Social Security Spousal Benefits

Who qualifies as a current spouse

To qualify for spousal benefits on a living spouse's work record, you generally must have been married to them for at least one year before applying. That one-year requirement doesn't apply if you're the parent of your spouse's child, or if you were entitled (or potentially entitled) to certain Social Security or Railroad Retirement Act benefits in the month before the marriage. Your spouse must also have already filed for their own retirement benefit — you can't collect a spousal benefit on a record that hasn't started paying out yet.

Who qualifies as a divorced spouse

If you're divorced, you can still qualify for benefits on an ex-spouse's record if the marriage lasted 10 years or longer and you are currently unmarried. Your ex-spouse must be at least 62, and the benefit you'd receive on your own record must be less than what you'd get as a divorced spouse. If your ex-spouse hasn't yet applied for their own retirement benefit, you can still collect on their record as long as you've been divorced for at least two continuous years — you don't have to wait for them to file.

How much you can receive

Your spousal benefit tops out at one-half of the amount your spouse (or ex-spouse) is entitled to at their full retirement age — not their higher amount if they delayed claiming past that age. You receive that full 50% only if you wait until your own full retirement age (age 66 to 67, depending on your birth year) to start spousal benefits. Claim earlier, and the payment is permanently reduced — there's no way to earn it back later the way delayed retirement credits work for your own benefit.

You get the higher benefit, not both

Social Security doesn't add your own retirement benefit and your spousal benefit together. You receive whichever is higher: if your own benefit is larger, you simply get that; if the spousal benefit is larger, you receive your own benefit plus a top-up that brings the total up to the spousal amount. If you're eligible for both and haven't yet reached full retirement age when you file, you're automatically "deemed" to file for both benefits at once — you can't choose to collect only the smaller one first and switch later.

Minimum age and exceptions

The minimum age to claim spousal benefits is 62, and claiming that early locks in a permanently reduced payment. That age minimum doesn't apply, though, if you're caring for the worker's child who is under 16 or who became disabled before age 22 — in that situation you can receive spousal benefits at any age, without the reduction that applies to early retirement claims.

How to apply

You can apply for spousal benefits online at ssa.gov/apply, by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or in person at a Social Security field office. An appointment isn't required for an in-person visit, but calling ahead to schedule one can cut down on wait time. Have your marriage certificate (or divorce decree, if applicable), Social Security number, and birth certificate ready, since the office will need them to process your claim.

Eligibility checklist

• Married to the worker 1+ year, or divorced after a 10+ year marriage and currently unmarried
• Worker has filed for their own retirement benefit (divorced spouses: OK if divorced 2+ years, even if the worker hasn't filed)
• Age 62+, or caring for the worker's child under 16 or disabled before 22
• Your own retirement benefit is less than the spousal benefit amount