Benefits for Spouses (2024)

FAQs

What are the rules for spousal benefits? ›

You're eligible for spousal benefits if you're married, divorced, or widowed, and your spouse is or was eligible for Social Security. Spouses and ex-spouses generally are eligible for up to half of the spouse's benefits. Widows and widowers can receive up to 100%.

The spousal benefit can be as much as half of the worker's "primary insurance amount," depending on the spouse's age at retirement. If the spouse begins receiving benefits before "normal (or full) retirement age," the spouse will receive a reduced benefit.

If you choose to receive your spouse's benefits before you reach full retirement age, you will get a permanently reduced benefit. If you wait until you reach full retirement age to receive benefits, you'll receive your full spouse's benefit amount, which is up to one-half the amount your spouse can receive.

Social Security spousal benefits pay qualifying spouses or ex-spouses up to 50% of a worker's base monthly retirement or disability benefit. Social Security Administration. Benefits for Spouses. Accessed Oct 13, 2022.

What you may not realize is that your spouse may also be able to receive Social Security benefits. In fact, they don't even have to have reached retirement age to qualify for these benefits. They may be eligible, through this loophole, if they are serving as a caregiver at home for your child with disabilities.

Social Security Program Rules

The wife of a retired worker is eligible for a spousal benefit of up to 50 percent of her husband's primary insurance amount ( PIA ), if claimed at her full retirement age ( FRA ).

Surviving spouse, any age, with a child younger than age 16, gets 75% of the worker's benefit amount. Child gets 75% of the worker's benefit amount. There's a limit to the benefits we can pay to you and other family members each month. The limit varies between 150% and 180% of the deceased worker's benefit amount.

Social Security survivor benefits are payable to the surviving spouse for the remainder of their life. Restrictions apply for divorced spouses eligible to receive benefits.

In this common situation, the optimum strategy is often to have the husband begin his Social Security benefits at age 70, with the wife starting her Social Security benefits at her full retirement age, or even earlier.

What percentage of a husband's Social Security does a wife get? ›

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.

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

Social Security covers both spouses, regardless of whether one or both brought home a paycheck over the years. A married person may collect benefits based on their own earnings or receive a maximum of 50% of their spouse's Social Security benefits, whichever is greater.

In general, you may be eligible if you are married, divorced or widowed and your spouse was eligible for benefits. Those who apply for spousal benefits must have been married for at least one year. Your spouse must also have begun receiving Social Security benefits – unless you are widowed.

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.

Key Takeaways

The marriage must have lasted for at least 10 years, and the divorced spouse must be at least 62 years old. If the requirements are met, the divorced spouse can receive an amount equal to as much as 50% of their ex's benefits.

When your spouse applies, the SSA tops off your current amount with an excess spousal benefit. The excess spousal benefit = (max spousal) - (your retirement benefit at FRA). After your spouse applies, the new total amount = (your current benefit) + (excess spousal benefit).