What you can receive as a spouse

If your spouse receives Social Security, you may be able to receive benefits based on their work record — even if you never worked or have a small work history yourself. The amount you receive is a percentage of what your spouse gets, not a percentage of what they earned. You do not need to have contributed to Social Security to claim spouse benefits.

The most common scenario is a spouse benefit equal to 32.5% of your spouse's full retirement age amount if you claim at your full retirement age. If you claim earlier, the percentage drops. If you claim later, it does not increase beyond the 32.5% cap — unlike your own retirement benefit, which grows if you delay.

You can also receive a divorced spouse benefit based on a former spouse's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are at least 62, and you are not currently married. The rules are the same as for current spouses, except your ex does not need to have filed for benefits yet — as long as you have been divorced for at least two years.

Key Takeaways

  • Spouse benefits are typically 32.5% of your spouse's full retirement age amount if you claim at your full retirement age, but this percentage is lower if you claim before age 66 or 67.
  • You can claim a divorced spouse benefit on a marriage that lasted at least 10 years, even if your ex has not yet filed for Social Security.
  • If you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16, you can claim a spousal benefit at any age, though the percentage will be reduced.
  • Your own work record may result in a higher benefit than the spouse benefit, and Social Security will pay you the larger of the two amounts.
  • Claiming before your full retirement age reduces your spouse benefit permanently, and the reduction is steeper than it is for your own retirement benefit.

Age requirements and when you can claim

You must be at least 62 to claim a spouse benefit. However, there is an exception: if you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16, you can claim at any age. The child must be your spouse's biological or legally adopted child.

Your full retirement age for spouse benefits is 66 or 67, depending on your birth year — the same as your own retirement age. If you claim before your full retirement age, your benefit is reduced. The reduction is about 35% if you claim at 62, meaning you would receive roughly 32.5% of your spouse's amount instead of the full percentage.

If you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your spouse benefit does not increase. This is different from your own retirement benefit, which grows by about 8% per year if you delay. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no financial advantage to waiting to claim a spouse benefit.

How your own work record affects what you receive

Social Security calculates both your own retirement benefit (based on your work record) and your spouse benefit (based on your spouse's record). You receive whichever amount is higher. This is called the deemed filing rule, and it applies to everyone born in 1954 or later.

If your own work record would give you $800 per month and your spouse benefit would give you $600 per month, Social Security pays you $800. You do not receive both amounts — you get the larger one. This means that even if you have a modest work history, you may not receive any additional money from the spouse benefit.

The reduction for claiming early applies to whichever benefit you receive. If you claim at 62 and your own benefit is higher, the reduction is about 30%. If your spouse benefit is higher, the reduction is about 35%. Social Security applies the reduction to the larger amount, so the age at which you claim affects your total payment.

What happens when your spouse dies

If your spouse dies, you become may be able to access for a survivor benefit instead of a spouse benefit. The survivor benefit is typically 75% of what your spouse was receiving or may have access to to receive at the time of death. This is higher than the spouse benefit, which maxes out at 32.5%.

You can claim a survivor benefit as early as age 60 (or 50 if you are disabled). If you are caring for your spouse's child under 16, you can claim at any age. The reduction for claiming before your full retirement age is smaller for survivor benefits than for spouse benefits — roughly 28.5% at age 60, compared to 35% for a spouse benefit at 62.

If you were already receiving a spouse benefit when your spouse died, your payment automatically converts to a survivor benefit. You do not need to file again or contact Social Security, though you should notify them of the death.

Divorced spouse benefits and the 10-year marriage rule

To claim benefits on a former spouse's record, your marriage must have lasted at least 10 years. Social Security counts the years from the date you married to the date the divorce was final. A marriage that lasted 9 years and 11 months does not may have access to.

You must be at least 62 and unmarried. If you remarry, you lose the right to claim on your ex's record, though you may be able to claim on your new spouse's record instead. If your ex remarries, it does not affect your benefit — you can still claim on their record.

Your ex does not need to have filed for Social Security yet. If you have been divorced for at least two years, you can file based on their record even if they have not claimed benefits themselves. Once you file, Social Security will contact your ex to verify the marriage and divorce, but your ex will not be notified of the specific amount you are receiving.

How remarriage affects your benefits

If you remarry before age 60, you lose the right to claim on your former spouse's record. You can only claim on your current spouse's record (if they are at least 62 or have a child under 16 in your care). If you remarry at 60 or later, you keep the right to claim on your former spouse's record.

If you are already receiving a spouse benefit and you remarry, your benefit stops. If you later divorce again, you may be able to claim on the new ex-spouse's record if that marriage lasted 10 years. You cannot receive benefits on more than one person's record at the same time.

If you are receiving a survivor benefit on a former spouse's record and you remarry before age 60, your benefit stops. If you remarry at 60 or later, your survivor benefit continues. This rule is the same as for spouse benefits.

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 work — two rules may reduce your spouse or survivor benefit.

The Government Pension Offset reduces your spouse or survivor benefit by two-thirds of your government pension amount. If your pension is $900 per month, your spouse benefit is reduced by $600. This can reduce your benefit to zero. The offset applies only to pensions from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes.

The Windfall Elimination Provision affects your own retirement benefit if you have a non-covered government pension. It does not directly affect spouse benefits, but it can reduce the amount your spouse receives based on your record. The reduction formula is complex and depends on your birth year and the size of your pension.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

If you are married, your spouse must have filed for benefits before you can claim a spouse benefit on their record. If you are divorced and have been divorced for at least two years, you can file on your ex's record even if they have not filed yet.

What is the difference between a spouse benefit and a survivor benefit?

A spouse benefit is typically 32.5% of your spouse's full retirement age amount and is paid while your spouse is alive. A survivor benefit is typically 75% of what your spouse was receiving or may have access to to receive, and it is paid after your spouse dies. Survivor benefits are higher and have different age requirements.

If I claim a spouse benefit at 62, can I switch to my own retirement benefit later?

No. Once you claim any Social Security benefit, you are locked into the deemed filing rule. Your benefit is calculated as the higher of your own retirement benefit or your spouse benefit, both reduced for your age at claim. You cannot switch between them later to get a better result.

Does my spouse's remarriage affect my spouse benefit?

No. If your spouse remarries, you can still receive a spouse benefit on their record. Your benefit amount does not change. However, if you remarry, your own spouse benefit stops and you may only claim on your new spouse's record.

What happens to my spouse benefit if I go back to work?

If you claim before your full retirement age and earn more than the annual earnings limit (which changes yearly), Social Security withholds $1 from your benefit for every $2 you earn above the limit. Once you reach your full retirement age, there is no earnings limit and you can work without affecting your benefit.