Social Security Spousal Benefits

Social Security spousal benefits are designed to provide retirement income to a husband, wife, or in some cases an ex-spouse, based on the other spouse's earnings record. The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of the worker's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — the benefit they would receive at their Full Retirement Age (FRA). This benefit is available regardless of whether the receiving spouse has their own work history.

If the receiving spouse also qualifies for their own retirement benefit, Social Security essentially pays the higher of the two amounts. The spouse will receive their own benefit first, and if the spousal benefit would be higher, an additional amount is added to bring the total up to the spousal benefit level.

The age at which you claim spousal benefits matters. If claimed before FRA, the spousal benefit is permanently reduced. However, unlike the worker's own benefit, spousal benefits do not increase with delayed retirement credits past FRA — the maximum spousal benefit is reached at FRA regardless of further delay.

For divorced individuals, you may be eligible for spousal benefits on an ex-spouse's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are currently unmarried, you are at least 62, and your ex-spouse is entitled to benefits. Notably, you can claim divorced spousal benefits even if your ex-spouse has not yet filed, as long as you have been divorced for at least two years.

Coordinating spousal benefits with the higher earner's claiming strategy could significantly affect a couple's total lifetime Social Security income. It may be worth exploring various combinations of claiming ages to find the approach that works for your situation.