Social Security is not only for the person who earned the wages. A husband or wife may be able to collect a benefit based on a spouse's work record. This spousal benefit can be a big help in households where one partner stayed home to raise children, cared for relatives or earned much less.
How much a spouse can receive
The spousal benefit can be up to 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount, which is the benefit the worker would receive at full retirement age. Social Security always pays your own retirement benefit first. If half of your spouse's benefit is higher than your own, you receive an extra amount to make up the difference.
For example, if your spouse's full benefit is $2,400 and your own full benefit is $900, your spousal benefit at full retirement age could be up to $1,200. You would receive your $900 plus $300 more.
Who qualifies
You may qualify for spousal benefits if:
- You are at least 62, or you are caring for the worker's child who is under 16 or disabled.
- Your spouse is already receiving retirement or disability benefits.
- You have generally been married for at least one year.
How your age changes the amount
If you claim at your own full retirement age, you receive the full spousal amount, up to 50%. If you claim earlier, it is reduced. With a full retirement age of 67, a spousal benefit started at 62 is about 32.5% of the worker's full benefit instead of 50%.
Unlike your own retirement benefit, a spousal benefit does not increase if you wait past full retirement age. There are no delayed retirement credits on spousal benefits, so there is usually no reason to delay a spousal-only claim past full retirement age.
The worker's claiming age also matters
The worker's own claiming age does not change the 50% spousal maximum. It does affect the household's total income and any survivor benefit later. If the higher earner waits until 70 to claim, the surviving spouse can inherit that larger amount. Read our guide to survivor benefits to see how that works.
Benefits for divorced spouses
If you are divorced, you may be able to receive benefits on your former spouse's record if:
- Your marriage lasted 10 years or longer.
- You are unmarried now.
- You are 62 or older.
- The benefit you are entitled to on your own record is less than the spousal benefit.
If you have been divorced for at least two years, you can receive benefits even if your former spouse has not applied yet, as long as they are eligible. Your benefit does not reduce what your former spouse or their current spouse receives, and Social Security does not contact your former spouse about your application.
People with government pensions
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed in January 2025, ended the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. These rules used to reduce or eliminate spousal and survivor benefits for many teachers, police officers and other public employees whose jobs did not pay into Social Security. If you were turned away for spousal benefits in the past because of a government pension, it may be worth contacting Social Security again.
How to apply
You can apply online at Social Security's website, by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or at a local office. Have your marriage certificate, your spouse's Social Security number and, for divorced spouses, your divorce decree ready.
