What a spousal benefit is and who can receive it

A spousal benefit is a Social Security payment based on your spouse's or ex-spouse's work record, not your own. You receive it in addition to any benefit you've earned yourself, though Social Security will not pay you more than the total of both combined. The payment comes from the same trust fund as regular retirement benefits, and the amount depends on your spouse's benefit amount and your age when you start collecting.

You can receive a spousal benefit if you are at least 62 years old and your spouse is already receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits. If you are divorced, you can claim on an ex-spouse's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are currently unmarried, and your ex-spouse is at least 62 (even if they haven't started collecting yet). Your ex does not need to know you are claiming, and it does not reduce their benefit.

You cannot receive a spousal benefit if you are under 62, even if your spouse is collecting. The only exception is if you are caring for a child under 16 who is receiving benefits on your spouse's record — in that case, you can claim at any age.

Key Takeaways

  • A spousal benefit is based on your spouse's earnings record and is reduced if you claim before your full retirement age, which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year.
  • The maximum spousal benefit is 50 percent of what your spouse receives at their full retirement age, but you will receive less if you claim early.
  • If you are divorced, you can claim on an ex-spouse's record after 10 years of marriage without their knowledge or permission, and it does not affect their benefit.
  • Social Security will reduce your spousal benefit by a percentage for each month you claim before reaching your full retirement age.
  • You must be at least 62 to claim a spousal benefit, unless you are caring for a child under 16 on your spouse's record.

How the benefit amount is calculated

Social Security calculates your spousal benefit as a percentage of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — the benefit they receive at their full retirement age. The maximum you can receive is 50 percent of that amount, but only if you wait until your full retirement age to claim. If you claim before then, the payment is reduced.

The reduction is permanent and increases the earlier you claim. If your full retirement age is 67 and you claim at 62, you receive approximately 32.5 percent of your spouse's PIA instead of 50 percent. If you claim at 65, you receive about 41.7 percent. The exact percentage depends on how many months early you are claiming. Social Security publishes reduction tables, and you can see your specific amount by creating an account at ssa.gov and viewing your benefit estimate.

Your own work record also matters. If you are may have access to to a retirement benefit based on your own earnings, Social Security pays your own benefit first. If your spousal benefit would be higher, you receive an additional amount to bring you up to the spousal maximum. This is called the excess spousal benefit. You cannot receive a spousal benefit alone if you are also may have access to to your own retirement benefit — Social Security combines them automatically.

Full retirement age and early claiming reductions

Your full retirement age for spousal benefits depends on your birth year. If you were born in 1954 or earlier, it is 66. If you were born between 1955 and 1959, it increases by two months for each year of birth. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. You can claim a spousal benefit as early as 62, but the reduction is steep — roughly 32.5 percent of your spouse's PIA instead of 50 percent.

The reduction applies for life. If you claim at 62 and live to 90, you will receive the reduced amount every month for the rest of your life. There is no way to undo the reduction or "restart" your benefit later. This is why financial advisors often recommend waiting until at least your full retirement age if you can afford to, especially if you are in good health or have family history of longevity.

If you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your spousal benefit does not increase further. Unlike your own retirement benefit, which grows by 8 percent per year until age 70, a spousal benefit maxes out at 50 percent of your spouse's PIA at your full retirement age. Delaying past that point does not raise the spousal portion, though it may affect your own retirement benefit if you have one.

Rules for divorced spouses

If you are divorced, you can claim a spousal benefit on your ex-spouse's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are at least 62, and you are not currently married. Your ex does not need to be collecting Social Security yet — they only need to be at least 62. You do not need their permission or knowledge, and claiming does not reduce their benefit or affect their family's benefits in any way.

The benefit amount is calculated the same way: up to 50 percent of your ex's Primary Insurance Amount at your full retirement age, reduced if you claim early. 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 right to claim on their record.

If you have been divorced more than once and each marriage lasted 10 years or more, you can choose which ex-spouse's record to claim on. Social Security will not tell you which is highest — you have to calculate or ask for an estimate for each one. You can only receive a benefit on one record at a time, though you can switch later if circumstances change.

How spousal benefits interact with your own retirement benefit

If you are may have access to to both a retirement benefit based on your own work record and a spousal benefit, Social Security pays both but combines them into one payment. Your own benefit is always paid first. If the spousal portion would bring your total above the maximum, you receive the maximum. If your own benefit is already higher than the spousal maximum, you receive only your own benefit — the spousal portion adds nothing.

This matters most if you were born before January 2, 1954. Under the old rules, you could claim your own retirement benefit at your full retirement age and delay claiming the spousal portion until later, allowing your own benefit to grow while you collected the spousal amount. That option is no longer available for people born in 1954 or later. If you claim at your full retirement age or later, you are deemed to claim both benefits at once, and they are combined.

If you claim before your full retirement age, both your own benefit and the spousal portion are reduced. The reduction is applied to your total combined benefit, not to each part separately. This can make early claiming especially costly if you have a substantial work record of your own.

Earnings limits and work after claiming

If you claim a spousal benefit before your full retirement age and continue to work, Social Security will reduce your benefit if your earnings exceed a limit. In 2025, the limit is $23,400 per year. For every $2 you earn above that amount, Social Security withholds $1 from your benefit. The reduction applies only until you reach your full retirement age; after that, you can earn any amount without penalty.

The earnings limit applies only to wages and self-employment income. It does not include investment income, pensions, annuities, or other non-work income. If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit from self-employment. If you own a business, the rules are more complex — contact Social Security directly to understand how your specific situation is treated.

The earnings limit is one reason some people delay claiming until their full retirement age. If you plan to keep working and earning substantial income, claiming early may result in little or no benefit payment until you stop working or reach your full retirement age.

Tax treatment of spousal benefits

Spousal benefits are subject to the same tax rules as your own Social Security benefits. If your combined income (adjusted gross income plus nontaxable interest plus half your Social Security benefits) exceeds certain thresholds, up to 50 percent or 85 percent of your benefits may be taxable as ordinary income. The thresholds are $25,000 for single filers and $32,000 for married couples filing jointly; they have not changed since 1984 and do not adjust for inflation.

Whether your spousal benefit is taxed depends on your total income in that year, not on the spousal benefit alone. If you have substantial retirement savings, pensions, or other income, you may owe federal income tax on part of your Social Security. Some states also tax Social Security benefits, though the rules vary. A tax professional can help you estimate your tax liability before you claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim a spousal benefit if my spouse hasn't started collecting yet?

Only if you are divorced and your ex-spouse is at least 62. If you are currently married, your spouse must already be receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits before you can claim a spousal benefit on their record. If your spouse is not yet 62, you will have to wait.

What happens to my spousal benefit if my spouse dies?

Your spousal benefit ends, but you may be able to receive a survivor benefit instead. The rules and amounts are different. Contact Social Security to learn what you may receive as a widow or widower based on your spouse's record.

If I claim a spousal benefit early, can I change my mind and wait later?

You can withdraw your claim within 12 months of starting to receive benefits, repay all the money you received, and restart your benefit later at a higher amount. After 12 months, you cannot undo the claim, and the reduction is permanent. This option is rarely used because repaying the full amount is difficult for most people.

Does my spousal benefit count toward the earnings limit if I'm still working?

Yes. If you claim before your full retirement age and earn more than $23,400 in 2025, Social Security reduces your total benefit — both your own and the spousal portion — by $1 for every $2 over the limit. The reduction stops once you reach your full retirement age.

Can I receive a spousal benefit if I never worked?

Yes. You do not need your own work record to claim a spousal benefit. As long as you meet the age and marriage requirements, you can receive a benefit based entirely on your spouse's earnings record. This is one of the main reasons spousal benefits exist.