What spousal benefits are and who can receive them

Spousal Social Security benefits let you claim a portion of your spouse's retirement earnings record, even if you have little or no work history of your own. You do not receive your spouse's full benefit amount — you receive a percentage of it, typically up to 50 percent, depending on your age when you claim. Your spouse must be at least 62 years old and have already filed for retirement benefits, or be at least 62 and willing to file so you can claim on their record.

The key difference from your own retirement benefit is that spousal benefits are calculated from your spouse's earnings, not yours. If your own retirement benefit would be higher than the spousal amount, Social Security pays you your own benefit instead. This is called the deemed filing rule, and it means you cannot choose to take spousal benefits now and switch to your own benefit later — you get whichever is larger.

You must be at least 62 years old to claim spousal benefits. If you claim before your full retirement age (which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year), your benefit is reduced. The reduction is permanent — it does not increase later if you wait.

Key Takeaways

  • Spousal benefits are typically up to 50 percent of your spouse's retirement benefit, but only if you wait until your full retirement age to claim.
  • You must be at least 62 years old, and your spouse must be at least 62 and have filed for retirement benefits (or be willing to file so you can claim on their record).
  • If your own retirement benefit is higher than the spousal amount, Social Security automatically pays you your own benefit instead.
  • Claiming before your full retirement age reduces your spousal benefit permanently, with larger reductions the earlier you claim.
  • You will need your Social Security number, your spouse's Social Security number, and proof of marriage to file.

How the benefit amount is calculated

Social Security calculates your spousal benefit as a percentage of your spouse's primary insurance amount (PIA) — the full retirement benefit they are may have access to to at their full retirement age. The percentage depends on your age when you claim. At your full retirement age, you receive up to 50 percent of your spouse's PIA. If you claim at 62 (the earliest age), the reduction is roughly 32 to 35 percent of their PIA, depending on your birth year.

The reduction is steeper the earlier you claim. For example, if your spouse's full retirement benefit is $2,000 per month and you claim at 62, you might receive around $640 to $700 per month instead of the $1,000 you would get at your full retirement age. That lower amount becomes your permanent benefit — it does not increase to $1,000 later, even after you reach full retirement age.

Your own retirement benefit is always calculated separately from the spousal amount. If you worked and paid Social Security taxes, you have your own earnings record. Social Security compares your own benefit to the spousal benefit and pays you the larger of the two. This means if your own retirement benefit at full retirement age would be $1,200, and the spousal benefit would be $1,000, you receive $1,200 — not both.

Age requirements and when to claim

You must be at least 62 years old to claim spousal benefits. Your spouse must also be at least 62 and have already filed for retirement, or be at least 62 and willing to file so you can claim on their record. Some people file for retirement specifically to allow their spouse to claim spousal benefits, even if the filing spouse plans to suspend their own benefit later.

Your full retirement age for spousal benefits is the same as your full retirement age for your own retirement benefit — between 66 and 67 depending on your birth year. If you claim before that age, your benefit is reduced. The reduction is permanent and does not change if you wait longer or if your spouse's benefit increases later.

Waiting until your full retirement age to claim gives you the maximum spousal benefit (up to 50 percent of your spouse's PIA). Claiming at 62 gives you the minimum. There is no additional benefit for waiting past your full retirement age to claim spousal benefits — unlike your own retirement benefit, which increases if you delay past full retirement age.

Documents you need to file

To claim spousal benefits, you will need to provide Social Security with several documents. Bring your Social Security card or a document showing your Social Security number, a birth certificate or other proof of birth date, and proof of citizenship or legal residency (such as a passport or naturalization certificate). You will also need your spouse's Social Security number and proof of your marriage, such as a marriage certificate.

If you have been divorced, you may be able to claim spousal benefits on an ex-spouse's record under certain conditions. You must have been married for at least 10 years, be at least 62 years old, and be unmarried at the time you file. You will need a copy of your divorce decree or divorce judgment in addition to the documents listed above.

You can file in person at your local Social Security office, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or online through your Social Security account at ssa.gov. Filing online is often the fastest route if you have all documents ready. If you file by phone or in person, Social Security will tell you what additional documents to bring or mail.

How spousal benefits interact with your own retirement benefit

The deemed filing rule means that when you claim spousal benefits, you are also claiming your own retirement benefit. Social Security calculates both and pays you whichever is larger. You cannot claim spousal benefits now and switch to your own benefit later — the choice is made when you file.

This matters most if you have a modest work history and a higher-earning spouse. For example, if your own retirement benefit at full retirement age would be $800 per month and your spouse's is $2,000, the spousal benefit would be $1,000. Social Security pays you $1,000 (the spousal amount), not $800. If you claimed at 62 instead, both amounts would be reduced, and you would receive the reduced spousal amount.

If you have a substantial work history and your own benefit is higher than the spousal amount, spousal benefits do not increase your total payment. You simply receive your own benefit. This is why spousal benefits are most valuable for people with little or no work history, or those who worked in jobs not covered by Social Security (such as some government or railroad positions).

Spousal benefits and government pension offsets

If you receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security — such as a government job, some railroad work, or certain foreign employment — the Government Pension Offset (GPO) may reduce your spousal benefit. The GPO subtracts two-thirds of your non-covered pension from your spousal benefit. In some cases, this can reduce your spousal benefit to zero.

For example, if you receive a $1,500 monthly government pension and your spousal benefit would be $1,000, the GPO subtracts $1,000 (two-thirds of $1,500) from the $1,000 spousal benefit, leaving you with $0. You would receive only your government pension, not the spousal benefit.

The GPO applies only to spousal and survivor benefits, not to your own retirement benefit based on your Social Security work record. If you have both a government pension and your own Social Security benefit, you receive both in full. Ask Social Security whether your pension is covered by Social Security — if it is, the GPO does not apply.

What happens to spousal benefits if your spouse dies

If your spouse dies, your spousal benefit ends. However, you may be able to claim survivor benefits on your spouse's record instead. Survivor benefits are calculated differently from spousal benefits and may be higher. You must be at least 60 years old (or 50 if you are disabled) to claim survivor benefits, and your spouse must have worked long enough to be insured for survivor benefits.

The amount of survivor benefits depends on your age and your relationship to the deceased. A widow or widower at full retirement age receives up to 100 percent of what the deceased was receiving or may have access to to receive. Claiming before full retirement age reduces the benefit. If you have children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school), they may also be able to claim survivor benefits on your spouse's record.

Contact Social Security as soon as possible after your spouse's death. Social Security will explain what survivor benefits you and your family may receive and what documents you need to provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim spousal benefits if my spouse hasn't filed for retirement yet?

Your spouse must be at least 62 and have filed for retirement benefits before you can claim spousal benefits on their record. However, your spouse can file for retirement specifically to allow you to claim spousal benefits, even if they plan to suspend their own benefit later. Contact Social Security to discuss your options.

What if I'm still working when I claim spousal benefits?

If you claim spousal benefits before your full retirement age and earn more than a certain amount (the limit changes yearly), Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit. Once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies. Ask Social Security what the current earnings limit is.

Can I claim spousal benefits on an ex-spouse's record?

Yes, if you were married for at least 10 years, are at least 62 years old, are unmarried, and your ex-spouse is at least 62 (or has been deceased for at least nine months). Your ex does not need to have filed for benefits yet. You will need a copy of your divorce decree.

Do spousal benefits count toward my lifetime Social Security earnings?

No. Spousal benefits are calculated from your spouse's earnings record, not yours. They do not increase your own retirement benefit later or affect any other Social Security benefit you may receive based on your own work history.

What if my spouse and I both claim spousal benefits on each other's records?

You each receive a spousal benefit based on the other's earnings record. Social Security calculates each benefit separately and pays you both. However, the deemed filing rule still applies — if your own retirement benefit is higher than the spousal amount, you receive your own benefit instead.