Social Security Spousal Benefits: Your Guide to Payments

What Are Social Security Spousal Benefits?

Social Security spousal benefits are payments made to a husband, wife, or ex-spouse based on their partner's work record. They help families get extra support, especially if one person made less money or stayed home to raise kids or care for family.

You do not need to have worked a lot yourself. As long as your spouse (or ex-spouse) worked enough, you can get payments based on their work.

Same-sex couples have the same rights as opposite-sex couples. If you are legally married, Social Security treats your claim the exact same way.

Who Can Get Spousal Benefits?

Getting benefits depends on whether they come from your spouse's retirement or disability. It helps to keep these two things separate so you do not get confused.

Retirement spousal benefits:

• Your spouse must already be getting their own retirement benefits. Usually, one person must start getting checks before the other person can claim.
• You must be at least 62 years old, OR
• You must care for the worker's child who is under 16 or has a disability. If you care for a child, you can be any age.

Disability benefits for family: If your spouse gets Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), there is no simple "spousal disability payment." Instead, a spouse who cares for a qualifying child might get a special extra check. These follow different rules than retirement.

How Much Money Can You Get? The Up-to-50% Rule

The most you can usually get is 50% of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). The PIA is the amount your spouse gets at their full retirement age, not the extra amount they get if they wait longer to sign up.

This is very important. Many people think if their spouse waited until age 70 to get bigger checks, the spousal check would be half of that larger amount. That is not true. Spousal payments are always based on the full retirement age amount, so waiting past full retirement age does not increase a spouse's check.

Example: Maria could get $900 a month from her own work. Her husband's full retirement amount is $2,400 a month. Half of that is $1,200, which is the most Maria could get. Because her own check ($900) is less than $1,200, Social Security gives her $900 plus an extra $300. This brings her total to $1,200 a month (if she waits until full retirement age to sign up).

The money you get also depends on how old you are when you sign up. If you start getting payments before your full retirement age, your check will be smaller than 50%.

Can You Collect Your Own Benefit and Your Spouse's?

Not really. Social Security does not add both full checks together. Instead, they pay your own retirement check first. If the spousal payment is higher, they add extra money so your total matches the higher amount. You will still only get one combined payment, not two separate checks.

Can You Switch From Your Own Benefit to a Spousal Benefit Later?

Most people born on or after January 2, 1954 cannot switch later. When you apply, Social Security signs you up for your own payment and any spousal payment at the same time. They automatically give you the highest amount. This is called deemed filing. It means you cannot take just one payment now and switch to the other later.

 Spousal Benefits for Divorced People

If you are divorced, you might still get payments based on your ex-spouse's work. To qualify:

• You must have been married for at least 10 years.
• You must be single right now.
• You must be at least 62 years old.
• Your ex-spouse must be old enough to get retirement benefits.

Here is an important rule to remember: whether your ex-spouse needs to apply first depends on when you got divorced.

• Divorced for 2 years or more: You can get payments even if your ex-spouse has not signed up yet, as long as they are old enough to qualify.
• Divorced for less than 2 years: Your ex-spouse usually must apply for their own money first.

Getting payments on an ex-spouse's record does not lower the amount they or their new spouse can get. Social Security figures out these amounts separately. For more on this, see our guide to Social Security and Divorce.

Does Remarrying Affect Your Benefits?

Yes, most of the time. If you remarry before age 60, you usually cannot get spousal or survivor payments from your ex-spouse while you stay married. But if you remarry after age 60 (or after age 50 if disabled), you can usually still get survivor payments if your ex-spouse died.

What Happens If Your Spouse Dies?

Spousal payments are different from survivor payments. If your spouse dies, you may get a survivor payment instead. This can be up to 100% of what your spouse was getting, instead of the 50% max for spousal payments. Survivor payments have their own age rules.

How Working Affects Your Spousal Benefit

If you work and get spousal payments before reaching full retirement age, your checks may be smaller if you earn more than the yearly limit. This is called the earnings test.

Once you reach full retirement age, this limit goes away. You can earn as much as you want without losing any Social Security money.

Are Spousal Benefits Taxable?

They can be. Whether you pay taxes on your benefits depends on your total yearly income. If your total income is above a certain level, you may owe federal taxes on part of your check. A few states tax Social Security, too. It is smart to ask a tax professional about your plan.

Quick Reference: Are You Eligible?

Common Questions About Spousal Benefits

Can I get spousal benefits if my spouse has not retired yet? Usually no. For married couples, your spouse must apply first. Divorced spouses are the exception if they meet the 2-year divorce rule.

What is full retirement age? It is the age when you can get 100% of your full benefit amount. It is between age 66 and 67, depending on the year you were born. Claiming before this age permanently lowers your check.

Can I get spousal benefits and still work? Yes, but if you are under full retirement age, making too much money can lower your payments for a while.

What if my spouse and I both worked and have our own benefits? Social Security looks at both amounts and pays you the higher of the two. They do not add them together.

How to Apply for Social Security Spousal Benefits

Applying takes a few simple steps:

1. Gather your papers. You will need your birth certificate, marriage paper, and your spouse's Social Security number. If you are divorced, you also need your divorce paper.
2. Contact Social Security. Start online, call them, or visit a local office. They may ask you to finish the steps over the phone or in person.
3. Fill out the application. Answer questions about your marriage, your spouse's work, and your own work.
4. Wait for an answer. Social Security will check your form and send a note letting you know if you qualify and how much you will get.

You can learn more about the process in our step-by-step Social Security application guide.

The Bottom Line

Spousal benefits can help increase your family's monthly money, especially if one person made less or stayed home to care for family. Your age, your work history, whether you are married, and how long you have been divorced can change your payment.

It pays to understand your choices before you apply.