If your spouse or even your ex-spouse is entitled to receive Social Security benefits, you might be eligible to collect a spousal benefit that could significantly improve your household income. Whether you’re nearing retirement or just planning, these seven essential tips can help you understand how to make the most of spousal Social Security benefits.
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1. Know the basic eligibility requirements
To qualify for spousal benefits:
- Your spouse must have already filed for their Social Security retirement benefits.
- You must be at least 62 years old—unless you’re caring for a child under 16 or a disabled child who qualifies for benefits based on your spouse’s record.
- You either don’t qualify for Social Security on your own, or your spousal benefit would be higher than your retirement benefit.
These rules are slightly different for ex-spouses, which we’ll cover below.
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2. Understand what you can receive
The normal spousal benefit equals 50% of your spouse’s full retirement benefit. For instance, if your spouse is entitled to receive $3,000 per month at full retirement age, you could collect up to $1,500. A permanent reduction of this amount will occur if you apply for it earlier than your full retirement age. Thus, when you claim becomes very important for maximizing your benefit.
3. Use online tools for estimates and updates
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides a free online account called my Social Security. By signing up, you can:
- View personalized retirement benefit estimates
- Track the status of your application
- Print benefit verification letters
- Request a replacement Social Security card
- Manage direct deposit and tax forms
This is a valuable resource to help you plan more accurately.
4. How delaying your spouse’s benefits affects you
If your spouse postpones their retirement benefits until they reach the age of 70 to maximize their payments, this increment will not affect your spousal benefit in any way. Your benefit will always be computed using the full retirement age amount you were entitled to before the delay.
As a summary, there is no value in postponement. After all, nothing will increase the amount of spousal benefit you are entitled to just because your spouse will delay receiving their own benefit and strategically offset to age 70 or beyond. Your spousal benefit will always be computed using their full retirement age amount, not the delayed amount.
5. How your own work record affects spousal benefits
If you work on your own and your spouse develops an earnings record, the SSA considers you to have benefited by the higher amount resulting from the “deemed filing.“ For example, your retirement amount is deemed to be $1,500, whereas your spousal benefits are deemed to be $2,000, which means that you will collect benefits of $2,000. SSA, therefore, ensures that you have maximized your entitlement in every respect.
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6. Divorced? You may still qualify
Even if you’re divorced, you could still be eligible for spousal benefits if:
- You were married for at least 10 years
- You’re currently unmarried
- You’re 62 or older
- Your ex-spouse is receiving or eligible to receive benefits (even if they haven’t filed yet, provided you’ve been divorced for at least two years)
This option often surprises retirees and can offer significant financial relief.
7. Applying is easy—Do it online
You could also apply for spouse benefits from 61 years and 9 months fully online. Go to the SSA website to get started on the online application. It is very simple, secure, and often quicker than going to an office in person.
Retirement planning implies awareness of all available options, such as how the possibility of taking spousal Social Security benefits might lead to a better financial future if it provides a larger check than your own earnings.
