Social Security offers benefits not just to retirees but also to non-contributing spouses. These spouses represent a significant group among the various recipients of Social Security, with former spouses being eligible for payouts under certain conditions as well.
Upon applying for Social Security, you simultaneously apply for whichever benefit is higher: either yours or half of your spouse's benefit. mean monthly payment for all retirees In January 2025, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), individuals receiving retirement benefits got an average monthly payment of $1,979, whereas those collecting spousal benefits obtained approximately $931 per month.
For those seeking to claim a spousal benefit, here’s an explanation of how Social Security functions.
Asserting spousal benefits through Social Security: The Process Explained
When a worker files for benefits from Social Security, the worker’s spouse may be able to claim a benefit based on the worker’s contributions. For spouses to receive the benefit, they must be at least age 62 or care for a child under age 16 (or one receiving Social Security disability benefits). In addition, spouses cannot claim the spousal benefit until the worker files for their benefit.
Additionally, there are several key considerations regarding the spousal benefit. financial advisor can help You navigate the intricacies of Social Security and develop a tailored retirement strategy that meets your individual requirements.
What amount can you anticipate receiving through spousal benefits?
Spousal benefits have an upper limit of half your spouse’s benefit when they reach their full retirement age," explains Claire Toth, who previously served as the managing principal and senior wealth strategist at New Jersey-based Peapack-Gladstone Bank. She adds that "if the worker decides to delay claiming past this point, the spousal benefit will not increase.
Toth is discussing the approach where retirees opt not to file for their benefits until after they reach full retirement age, which generally falls between 66 and 67 years old, thereby securing larger monthly payments. If you postpone submitting your application until as late as age 70, Social Security will significantly increase your benefit amount. This tactic aims at maximizing retirement income. One method to boost your earnings is by maximizing your payouts. without working more.
If your partner applies for benefits before reaching their full retirement age, your benefit amount could be permanently decreased. In some cases, this reduction might lower your benefit to just 32.5% of what your partner would receive. For every month prior to reaching full retirement age—up to 36 months—the spousal benefit decreases by approximately seven-tenth of one percent. Should those extra months surpass 36, an additional deduction of around four-tenths of one percent per month will apply.
The mathematics involved can be complex, but Social Security provides a tool to calculate spousal benefits .
The exception to this rule of filing early is if a spouse is caring for a child under age 16 or one who is disabled, in which case the benefit is not reduced. In fact, this spouse could claim the spousal benefit at any age if they’re caring for a child who also receives benefits.
Who qualifies for spousal Social Security benefits?
Typically, you might qualify if you're married, divorced, or widowed and your spouse was entitled to benefits.
Individuals applying for spousal benefits need to ensure they've been married for a minimum of one year. Additionally, your spouse should start collecting Social Security benefits; however, this rule doesn’t apply if you're widowed. If you are a widow or widower, you might qualify for the entire amount of your deceased partner’s benefits rather than the spousal benefit, provided their benefit was greater than yours. Nevertheless, remarriage disqualifies you from claiming your late spouse’s benefits.
Even former spouses have the option to file based on your earnings. To be eligible for benefits based on your ex-spouse’s work history, you must meet certain criteria which include:
- You are unmarried.
- You need to be married for at least a decade.
- You need to have been separated from your spouse for a minimum of two continuous years.
- Your former spouse needs to qualify for Social Security retirement or disability benefits.
- The amount you'd get based on your own work record would be lower than the spousal benefit.
In principle, one might wed anew every decade and offer their departing spouse a benefit," explains Russell D. Knight, an attorney from Chicago. "It's certainly preferable to having nothing at all.
However, the funds don’t come from your monthly benefit check, so you can relax.
"When this occurs, neither the higher-earning individual nor their present spouse experiences a decrease — the Social Security Administration handles this through actuarial calculations," explains Warren Ward, CFP from WWA Planning & Investments located in Columbus, Indiana.
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Approaches for securing a spouse's benefits
Social Security provides several choices when it comes to claiming your benefits. Although these options aim to offer flexibility to retirees and others, they also introduce additional complexity. Everybody aims to obtain all the advantages they deserve. , and this intricacy could potentially hide a way to obtain additional funds from the program.
Couples have several options available to them in this scenario, with the optimal choice typically depending on their individual financial circumstances.
At what point should you apply for spousal benefits?
While the optimal time to file for spousal benefits It’s an individual choice; you cannot receive these benefits until after age 62. Should you decide to take them between ages 62 and your full retirement age, expect a reduction in your benefit amount.
If you wait until after your full retirement age, the benefits will not increase further. While the worker might gain an advantage by postponing their benefits till they turn 70, this does not apply to the spouse who applies for benefits.
For those looking to max out their spousal benefit, one course of action is obvious.
The optimal approach for claiming Social Security spousal benefits is to hold off until reaching your full retirement age, which ranges from 65 to 67 based on when you were born," explains Lindsay Malzone, a Medicare specialist and editor at Medigap.com. "If you do not have a qualifying child under your care, you'll be eligible for a diminished payout before achieving this age.
However, there are exceptions to this overall guideline, particularly if you think your long life expectancy might be a concern.
We typically begin by examining their well-being: how long the same-sex partner has lived and the present state of health for both individuals," explains Ward. "Couples who have lengthy projected lifespans and robust health generally should consider delaying benefits until they reach the peak payout period. Conversely, those facing limited life expectancy or having poorer health might find it more advantageous to initiate them earlier. For cases involving an individual with a terminal condition, applications can be backdated up to half a year from now, allowing immediate commencement of payment along with retroactive checks.
The spousal benefit might provide certain flexibilities for those who file at an advanced age. As an illustration, one partner could opt to take advantage of spousal benefits linked to another person's record and subsequently apply for benefits based on their earnings history. Should your spouse have been born prior to January 2, 1954 and attained full retirement age, they would qualify for both the spousal benefit and defer claiming their individual retirement benefit until a future time. However, spouses born after this specified date do not retain access to this choice.
Husbands or wives might choose to start receiving their individual benefits prematurely and later make the transition to claiming their spouse's benefits instead.
I have multiple clients for whom their individual benefit is either equal to or just slightly more than half of what they would receive from the spouse’s benefits, and these spouses plan to delay taking Social Security until they reach age 70," explains Toth. "Under those circumstances, it usually works out better for the wives to file earlier—sometimes even at age 62—and later switch over to receiving the spousal benefit once their husbands start collecting theirs. The woman's benefit will last only up till one partner passes away, after which the surviving member receives the deceased's higher benefit amount. Despite them potentially living well into their nineties, this strategy frequently yields the most favorable outcome.
Additionally, Social Security provides options for a spouse when their partner passes away.
If the higher-income partner passes away, the surviving spouse has the option to choose between their own benefit or the larger one from the deceased," explains Ward. "While this is preferable to receiving nothing at all, it essentially means a reduction in benefits for the remaining spouse.
Figuring out Social Security planning can be challenging, but Pawonation.com's tool allows you to approximate your Social Security benefits. Ward highlights that the SSA’s website, along with resources provided by financial advisors and most brokerage companies, offers various planning options and tools designed to assist you.
Individuals seeking alternative means of generating retirement income ought to ensure they take into account various kinds of pension schemes which could include for them, potentially IRAs , 401(k)s and pensions.
Bottom line
Couples enjoy considerable flexibility due to the Social Security spousal benefit. When approaching retirement, it’s wise to investigate various strategies for optimizing this program and increasing your total benefits. Should you be uncertain about beginning this process, A financial advisor can assist you with your finances. you come up with a strategy to fulfill your retirement requirements.
— Pawonation.com’s Rachel Christian played a role in updating this article.
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