What a spousal benefit is and who can receive it

A spousal benefit is a monthly payment from Social Security based on your spouse's or ex-spouse's earnings record rather than your own. You do not need to have worked to receive it — Social Security looks at what your spouse earned and paid into the system, and you can collect a portion of that benefit amount while your spouse collects their own full benefit.

You can receive a spousal benefit if you are at least 62 years old and your spouse is already collecting Social Security retirement benefits. If you are married, your spouse must be at least 62 and have filed for their own benefit first. If you are divorced, your ex-spouse must be at least 62, but they do not have to be collecting yet — you can file on their record even if they have not filed on their own.

The spousal benefit is separate from your own Social Security benefit. If you worked and earned your own Social Security credits, you will have your own retirement benefit. Social Security will pay you whichever is higher: your own benefit or the spousal benefit, but not both at the same time.

Key Takeaways

  • A spousal benefit pays you a percentage of your spouse's or ex-spouse's Social Security benefit, and you do not need a work history to receive it.
  • You must be at least 62 years old, and your spouse must be at least 62 and already collecting (or, for ex-spouses, at least 62 regardless of whether they have filed).
  • The amount you receive depends on your age when you start collecting — claiming at 62 gives you less per month than waiting until your full retirement age.
  • If you have your own Social Security benefit, Social Security pays you the higher of the two amounts, not both combined.
  • For divorced people, the marriage must have lasted at least 10 years, and you must be unmarried at the time you file.

How much a spousal benefit pays

The amount of a spousal benefit is typically 32 to 50 percent of your spouse's full retirement benefit amount, depending on your age when you start collecting. If you claim at your full retirement age (which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year), you receive about 50 percent of what your spouse gets. If you claim at 62, the earliest age allowed, you receive a smaller percentage — usually around 32 to 35 percent.

The exact percentage varies based on your birth year and the rules Social Security applies to your situation. The younger you are when you claim, the less you receive per month. This is because Social Security expects to pay you benefits over a longer period of time.

Your spouse's benefit amount does not change because you are collecting on their record. They receive their full benefit, and you receive your separate spousal payment. The total household benefit is higher than if only one of you were collecting, but your individual spousal payment is a portion of their benefit, not a full additional benefit.

Spousal benefits for divorced people

If you are divorced, you can file for a spousal benefit on your ex-spouse's record under specific conditions. The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years. You must be at least 62 years old. You must be unmarried at the time you file — if you remarry, you lose the right to collect on your ex-spouse's record (though you may be able to collect on a new spouse's record if you remarry after age 60).

Your ex-spouse does not have to be collecting Social Security yet for you to file on their record, as long as they are at least 62. This is different from the rule for current spouses, where your spouse must already be collecting. You also do not need your ex-spouse's permission to file, and they will not be notified that you are collecting on their record.

If you have multiple ex-spouses from marriages that each lasted 10 years or more, you can choose which ex-spouse's record to use. Social Security will help you figure out which choice gives you the highest benefit.

How claiming age affects your spousal benefit

The age at which you claim your spousal benefit directly affects how much you receive each month. Claiming at 62 gives you the smallest monthly payment. Waiting until your full retirement age (66 to 67, depending on your birth year) gives you a larger monthly payment. You cannot receive a spousal benefit after your full retirement age — the benefit does not increase if you wait past that point, unlike your own retirement benefit.

This creates a trade-off: claim early and receive less per month for a longer period, or wait and receive more per month for a shorter period. The break-even point — where the total amount you receive is the same either way — typically occurs in your early 80s, though this varies based on your specific situation and life expectancy.

If you have your own Social Security benefit, the claiming age for your spousal benefit may be limited by rules about how much you can receive. Social Security has rules that reduce the total amount you can collect if you claim before your full retirement age, so the timing of when you claim matters for your household's total benefit.

How your own work history affects spousal benefits

If you worked and earned your own Social Security credits, you have your own retirement benefit separate from the spousal benefit. Social Security will calculate both amounts and pay you whichever is higher. You do not receive both at the same time.

For people born before January 2, 1954, there is a rule called "file full and suspend" that allowed some people to claim a spousal benefit while letting their own benefit grow. This rule no longer applies to people born after that date. If you were born after January 1, 1954, and you file for benefits, Social Security will assume you are filing for both your own benefit and any spousal benefit you are may have access to to, and will pay you the higher of the two amounts.

If your own benefit is higher than the spousal benefit, you will receive your own benefit only. This is common for people who had steady earnings throughout their working years. If the spousal benefit is higher, you will receive that instead. Social Security makes this calculation automatically when you file.

When your spouse passes away

If your spouse passes away, your spousal benefit ends, but you may become may have access to to a survivor benefit instead. A survivor benefit is a different payment based on your deceased spouse's earnings record. The amount is typically higher than the spousal benefit was, and the rules about age and may be able to access are different.

You can receive a survivor benefit as early as age 60 (or age 50 if you are disabled). If you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16, you can receive a benefit at any age. The survivor benefit continues until you reach your full retirement age, at which point it converts to your own retirement benefit or a benefit based on your deceased spouse's record, whichever is higher.

Contact Social Security as soon as possible after your spouse's death. You will need to provide a death certificate and other documents. Social Security will explain what survivor benefits you may receive and help you understand how the amount will change as you age.

How to file for a spousal benefit

To file for a spousal benefit, contact Social Security directly. You can call 1-800-772-1213, visit your local Social Security office in person, or go online to ssa.gov and create a my Social Security account to file. You will need your Social Security number, your spouse's Social Security number, and proof of age (such as a birth certificate).

If you are filing on an ex-spouse's record, you will also need to provide proof that your marriage lasted at least 10 years. A divorce decree or marriage certificate showing the dates is usually sufficient. You do not need your ex-spouse's permission or involvement.

Social Security will review your information and tell you what benefit amount you may have access to for. The process typically takes a few weeks. Once approved, your benefit will begin the month after you file, or the month you reach the age you specified, whichever is later. You will receive your first payment within a few weeks of approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive a spousal benefit if my spouse has not filed for Social Security yet?

If you are currently married, your spouse must have already filed for their own benefit before you can file for a spousal benefit. If you are divorced, your ex-spouse does not have to have filed — they only need to be at least 62 years old. This is one advantage of filing on an ex-spouse's record.

What happens to my spousal benefit if I work and earn income?

If you are under your full retirement age and you earn income above a certain limit, Social Security will reduce your benefit. For 2024, if you earn more than $23,400 per year, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefit for every $2 you earn above that amount. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no limit on how much you can earn without affecting your benefit.

Can I change my mind after I file for a spousal benefit?

If you file and then change your mind within 12 months, you can withdraw your process and file again later. You must repay any benefits you received. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw your process. If you want to increase your benefit, you would need to wait until you reach a higher age category or explore other options with Social Security.

What if I was married more than once?

You can file on the record of any ex-spouse from a marriage that lasted at least 10 years, as long as you are unmarried. If you are currently married, you can file on your current spouse's record. Social Security will help you determine which option gives you the highest benefit and guide you through the filing process.

Does my spousal benefit count as income for taxes or other programs?

Your spousal benefit is counted as income for federal income tax purposes if your combined income exceeds certain thresholds. It may also affect your may be able to access for other programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid, depending on your state and the program's rules. Contact your local Social Security office or the program administrator to understand how your benefit affects your specific situation.