For those who haven’t worked much or have a limited work history due to reasons such as parenting or health issues, Social Security offers spousal benefits to ensure they still receive support. If you’re in a situation where your spouse is the primary earner, spousal benefits could be a valuable option to boost your monthly income.
As of the end of July, over 2 million people are receiving these benefits, showing how effective they can be for many. Here’s a breakdown of how spousal benefits work and who qualifies.
How to Qualify for Social Security Spousal Benefits
To be eligible for spousal benefits, you must meet these three main requirements:
- Marriage or Divorce Status:
- You must be married (typically for at least a year) or divorced after being married for at least 10 years.
- If you remarry, you are no longer eligible to claim spousal benefits based on your ex-spouse’s work history.
- Primary Claiming Spouse Must Be Receiving Benefits:
- Your spouse must already be receiving Social Security benefits. If they decide to suspend their benefits (which they may do to earn delayed retirement credits), your spousal benefits will also be suspended.
- Your spouse must already be receiving Social Security benefits. If they decide to suspend their benefits (which they may do to earn delayed retirement credits), your spousal benefits will also be suspended.
- Age or Caregiving Requirement:
- You must be at least 62 years old, or
- You must be caring for a child under age 16 or a child with a disability that began before age 22.
In addition to these basic requirements, you should also verify whether your benefits based on your own earnings record are lower than the amount you’d receive from spousal benefits. If your own benefits are higher, there’s no reason to claim spousal benefits instead.
To check your earnings history and benefit estimates, visit the Social Security Administration (SSA) website and create an account to view your “Social Security Statement.”
How Much You Can Expect to Receive in Spousal Benefits
By claiming spousal benefits, you could receive up to 50% of your partner’s primary insurance amount (PIA). The PIA is the amount your spouse would receive at their full retirement age (FRA).
For example:
If your spouse’s monthly benefit at FRA is $2,000, you would be eligible for $1,000 per month at your own FRA.
However, claiming spousal benefits before your FRA will result in a reduction in your monthly benefit.
Here’s a look at how claiming earlier impacts the reduction in both standard and spousal benefits if your FRA is 67:
| Claiming Age | Standard Benefit Reduction | Spousal Benefit Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | 30% | 35% |
| 63 | 25% | 30% |
| 64 | 20% | 25% |
| 65 | 13.3% | 16.7% |
| 66 | 6.7% | 8.3% |
Using the example above, if you’re eligible for $1,000 in spousal benefits at your FRA of 67:
Claiming at 64 would reduce it to $750 per month.
Claiming at 62 would reduce it further to $650 per month.
One key thing to remember is that, unlike standard Social Security benefits, spousal benefits don’t earn delayed retirement credits if you delay past your FRA. Therefore, it’s typically best to claim spousal benefits as soon as you reach your FRA.
