Social Security spousal benefits explained: up to half, and what cuts it

A husband or wife who earned little or nothing under Social Security can still get a benefit based on the other spouse's work. Social Security calls these family benefits, and most people call them spousal benefits. The basic rule fits in a sentence, up to half of the worker's full benefit, but the age you start and your own work record decide how much you actually receive.

This guide covers who qualifies, how the amount is set, what starting early costs by year of birth, the rules for divorced spouses, and how spousal benefits fit with your own benefit and, later, survivor benefits. The rules come from Social Security's family benefits pages and its benefit-reduction table.

Who qualifies

Social Security says you may be eligible as the spouse of someone entitled to retirement or disability benefits if you have been married at least 1 year and you are:

• 62 or older, or
• caring for a child 15 or younger, or
• caring for a child of any age who has a disability.

Social Security describes family benefits as payments to certain family members of people who are eligible for retirement or disability benefits.

How much: up to 50% of the worker's full benefit

Social Security puts the ceiling plainly: up to half of the benefit amount your family member would get at their full retirement age. That full-age amount is the worker's primary insurance amount. Because the 50% is measured against that full-age amount, it is not the same as half of whatever the worker is actually paid. If the worker's full benefit is $2,400, the most a spouse can receive is $1,200 a month.

You can apply from 62, but Social Security says the payment is higher the longer you wait, up to your own full retirement age, which it puts between 66 and 67.

What starting early costs

Spousal benefits are cut more steeply for starting early than a worker's own benefit. Social Security's table shows the cut at 62 for each birth year:

For a spouse born in 1960 or later, starting at 62 means a 35% cut, so the $1,200 in our example becomes $780 a month. A worker's own benefit at 62 is cut 30% by comparison.

You get the higher amount, not both

If you can also get a benefit on your own work record, Social Security pays the highest amount you are eligible for; it does not add the two together. When you apply at 62 or older, it checks your own retirement eligibility too and pays whichever is higher. So a spouse with a solid work record of their own may find the spousal benefit adds nothing.

Divorced spouses

Ex-spouses who were married for at least 10 years may be eligible, as can some valid non-marital legal relationships. Payments to ex-spouses do not count toward the family maximum, so they do not reduce what the worker's current spouse and children receive.

The family maximum

One worker's record can only pay so much to a family. If the total for a spouse and children would exceed that limit, called the family maximum, their payments are lowered to fit. The worker's own benefit is not reduced by it.

Working while getting spousal benefits

Social Security notes there may be earnings limits if you work while getting family benefits: below full retirement age, the payment is temporarily reduced if you earn above the yearly limit, $25,560 for 2027. See the guide to working while collecting.

Medicare on a spouse's record

You may also be able to get Medicare based on your spouse's work history if you are 65 or older, or have end-stage renal disease. The Medicare enrollment guide covers when to sign up.

When a spouse dies

A spousal benefit is capped at 50%; a survivor benefit can be up to 100% of the deceased spouse's benefit. Social Security says survivor payments start at 71.5% and reach up to 100% at the survivor's full retirement age. The survivor benefits guide explains the rules.

A quick checklist

1. Find the worker's full-retirement-age benefit on their Social Security statement.
2. Half of it is the most a spouse can get. Compare that with your own benefit at full retirement age.
3. If the spousal amount is higher, look up your cut for starting early in the table above.
4. If you are divorced, check the 10-year marriage rule.
5. Get exact figures from Social Security at 1-800-772-1213; the spousal benefits page keeps the rules in one place.