What a spouse's Social Security benefit is and how to estimate it

A spouse can receive a Social Security benefit based on their partner's work record, even if they have little or no work history of their own. The amount depends on your spouse's benefit amount, your age when you start collecting, and whether you are still married. The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides an online tool called the Retirement Estimator that shows what you might receive as a spouse, but it works differently than the regular benefit calculator because it pulls from your spouse's earnings record, not yours.

The benefit you receive as a spouse is typically between 32.5% and 50% of what your spouse gets at their full retirement age. If you wait until your own full retirement age to claim as a spouse, you can receive up to 50% of their benefit. If you claim earlier, the amount is reduced. The exact percentage depends on your age at the time you claim and your spouse's age when they started collecting.

You do not need to have worked to receive a spouse benefit, but you must be at least 62 years old, and your spouse must be at least 62 and already receiving benefits (with some exceptions for people at full retirement age). If you are divorced, you may still be able to claim on an ex-spouse's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and you have not remarried.

Key Takeaways

  • Spouse benefits range from 32.5% to 50% of your spouse's full retirement age benefit, depending on your age when you claim.
  • The Social Security Retirement Estimator can show you an estimate, but you must know your spouse's birth date and approximate earnings to use it.
  • You must be at least 62 years old and your spouse must be at least 62 and already receiving benefits to claim as a spouse.
  • Claiming before your full retirement age permanently reduces your spouse benefit by a percentage that depends on how many months early you claim.
  • Divorced people can claim on an ex-spouse's record if the marriage lasted 10 years or more and they have not remarried.

Using the Social Security Retirement Estimator for spouse benefits

The Retirement Estimator is available at ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/estimator.html. When you open it, you will see a question asking whether you want an estimate for yourself or as a spouse. Select "as a spouse" to get a calculation based on your spouse's earnings record instead of your own.

To use the tool, you will need your spouse's birth date and Social Security number. You will also need to know or estimate their annual earnings for the past few years. If your spouse has already created a my Social Security account at ssa.gov, you can ask them to log in and check their earnings record, which shows exactly what the SSA has on file. This is more accurate than guessing. The tool will then show you a range of possible benefits based on different claiming ages.

The Retirement Estimator does not work if you or your spouse have already claimed benefits, if either of you receives other Social Security benefits (such as disability), or if you are not yet 15 years old. In those cases, you will need to contact the SSA directly by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local Social Security office to get a personalized estimate.

How your age affects the spouse benefit amount

The age you claim as a spouse determines what percentage of your spouse's benefit you receive. If you wait until your full retirement age—which is between 66 and 67 depending on your birth year—you can receive up to 50% of your spouse's full retirement age benefit. This is the maximum spouse benefit.

If you claim before your full retirement age, your benefit is reduced by a percentage based on how many months early you claim. The reduction is roughly 0.35% per month for the first 36 months, and 0.25% per month for any months beyond that. For example, if your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, you are claiming 60 months early, which results in a reduction of about 32.5% from the 50% maximum. This means you would receive roughly 32.5% of your spouse's full retirement age benefit.

If you claim after your full retirement age, your spouse benefit does not increase further. Unlike your own retirement benefit, which grows by 8% per year if you delay past full retirement age, the spouse benefit maxes out at 50% and does not grow after that. This is an important difference to understand when deciding when to claim.

What happens if your spouse has not yet claimed benefits

If your spouse is at least 62 but has not yet claimed Social Security, you cannot claim as a spouse until they do. Your spouse must file for benefits first, even if they are not yet at their full retirement age. Once they file, you can then file as a spouse.

There is one exception: if your spouse has reached their full retirement age (between 66 and 67), they can file a restricted application to claim only the spouse benefit on your record while letting their own benefit grow. However, this option is only available to people born before January 2, 1954. If your spouse was born after that date, they cannot use this strategy.

If your spouse is still working and earning above the earnings limit, their benefits may be reduced or withheld. For 2024, if your spouse is under full retirement age, the SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above $23,400 per year. In the year your spouse reaches full retirement age, the limit is higher and the withholding rate is different. Once your spouse reaches full retirement age, there is no earnings limit and no reduction, regardless of how much they work.

Divorced spouse benefits and the 10-year marriage rule

If you are divorced, you may be able to claim benefits on your ex-spouse's record. The main requirement is that your marriage lasted at least 10 years. You must also be at least 62 years old, unmarried, and your ex-spouse must be at least 62 (or at least 62 and already receiving benefits, depending on your situation).

The benefit amount as a divorced spouse follows the same rules as a current spouse: up to 50% of your ex-spouse's full retirement age benefit if you claim at your full retirement age, or less if you claim earlier. Your ex-spouse does not need to know you are claiming, and claiming on their record does not reduce their benefit or affect their family's benefits in any way.

If you have been divorced more than once and each marriage lasted at least 10 years, you can choose which ex-spouse's record to claim on. The SSA will pay you based on whichever record gives you the higher benefit. You do not need to contact your ex-spouse to do this—you only need to provide their name and Social Security number when you file.

How remarriage affects your spouse benefit

If you remarry, you generally lose the right to claim as a spouse on your previous spouse's record. However, if your new marriage ends in divorce or death, you may regain the right to claim on your previous spouse's record. The rules depend on the circumstances and when you remarried.

If you are claiming as a divorced spouse and you remarry, your benefit stops. If you later divorce again or your new spouse dies, you can go back to claiming on your ex-spouse's record, provided that first marriage still lasted at least 10 years. If you remarry after age 60 (or 50 if you are disabled), you may still be able to claim on a previous spouse's record, but the rules are complex and you should contact the SSA to understand your specific situation.

Current spouses face the same rule: remarriage ends your spouse benefit. If your spouse dies and you do not remarry before age 60, you can claim a survivor benefit on their record. If you remarry after 60, you can still claim the survivor benefit.

What documents you will need to provide

When you file for spouse benefits, the SSA will ask for proof of your identity, age, citizenship or lawful residency, and your marriage. Bring an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, a government-issued photo ID, and your marriage certificate. If you are divorced, bring your divorce decree. If your name has changed since marriage, bring a document showing the legal name change, such as a divorce decree or court order.

You will also need your spouse's Social Security number and birth date. If your spouse is already receiving benefits, the SSA will have their earnings record on file. If your spouse has not yet filed, you may need to provide proof of their age and identity as well, depending on the situation.

You can file for spouse benefits online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Filing online is usually the fastest option if you have a my Social Security account. If you do not have an account, you can create one at ssa.gov/myaccount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim as a spouse if my spouse is still working?

Yes, but your spouse's benefit may be reduced if they are under full retirement age and earning above the annual limit. For 2024, that limit is $23,400. Once your spouse reaches full retirement age, they can work and earn any amount without a reduction to their benefit or yours.

What if I have my own Social Security record—do I get the higher of the two benefits?

No. The SSA will pay you based on your own record first. If your spouse benefit would be higher, you receive a combination of your own benefit plus a partial spouse benefit to bring you up to the spouse amount. This is called the "deemed filing" rule and applies to everyone born after January 1, 1954.

Does claiming as a spouse affect my spouse's benefit amount?

No. Your spouse's benefit is based on their own earnings record and does not change because you claim as a spouse. The only exception is if your spouse has other family members also claiming on their record; in that case, the total family benefit is split among all of you, but your spouse's individual amount stays the same.

Can I change my mind after I claim as a spouse?

If you claim and then change your mind within 12 months, you can withdraw your claim and reapply later at a higher age. You will need to repay all benefits you received. After 12 months, you cannot withdraw, but you can suspend your benefits at full retirement age and let them grow, though spouse benefits do not grow past age 70 the way your own retirement benefit does.

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

A spouse benefit is what you receive based on your spouse's record. A family benefit is the total amount the SSA will pay to all family members claiming on one person's record combined. If your spouse, children, and you are all claiming, the family benefit is split among you. Your spouse's own benefit is not reduced, but the amounts paid to other family members may be smaller.