What Social Security spousal benefits are

Spousal benefits let you claim a portion of your spouse's Social Security record if you are married, divorced, or widowed. You do not need your own work history to claim them, and you do not reduce what your spouse receives. The amount you get is based on your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount — the full benefit they would receive at their full retirement age — not on what they actually claim.

The Social Security Administration treats spousal claims separately from your own work record. If you have both a work history and a spousal entitlement, you will receive your own benefit first, and spousal benefits make up the difference if the spousal amount is larger. This matters because it changes when you can claim and how much you receive.

Spousal benefits exist in three forms: benefits for a current spouse, benefits for a divorced ex-spouse, and benefits for a widow or widower. The rules for each are different, particularly around age and how long you must have been married.

Key Takeaways

  • Spousal benefits are worth up to 50 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount if you claim at your full retirement age, but less if you claim earlier.
  • You must be at least 62 years old to claim spousal benefits on a current spouse's record, and at least 60 to claim as a widow or widower.
  • If you were married for at least 10 years and are now divorced, you can claim on your ex-spouse's record without their knowledge or permission.
  • Claiming spousal benefits before your full retirement age permanently reduces the amount you receive each month for the rest of your life.
  • If you have your own work record, Social Security pays your own benefit first, then adds spousal benefits only if the spousal amount is larger.

Age requirements and when you can claim

The earliest age you can claim spousal benefits on a current spouse's record is 62. However, if you claim before your full retirement age — which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year — your monthly payment is permanently reduced. The reduction is roughly 32 to 35 percent if you claim at 62, depending on your full retirement age.

If you wait until your full retirement age to claim spousal benefits, you receive up to 50 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount. You cannot receive more than 50 percent no matter how long you wait past full retirement age. This is different from your own benefit, which increases if you delay claiming past full retirement age.

For widow and widower benefits, you can claim as early as age 60 (or 50 if you are disabled). The reduction for claiming before full retirement age is steeper for widow benefits than for spousal benefits — roughly 71 to 72 percent if you claim at 60. At full retirement age, a widow or widower receives 100 percent of what the deceased worker was receiving or may have access to to receive.

Divorced spousal benefits and the 10-year marriage rule

If you were married for at least 10 years and are now divorced, you can claim spousal benefits on your ex-spouse's record. Your ex does not have to be receiving benefits yet, and they do not have to know you are claiming. The only requirement is that you are at least 62 and your ex-spouse is at least 62 (or deceased).

The 10-year marriage rule is strict: if you were married for 9 years and 11 months, you do not meet the requirement. The Social Security Administration counts the years from the date you were married to the date the divorce was final. If you have been divorced for at least 2 years, you can claim even if your ex-spouse has not yet claimed benefits themselves.

If you remarry, you generally lose the right to claim on your ex-spouse's record, unless your new marriage ends (by death, divorce, or annulment). If your ex-spouse remarries, it does not affect your benefits. You can claim on only one ex-spouse's record, even if you were married to multiple people for 10 years or longer.

How spousal benefits interact with your own work record

If you have worked and earned your own Social Security benefit, the Social Security Administration compares your own benefit amount to the spousal benefit amount. You receive your own benefit first. If the spousal benefit is larger, you receive an additional payment to bring your total up to the spousal amount. You cannot receive only spousal benefits if you have a work record — you always receive your own benefit as the base.

This matters most for people born before January 2, 1954, who may have had the option to claim spousal benefits first and delay their own benefit. People born January 2, 1954 or later cannot do this. If you were born after that date and claim before your full retirement age, you are deemed to claim both your own benefit and any spousal benefit at the same time, and both are reduced.

Your own benefit grows if you delay claiming past your full retirement age — it increases by roughly 8 percent per year until age 70. Spousal benefits do not grow past your full retirement age. If you have a choice between a larger own benefit (by waiting) or a larger spousal benefit (by claiming now), the math depends on your life expectancy and your spouse's benefit amount.

What happens to spousal benefits if your spouse claims early or late

Your spousal benefit is calculated based on your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount, not on the amount they actually receive. If your spouse claims at 62 and receives a reduced benefit, your spousal benefit is still based on their full retirement age amount. This is one of the few situations where your spouse's claiming decision does not directly affect your payment.

However, if your spouse has not yet claimed benefits and you want to claim spousal benefits, your spouse must be at least 62 years old (or deceased). You cannot claim on a spouse's record if they are younger than 62 and still working, even if you are old enough to claim.

If your spouse dies, your spousal benefits convert to widow or widower benefits. The amount you receive as a widow or widower is different from what you would have received as a spouse — it is typically higher. If you were already receiving spousal benefits when your spouse died, your payment will be recalculated as a widow or widower benefit.

Earnings limits and work while receiving spousal benefits

If you claim spousal benefits before your full retirement age and you are still working, your benefits may be reduced based on your earnings. For 2024, if you earn more than $23,400 per year, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. In the year you reach full retirement age, the limit is higher and the deduction rate changes.

These earnings limits explore only to you, not to your spouse. If your spouse is working and earning a high income, it does not affect your spousal benefits. The earnings limit is based on your own wages, self-employment income, and non-covered government pension — not on investment income, rental income, or other sources.

Once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies. You can earn any amount without a reduction to your benefits. The earnings limit is temporary and exists only to discourage people from claiming benefits while still in the workforce.

Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision

If you receive a pension from work that was not covered by Social Security — such as some government jobs, teaching positions, or foreign service work — two rules may reduce your spousal or widow benefits. The Government Pension Offset reduces widow and widower benefits by two-thirds of your non-covered pension amount. The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces your own Social Security benefit if you also receive a non-covered pension.

These rules are complex and explore only to certain types of pensions. If you worked for a federal, state, or local government and did not pay Social Security taxes on that job, you may be affected. The Social Security Administration has a Government Pension Offset calculator on its website, and you can contact your local Social Security office to find out whether these rules explore to you.

If you are widowed and receive a government pension, the offset can reduce your widow benefit to zero, even if your spouse paid into Social Security for decades. This is one of the most significant limitations on spousal and widow benefits, and it affects thousands of people who worked in public service.

How to claim spousal benefits

You claim spousal benefits by contacting the Social Security Administration. You can explore online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. You will need your Social Security number, birth certificate, marriage certificate (and divorce decree if applicable), and proof of citizenship or legal residency.

If you are claiming on a current spouse's record, your spouse does not have to be present, but you will need their Social Security number. If you are claiming on a divorced ex-spouse's record, you do not need their permission or involvement. If you are claiming as a widow or widower, you will need the death certificate.

The Social Security Administration processes most applications within two to four weeks. You will receive a notice in the mail confirming your benefit amount and your first payment date. Your benefits are usually deposited directly into your bank account each month.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, as long as your spouse is at least 62 years old. Your spouse does not have to have claimed their own benefits yet. If your spouse has not claimed, the Social Security Administration will ask them to explore so they can verify their Primary Insurance Amount, but your spouse can choose to delay their own claim while you receive spousal benefits.

What is the difference between spousal benefits and widow benefits?

Spousal benefits are up to 50 percent of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount if claimed at full retirement age. Widow and widower benefits are up to 100 percent of what your spouse was receiving or may have access to to receive. Widow benefits are also available at age 60 (or 50 if disabled), earlier than spousal benefits. The reduction for claiming early is also steeper for widow benefits.

If I claim spousal benefits early, can I switch to my own benefit later?

No. Once you claim any benefit before your full retirement age, both your own benefit and any spousal benefit are reduced permanently. You cannot undo the claim or switch to a different benefit type later. This is why the timing of your claim is important.

Can I claim spousal benefits if my ex-spouse has remarried?

Yes. Your ex-spouse's remarriage does not affect your right to claim on their record, as long as you were married for at least 10 years and meet the other requirements. Your ex-spouse's new spouse does not have any claim on the benefits you receive.

Do spousal benefits count toward the earnings limit if I am still working?

Yes. If you claim before your full retirement age and are working, the earnings limit applies to your total benefits — your own benefit plus any spousal benefit combined. Once you reach full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies to any of your benefits.