What Spousal Benefits Are and Who Can Claim Them
Spousal benefits let you collect Social Security based on your spouse's earnings record instead of your own. You receive a percentage of what your spouse gets at their full retirement age — typically 32.5% to 35% of their benefit amount, depending on your age when you claim. You do not need to have worked, or to have earned much, to be may be able to access for this.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays spousal benefits to people who are at least 62 years old and married to someone who is already collecting Social Security or is at least 62 themselves. You can also claim as an ex-spouse if your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are at least 62, and you are not currently married — and your ex does not even need to know you filed.
Spousal benefits exist because Social Security was designed to support households where one person earned significantly more than the other. If you spent years raising children or caring for family while your spouse worked, spousal benefits recognize that contribution to the household.
Key Takeaways
- You can claim spousal benefits at 62, but your payment will be reduced — the longer you wait, the larger your monthly check.
- Your spouse must be at least 62 or already collecting Social Security before you can claim spousal benefits on their record.
- If you are divorced and your marriage lasted 10 years or more, you may claim on your ex-spouse's record without their knowledge or permission.
- Claiming spousal benefits before your full retirement age reduces your own retirement benefit permanently if you later switch to your own record.
- You will need to contact the Social Security Administration directly — you cannot claim spousal benefits online.
Age Requirements and How Your Payment Changes
You can claim spousal benefits as early as age 62, but the SSA reduces your payment for every month you claim before your full retirement age. If your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, you receive roughly 32.5% of your spouse's full retirement benefit instead of 35%. The reduction is permanent — even if you later switch to your own record, the reduction stays.
If you wait until your full retirement age to claim spousal benefits, you receive the full 35% of your spouse's benefit. Waiting past your full retirement age does not increase spousal benefits the way it increases your own retirement benefit, so there is no financial advantage to delaying once you reach full retirement age.
Your spouse's age also matters. If your spouse has not yet reached their full retirement age, their own benefit is reduced, which means your spousal benefit is also reduced — it is calculated as a percentage of what they are actually receiving, not what they could receive at full retirement age.
How to File for Spousal Benefits
You must contact the Social Security Administration directly to claim spousal benefits. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to speak with a representative, or visit your local Social Security office in person. You cannot file for spousal benefits through the SSA website or through your My Social Security account.
Have your spouse's Social Security number ready when you call. You will also need your own Social Security number, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and proof of citizenship or legal residency (such as a passport or naturalization papers). If you are claiming on an ex-spouse's record, bring your divorce decree as well.
The SSA will ask about your work history and earnings. Even if you have not worked much, you may have your own Social Security record. The agency will compare your own retirement benefit to your spousal benefit and pay you whichever is higher — you do not choose which one you receive.
Spousal Benefits and Your Own Retirement Benefit
Social Security calculates both your own retirement benefit (based on your earnings) and your spousal benefit (based on your spouse's earnings). The agency pays you the larger of the two amounts. This is called the deemed filing rule, and it applies to everyone born after January 1, 1954.
If you claim before your full retirement age, the SSA reduces both your own benefit and your spousal benefit. This reduction is permanent — it does not go away when you reach full retirement age. For this reason, claiming early can cost you tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime if you live into your 80s.
If your own earnings record is very low and your spouse's is high, spousal benefits may be your better option. The SSA can show you an estimate of both amounts before you decide to claim. Ask for a detailed breakdown when you call.
Claiming on an Ex-Spouse's Record
You can claim spousal benefits on an ex-spouse's Social Security record if your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are at least 62, and you are not currently married. Your ex does not need to be aware that you filed, and they do not need to give permission. The benefit comes from Social Security's trust fund, not from your ex's own benefit — claiming does not reduce what your ex receives.
You will need your divorce decree and your ex-spouse's Social Security number. If you do not have their number, the SSA can search for it using their name and date of birth. The same age reductions explore: claiming at 62 instead of your full retirement age permanently reduces your payment.
If you remarry before age 60, you lose the right to claim on your ex-spouse's record. If you remarry at 60 or later, you keep the right. This rule exists to prevent people from losing benefits due to remarriage after a long period of being single.
What Happens to Spousal Benefits When Your Spouse Dies
If your spouse dies, your spousal benefit converts to a survivor benefit, which is typically larger than the spousal benefit you were receiving. Survivor benefits can be as much as 100% of what your spouse was receiving at the time of death, depending on your age.
You do not need to file again — the SSA will automatically convert your benefit. However, you should notify Social Security of your spouse's death as soon as possible. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office. Delaying the notification can cause overpayments that you may have to repay.
If you have not yet claimed spousal benefits and your spouse dies, you may be able to claim survivor benefits at age 60 (or 50 if you are disabled). The rules are different from spousal benefits, so contact the SSA to understand your options.
How Spousal Benefits Interact with Earnings
If you claim spousal benefits before your full retirement age and you continue to work, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above an annual limit. For 2024, that limit is $23,400, but it changes each year. In the year you reach full retirement age, the reduction is $1 for every $3 earned, and only earnings before the month you reach full retirement age count.
Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings limit — you can work and receive your full spousal benefit with no reduction. This is another reason some people wait to claim: if you plan to keep working, waiting until full retirement age protects your benefit from the earnings test.
The earnings limit applies only to you, not to your spouse. Your spouse's work does not affect your spousal benefit, and your work does not affect theirs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim spousal benefits if my spouse has not claimed yet?
Your spouse must be at least 62 years old for you to claim spousal benefits on their record. They do not have to have filed yet, but they must be old enough to file. If they are younger than 62, you will have to wait. Once they turn 62, they can file and you can claim on their record.
What if I have been divorced more than once?
You can claim on the record of any ex-spouse whose marriage to you lasted at least 10 years, as long as you are at least 62 and not currently married. If you have multiple ex-spouses who meet these requirements, the SSA will pay you based on whichever record gives you the highest benefit.
Does claiming spousal benefits affect my spouse's benefit?
No. Your spouse's Social Security benefit is not reduced because you claim spousal benefits. The money comes from Social Security's trust fund, not from your spouse's account. Your spouse receives their full benefit regardless of whether you claim.
Can I change my mind after I claim spousal benefits?
If you claimed within the last 12 months, you can withdraw your claim and repay what you received. This restarts your waiting period and allows your benefit to grow. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw. You can suspend your benefit at full retirement age and let it grow until age 70, but this is rarely the best choice for spousal benefits since they do not increase after full retirement age.
What documents do I need to bring to claim spousal benefits?
Bring your Social Security number, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and proof of citizenship or legal residency such as a passport. If you are claiming on an ex-spouse's record, also bring your divorce decree. The SSA will tell you if they need anything else when you call or visit.