What spousal disability benefits are and who can receive them

If your spouse receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you may be able to receive benefits based on their work record even if you have not worked enough to earn your own SSDI. Social Security calls this a spousal benefit. The amount you receive depends on your age, your spouse's benefit amount, and whether you are caring for a child under 16.

You do not need to be disabled yourself to receive this benefit. Your spouse's disability is what opens the door — you may have access to based on your relationship to them and your age or family situation. The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays these benefits from the same trust fund as your spouse's SSDI, so claiming does not reduce what your spouse receives.

Spousal benefits are separate from Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a needs-based program. If you have very low income and resources, you may be able to receive SSI instead of or in addition to spousal SSDI benefits, but the rules are different and the amounts are usually lower.

Key Takeaways

  • You can receive spousal SSDI benefits at age 62 or older, or at any age if you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16.
  • Your benefit amount is typically 32.5 to 50 percent of your spouse's full benefit amount, depending on your age when you claim.
  • You must have been married for at least nine months before you can claim spousal benefits, though this requirement is waived if you were previously married to your spouse.
  • Claiming spousal benefits before your full retirement age will reduce your monthly payment, and you cannot claim spousal benefits while also claiming your own retirement benefits.
  • You must contact the Social Security Administration directly to claim spousal benefits; there is no online form for this type of claim.

Age requirements for spousal SSDI benefits

The most common path to spousal SSDI is reaching age 62. At that age, you can claim a benefit based on your spouse's work record, regardless of whether you have worked yourself. The amount you receive will be reduced from what you would get at your full retirement age, which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year.

You can also claim spousal benefits at any age if you are the primary caregiver for your spouse's child who is under 16 years old. The child must be your spouse's biological or legally adopted child. If you are caring for a child who is 16 or older, you no longer meet this requirement, even if the child is still in school.

If you are between 50 and 62 and not caring for a child under 16, you cannot claim spousal SSDI benefits. You would need to wait until 62, or you could claim your own retirement benefits at 62 if you have worked enough to earn them.

Marriage length and previous marriage rules

You must have been married to your spouse for at least nine months before the Social Security Administration will pay you spousal SSDI benefits. This nine-month requirement exists to prevent people from marrying solely to claim benefits.

However, the nine-month rule does not explore if you were previously married to the same person. If you divorced, your ex-spouse later became disabled and started receiving SSDI, and you remarried that same person, you can claim spousal benefits when ready without waiting nine months. The SSA counts your previous marriage toward the requirement.

If your spouse passes away, you may be able to claim survivor benefits based on their work record. Those rules are different from spousal SSDI and have their own age and marriage-length requirements.

How much you receive as a spouse

Your spousal SSDI benefit is calculated as a percentage of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the full monthly benefit your spouse receives. The exact percentage depends on your age when you claim.

If you claim at your full retirement age (66 to 67, depending on birth year), you receive 50 percent of your spouse's PIA. If you claim at 62, the earliest age, you receive about 32.5 percent. If you claim between 62 and your full retirement age, your benefit falls somewhere in between — the closer you are to your full retirement age, the higher the percentage.

If you are caring for your spouse's child under 16, you receive 75 percent of your spouse's PIA, regardless of your age. This is the highest spousal benefit rate available.

Example: If your spouse's full SSDI benefit is $1,200 per month and you claim at 62, you would receive roughly $390 per month (32.5 percent). If you wait until your full retirement age, you would receive $600 per month (50 percent). These are estimates; your actual amount depends on your spouse's exact benefit and your exact birth date.

How claiming spousal benefits affects your own retirement benefits

If you have worked and earned your own Social Security retirement benefit, you cannot claim both your own retirement benefit and a spousal SSDI benefit at the same time. The SSA will pay you whichever amount is higher.

When you reach your full retirement age, you can switch from spousal benefits to your own retirement benefit if your own benefit becomes larger. This sometimes happens because your own retirement benefit grows by 8 percent per year if you delay claiming past your full retirement age, while spousal benefits do not grow.

If you claim your own retirement benefit before your full retirement age, you automatically become ineligible for spousal SSDI benefits. The SSA treats this as a claim for retirement benefits, not spousal benefits, and you cannot switch back.

How to claim spousal SSDI benefits

You cannot claim spousal SSDI benefits online through the Social Security website. You must contact the SSA directly by phone, mail, or in person at a local Social Security office.

To start the process, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778 for deaf and hard of hearing callers). You can reach them Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. Have your spouse's Social Security number and your own information ready.

You will need to provide documents that prove your identity, age, and marriage. Bring an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, marriage certificate, and a photo ID. If you are claiming as a caregiver for a child under 16, bring proof of the child's age and relationship to your spouse as well.

The SSA will schedule an appointment for you, either by phone or in person. During this appointment, they will take your formal claim and answer questions about your situation. Processing typically takes several weeks.

Work earnings and spousal SSDI benefits

If you work and earn income, your spousal SSDI benefit may be reduced under the Earnings Test if you claim before your full retirement age. In 2024, the SSA reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above $23,400 per year (this amount changes yearly).

Once you reach your full retirement age, the Earnings Test no longer applies and your benefit will not be reduced no matter how much you earn. This is true even if you are still receiving spousal benefits rather than your own retirement benefit.

If you are caring for your spouse's child under 16, the Earnings Test does not explore to you at any age. You can work and earn as much as you want without your benefit being reduced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim spousal SSDI benefits if my spouse is still working?

Yes. Your spouse does not have to stop working to receive SSDI, and you do not have to stop working to claim spousal benefits based on their record. However, if you are under your full retirement age and earn above the annual limit, your spousal benefit will be reduced by the Earnings Test.

What happens to my spousal benefits if my spouse's SSDI is approved or denied?

You can only receive spousal SSDI benefits if your spouse is currently receiving SSDI. If your spouse's claim is denied, you cannot claim spousal benefits. If your spouse's benefits are approved later, you can then claim spousal benefits based on their record, though you may receive back pay if you applied before their approval.

Can I receive spousal benefits if I am divorced?

Yes, if your marriage lasted at least 10 years and you are at least 62 years old, you can claim benefits based on your ex-spouse's work record if they are receiving SSDI. Your ex-spouse does not have to be aware of your claim, and it does not affect their benefit amount. The nine-month marriage requirement does not explore to divorced spouses.

Do spousal SSDI benefits count as income for other programs?

Yes. Spousal SSDI benefits are counted as unearned income for programs like Medicaid, SNAP (food information), and housing information. Receiving spousal benefits may affect your income limits for these programs, so contact your local benefits office to understand how it applies to you.

What if my spouse and I both have disabilities?

You can each receive your own SSDI benefit based on your individual work records. You cannot receive both your own SSDI and spousal SSDI at the same time — the SSA pays whichever is higher. If you have not worked enough to earn your own SSDI, you can claim spousal benefits instead.