousal top-up that brings the total to the spousal amount.
Early claiming reduces spousal benefits
If you claim spousal benefits before your own full retirement age, they are reduced. For someone with an FRA of 67 claiming at 62, the spousal benefit is reduced to about 32.5% of the worker’s PIA instead of 50%.
No delayed credits on spousal benefits
Unlike your own retirement benefit, spousal benefits do not increase if you wait past full retirement age. There is usually no advantage to delaying a spousal-only claim beyond FRA.
Deemed filing
Under rules introduced in 2015, for people born on or after January 2, 1954, applying for retirement benefits is treated as applying for spousal benefits too, and vice versa. You receive the higher combination.
This ended older strategies that let people collect spousal benefits while their own benefit grew.
Deemed filing does not apply to survivor benefits.
The worker must file first
You cannot receive spousal benefits on a living spouse’s record until that spouse has filed for their own benefits. If the higher earner delays to 70, the lower earner may have to wait for the spousal top-up, although they can claim their own benefit earlier.
Coordinating a couple’s claims
A common approach:
- The higher earner considers delaying, increasing their benefit and the potential survivor benefit.
- The lower earner may claim their own benefit earlier, providing income while the higher earner waits.
- The spousal top-up, if any, begins when the higher earner files and the lower earner is eligible.
Every situation is different. Model several scenarios using your actual benefit estimates.
Divorced spouses
If you were married at least 10 years, are divorced and currently unmarried, and are 62 or older, you may qualify for benefits on your ex-spouse’s record. If your ex-spouse has not filed, you can still claim if you have been divorced for at least two years and your ex-spouse is eligible for benefits.
Claiming on an ex-spouse’s record does not reduce their benefit or their current spouse’s benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can both spouses receive spousal benefits? Each spouse receives the higher of their own benefit or their spousal amount. Spousal benefits only add to the lower earner’s benefit.
Does a spousal benefit reduce the worker’s benefit? No. The worker’s benefit is unaffected.
Do spousal benefits get cost-of-living adjustments? Yes.
What happens to spousal benefits when the worker dies? The surviving spouse may become eligible for survivor benefits, which can be up to 100% of the deceased worker’s benefit.
The bottom line
Spousal benefits can add meaningful income for lower-earning spouses, but they top out at 50% of the worker’s full benefit, shrink with early claiming, and do not grow past full retirement age. Plan a couple’s claims together.
