Spousal benefits exist to protect lower-earning spouses who may have spent time out of the workforce raising children or caregiving. They can significantly increase household retirement income.
How Spousal Benefits Work
If you are married and your spouse has claimed Social Security, you may be eligible for a spousal benefit equal to up to 50% of your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — if that amount is higher than your own earned benefit.
SSA automatically pays you the higher of your own benefit or the spousal benefit — you don't have to choose or calculate this yourself.
Key Rules for Spousal Benefits
- Your spouse must have already claimed their own Social Security benefit
- You must be at least 62 years old
- Spousal benefits max out at 50% of your spouse's FRA benefit — they do NOT receive delayed retirement credits
- Claiming your spousal benefit before your own FRA permanently reduces it
- You cannot claim spousal benefits if you are divorced (divorced rules apply separately)
Divorced Spouse Benefits
Even if you are no longer married, you may qualify for benefits based on an ex-spouse's record:
- You were married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years
- You are currently unmarried
- You are at least 62 years old
- Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security (doesn't need to have claimed yet, if divorced 2+ years)
Claiming divorced spousal benefits does not affect your ex-spouse's own benefit — or any benefit their current spouse may receive.
If you stayed home to raise children and have limited work history, spousal benefits can be the difference between a very small check and a meaningful one. A spouse with a $3,000/month benefit gives you access to up to $1,500/month — just for being married for the required time.
Understand Your Spousal Benefit Options
The SS Benefit Estimator helps you compare your own benefit vs spousal benefit side by side.