How Spousal Benefits Work: A Practical Guide

Social Security can feel complicated, but spousal benefits are actually straightforward once you understand the rules. They were designed to protect people who spent much of their lives out of the workforce—raising children, managing a household, or supporting a partner’s career—but they also help couples maximize retirement income overall. Here’s a simple guide to how they work and what you can expect.

What Are Spousal Benefits?

Spousal benefits are payments you can receive based on your spouse’s (or ex-spouse’s) Social Security work record rather than your own. These benefits can provide up to 50% of your spouse’s full retirement age (FRA) benefit—not half of what they receive if they claim early or late, but half of what they qualify for at full retirement age.

The key purpose:
To ensure that marriage partners who had low lifetime earnings—or didn’t work in the formal labor force—still have access to retirement income.

Who Is Eligible for a Spousal Benefit?

You can qualify if:

• Your spouse is receiving (or has filed for) retirement or disability benefits.

• You are at least 62, unless caring for a child under 16 or a child with a disability.

• Your own retirement benefit (if you have one) is lower than the spousal benefit.

The Social Security Administration automatically gives you whichever benefit is higher—your own or the spousal benefit.

How Much Can You Get From Your Spouse’s Benefits?

The maximum is 50% of your spouse’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)—their benefit at full retirement age.

But the amount you actually receive depends on when you claim:

If you claim at your full retirement age (typically 66–67):

• You can receive 100% of the possible spousal benefit, which is 50% of your spouse’s PIA.

If you claim early (as early as 62):

• Your spousal benefit is reduced—sometimes significantly.

• A typical reduction might be around 30–35%, depending on your age.

If you claim after full retirement age:

• Spousal benefits do not earn delayed credits.
  (Only your own work-based retirement benefits do.)

• So there is no financial advantage to claiming spousal benefits after FRA.

Example: How Spousal Benefits Are Calculated

Let’s say your spouse’s PIA is $2,000/month.

• Maximum spousal benefit at your FRA = $1,000/month

• If you claim at 62, your spousal benefit could drop to around $700–750/month.

Your own benefit (if any) is considered first. Social Security pays your benefit, then adds a “spousal top-up” to reach the total spousal amount.

What If You Never Worked?

You can still receive spousal benefits—even if you have zero work history—as long as:

• You’re married for at least one year.

• Your spouse has filed for Social Security benefits.

• You’re at least 62, unless caring for a qualifying child.

If you never worked, the spousal benefit is simply your entire Social Security income.

This is especially useful for people who stayed home to raise children or care for family members and did not earn enough credits for Social Security on their own.

Can You Receive Spousal Benefits While Your Spouse Defers?

Generally, no.
To receive a spousal benefit, your spouse must have filed for their retirement benefit.

A noteworthy exception used to exist called "file and suspend," but it was eliminated for spousal benefits in 2016. Today, if your spouse suspends their benefits, your spousal benefit is also suspended.

What About Widows and Widowers?

(Separate from spousal benefits—but commonly confused)

Survivor benefits are different. If your spouse passes away, you may qualify for up to 100% of their benefit, not just 50%. Widows and widowers have their own set of rules and are not covered in detail here, but it's good to know they’re separate from standard spousal benefits.

Do Divorced Spouses Qualify for Benefits?

Yes—if you meet certain criteria. Divorced spouses can claim spousal benefits on their ex-spouse’s record if:

• The marriage lasted 10 years or longer.

• You are currently unmarried.

• You are 62 or older.

• Your ex-spouse is eligible to receive Social Security, even if they have not claimed it (as long as you’ve been divorced for at least two years).

• Your own benefit is lower than the spousal benefit.

The best part:
Your ex-spouse never needs to know.
Your claim does not affect their benefits, or the benefits of their current spouse.

If Your Ex-Spouse Remarries

They can remarry and still have you claim on their record. Your benefit is unaffected.

If You Remarry

You usually lose eligibility for divorced spousal benefits unless:

• The remarriage ends (death, divorce, or annulment), in which case eligibility can be restored.

Do Divorced Spouses Get the Same 50% Benefit?

Yes.
If you qualify, you can receive up to 50% of your ex-spouse’s PIA at your full retirement age.

And like regular spousal benefits, claiming early reduces your payment.

Can You Receive Both Divorced Spousal Benefits and Your Own Benefit?

You can receive whichever is higher—not both.

If you qualify for divorced spousal benefits but your own work record produces a higher benefit, Social Security will give you your own instead.

A Note About Restricted Applications (for People Born Before 1954)

This is a niche rule, but important for those who qualify.

If you were born on or before January 1, 1954, you may be able to:

• File a “restricted application” for spousal benefits only,

• Delay your own retirement benefit to earn delayed credits, and

• Switch to your higher benefit later (up to age 70).

If you were born after 1954, you cannot do this. Filing for any retirement benefit becomes filing for all benefits, and you get the highest amount automatically.

What Happens If Both Spouses Have Worked?

Most couples today have two working partners, so this comes up a lot.

Here’s how it works:

1. Social Security calculates your own benefit.

2. It calculates your potential spousal benefit.

3. You receive the higher of the two.

4. If your own benefit is higher, you get your own only.

5. If the spousal benefit is higher, you get your benefit plus a “spousal top-up.”

This prevents anyone from “double dipping,” but ensures you don’t get less than you’re entitled to.

Will Taking Spousal Benefits Reduce My Spouse’s Payments?

No.
Your spouse gets their full benefit. Your spousal benefit is separate and doesn’t reduce or affect their amount.

What If You Have Dependent Children With Your Spouse?

Children may also qualify for benefits based on a retired or disabled parent’s record.
But Social Security places a family maximum on total benefits. If you have minor children, this is worth checking with the SSA.

When Should You Claim Spousal Benefits?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer; you should make the decision based on your situation.

Here are some common strategies:

If you have no work history or very low earnings:

• Claiming at full retirement age usually makes the most sense to avoid reductions.

If you have a decent work history:

• Compare your own benefit at 62 vs. 67 vs. 70.

• See whether the spousal “top-up” ever makes a difference.

If you’re divorced and meet the 10-year rule:

• You may want to claim at your full retirement age to get the maximum spousal share.

If your spouse plans to delay their own benefit:

• Remember that you cannot claim spousal benefits until they file.

• But their delayed credits may be worth more overall if their own benefit is significantly larger.

It’s worth running your numbers carefully because timing strategies can affect your household finances for life.

What If You Want to Work While Receiving Spousal Benefits?

If you claim benefits before your full retirement age and continue to work, Social Security applies the Retirement Earnings Test, which may temporarily reduce your payments if you earn above the annual limit.

After you hit full retirement age, there’s no earnings limit, and your benefit will adjust upward later to compensate for any earlier reductions.

Key Takeaways

• Spousal benefits can provide up to 50% of your spouse’s full retirement benefit.

• Claiming early reduces the amount permanently.

• You can qualify even if you never worked.

• Divorced spouses can qualify if the marriage lasted 10 years and they are currently unmarried.

• Benefits do not reduce your spouse’s or ex-spouse’s payments.

• Your own benefit and the spousal benefit are compared—you get whichever is higher.

Final Thoughts

Spousal benefits are one of the most misunderstood parts of Social Security, and people often leave money on the table because they assume they don’t qualify—or they claim too early without realizing the long-term cost.

If you take anything from this article, let it be this:
Check your Social Security options before claiming.
A few percentage points in your sixties can translate into thousands of dollars over the course of retirement.