What married couples receive from Social Security in April 2025
Social Security payments for married couples depend on each person's own work record, not on being married. Each spouse gets a benefit based on their earnings history, or a reduced benefit based on their spouse's record if that amount is higher. The April 2025 payment is the same amount each person received in March 2025, unless Congress passed a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that took effect in January 2025. You can find the exact COLA percentage on the Social Security Administration website.
The payment arrives on a specific day each month based on the birth date of the person receiving it. If you were born on the 1st through the 10th of any month, you receive payment on the second Wednesday. If born on the 11th through the 20th, you receive it on the third Wednesday. If born on the 21st through the 31st, you receive it on the fourth Wednesday. April 2025 follows this same schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Each spouse receives a benefit based on their own work record, or up to 32.5 percent of their spouse's benefit if that is higher and they were born after January 1, 1954.
- Spouses born before January 2, 1954 may be able to receive a larger benefit based on their spouse's record, but this option is not available to those born later.
- The April 2025 payment amount is the March 2025 amount plus any cost-of-living adjustment that took effect in January 2025.
- Payment arrives on a specific Wednesday each month based on birth date, not on the date of the month.
- If one spouse has not yet claimed benefits, the other spouse cannot claim a benefit based on that person's record until they do.
How the spousal benefit works
A spousal benefit is a payment based on your spouse's work record rather than your own. You can receive this benefit only if your spouse has already claimed their own Social Security benefit. The amount is calculated as a percentage of what your spouse receives.
If you were born on or after January 2, 1954, the maximum spousal benefit is 32.5 percent of your spouse's full retirement age benefit amount. If you were born before that date, the rules are different and the maximum can be higher. The actual amount you receive depends on your age when you claim. If you claim before your full retirement age, the payment is reduced.
You do not have to choose the spousal benefit. Social Security automatically pays you whichever is higher: your own benefit based on your work record, or the spousal benefit based on your spouse's record. You cannot receive both at the same time.
Claiming age and payment reduction
You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but the payment will be permanently reduced. The reduction is steeper the earlier you claim. If you wait until your full retirement age (which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on birth year), you receive the full amount you are may have access to to. If you wait past your full retirement age, the payment increases by about 8 percent per year until age 70.
The reduction for early claiming applies to both your own benefit and any spousal benefit. For example, if you claim at 62 instead of your full retirement age, both amounts are reduced. This reduction is permanent and does not increase later, even after you reach full retirement age.
If you are married and one spouse has already claimed, the other spouse can claim at any time after age 62. There is no requirement to wait for your spouse to reach full retirement age. However, claiming early will reduce your payment for life.
When one spouse has not yet claimed
If your spouse has not yet claimed their Social Security benefit, you cannot claim a spousal benefit based on their record. You can only claim based on your own work record, if you have one. This is true even if your spouse is old enough to claim and has straightforward chosen not to yet.
Once your spouse claims, you can then claim a spousal benefit if it is higher than your own benefit. You do not have to wait for them to claim; you can claim on your own record at any time after age 62. But if you want to receive a spousal benefit, your spouse must have already claimed first.
Divorced couples and Social Security
If you are divorced, you may be able to claim a benefit based on your ex-spouse's record. The rules are similar to spousal benefits, but with different requirements. You must have been married for at least 10 years, be at least 62 years old, and be unmarried. Your ex-spouse does not have to have claimed their benefit yet if you are at least 62 and the divorce was at least two years ago.
The maximum divorced spousal benefit is also 32.5 percent of your ex-spouse's full retirement age amount if you were born after January 1, 1954. If you were born earlier, the maximum may be higher. The reduction for claiming early applies the same way as it does for married couples.
How earnings affect payments
If you claim Social Security before your full retirement age and you are still working, your benefit may be reduced based on your earnings. For 2025, if you earn more than a certain amount (this amount changes each year), Social Security withholds $1 from your benefit for every $2 you earn above that limit. Once you reach your full retirement age, this earnings limit no longer applies, and you receive your full benefit regardless of how much you earn.
This earnings test applies only to you as an individual. Your spouse's earnings do not affect your benefit, and your earnings do not affect your spouse's benefit. Each person's payment is calculated separately.
Taxes on Social Security payments
Depending on your total income, part of your Social Security benefit may be subject to federal income tax. If you and your spouse file a joint tax return and your combined income (including half of your Social Security benefits) exceeds a certain threshold, up to 85 percent of your benefits may be taxable. The exact amount depends on your specific situation.
Some states also tax Social Security benefits, though most do not. Check your state's tax rules to see whether your benefits are taxable at the state level. Your Social Security statement shows how much you received in the previous year, which you can use when preparing your taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my spouse claim benefits on my record if I have not claimed yet?
No. Your spouse can only claim a spousal benefit based on your record after you have claimed your own benefit. They can claim on their own work record at any time after age 62, but not on yours until you have claimed first. If you were born before January 2, 1954, there is an exception, but this does not explore to people born after that date.
What happens to my spouse's benefit if I die?
Your spouse may be able to receive a survivor benefit based on your work record. The amount depends on their age and your benefit amount. A surviving spouse at full retirement age can receive up to 100 percent of what you were receiving. If they claim before full retirement age, the amount is reduced. Surviving spouses as young as 60 may be able to claim.
If I claim early, can my spouse claim at full retirement age and get the full spousal amount?
No. Your spouse's spousal benefit is calculated as a percentage of your full retirement age amount, not of what you actually receive. If you claimed early and your benefit is reduced, your spouse's spousal benefit is also based on that reduced amount. The reduction applies to the entire household.
Do I have to file taxes on my Social Security if my spouse files separately?
Filing status matters for the tax calculation. If you are married and file separately, the income thresholds for taxing Social Security are much lower than if you file jointly. You may owe taxes on your benefits even if you would not if filing jointly. Consult a tax professional about your specific situation.
Can we both claim spousal benefits on each other's records?
No. Each person receives a benefit based on their own work record, or a spousal benefit based on their spouse's record, whichever is higher. You cannot receive both your own benefit and a spousal benefit at the same time. Social Security automatically pays the larger amount.