A Social Security spousal benefit can pay you up to half of what your spouse gets, based on their work record instead of your own. That matters most if you earned less than your spouse, or stayed home to raise a family. But two rules decide what you actually collect: you get the higher of your own benefit or the spousal one, not both, and a change in the law means you can no longer take just the spousal benefit and switch to your own later.

Getting this right can mean a few hundred dollars more every month for the rest of your life, so it's worth understanding before you file.

In This Guide

How Much Do Social Security Spousal Benefits Pay?

A spousal benefit is based on your spouse's earnings, not yours, which is exactly what makes it a lifeline if you earned less or spent years out of the paid workforce. At your full retirement age, the spousal benefit can be as much as half of the benefit your spouse is entitled to. So if your husband's full benefit is $2,400 a month, your spousal benefit at your full retirement age could be as much as $1,200, real income when your own record would pay you less.

Claim earlier, and the amount drops. You can start a spousal benefit as early as 62, but claiming before your full retirement age permanently reduces it. And unlike your own retirement benefit, a spousal benefit does not keep growing if you wait past full retirement age, because half of your spouse's benefit is the ceiling. There's no bonus for delaying a spousal benefit beyond that point.

Can You Get Spousal Benefits and Your Own?

This is the question that trips up the most people, so here it is plainly: you don't collect a full spousal benefit on top of your own retirement benefit. Social Security pays you the higher of the two. If your own benefit is larger, that's what you get. If the spousal benefit is larger, you effectively receive your own benefit plus enough to bring you up to the spousal amount.

The Rule That Changed the Math

For years, some people used a strategy: file a "restricted application" to take just the spousal benefit at full retirement age while letting their own benefit grow to as late as 70, then switch. A 2015 law closed that door for most people.

If you turned 62 on or after January 2, 2016, Social Security treats a claim for either benefit as a claim for both, and pays you the higher of the two. That rule, called deemed filing, means you generally can't take spousal-only now and switch to your own later. It's worth knowing before you file, because the order you once could have chosen no longer exists.

There's one exception that still matters: deemed filing does not apply to survivor benefits. A widow or widower can still claim a survivor benefit separately from their own. Our guide on Social Security survivor benefits covers that switch in full.

Who Can Claim Social Security Spousal Benefits

To claim a spousal benefit, you generally need to be at least 62, or be caring for your spouse's child who is under 16 or has a disability, in which case you can claim at any age. There's one more requirement people miss: your spouse must have already filed for their own retirement benefit before you can collect a spousal benefit on their record. If your spouse is delaying their own claim to grow their benefit, your spousal benefit waits until they file.

Benefits on an Ex-Spouse's Record

A divorce doesn't necessarily end your claim to spousal benefits. If your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you can generally claim on your ex-spouse's record. And there's a helpful difference from married spousal benefits: if you have been divorced for at least two years, you can claim on your ex's record even if they haven't filed yet, as long as they're at least 62. Claiming on your ex's record doesn't reduce their benefit or affect their current spouse, and you don't need their permission.

How to Claim

You apply for spousal benefits through Social Security, using the application for a spouse's or divorced spouse's benefits. It helps to have your marriage certificate (or divorce decree), both Social Security numbers, and your spouse's date of birth ready. Because the higher-of-the-two math and the deemed-filing rule can change your lifetime total, ask the representative to compare your own benefit and the spousal benefit at different ages before you file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do spousal benefits increase if I wait past full retirement age?

No. A spousal benefit reaches its maximum, half of your spouse's benefit, at your full retirement age and does not grow beyond it. Your own retirement benefit is different, so if your own benefit might end up larger, waiting on that can still pay off.

Can I collect a spousal benefit and my own at the same time?

Not stacked. Social Security pays you the higher of the two. If you turned 62 on or after January 2, 2016, filing for one is treated as filing for both.

Can I get spousal benefits from an ex-spouse?

Often, yes. If the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you can generally claim on your ex's record, and if you've been divorced two years or more, even before they file.

Learn More

FinancialWhen to Claim Social SecurityWhen to claim Social Security: the 62 vs. 67 vs. 70 math, how claiming more can affect your Medicaid, a spouse's benefits, and the survivor switch. FinancialSocial Security Survivor BenefitsSocial Security survivor benefits pay 71.5% to 100% of a late spouse's benefit. See how to sequence it with your own benefit to collect the larger check. FinancialDoes Social Security Affect Medicaid?Does Social Security affect Medicaid? Yes, it counts as income for long-term-care Medicaid, so a bigger benefit can breach the cap, and there's a fix. FinancialHow to Pay for Senior CareHow to pay for senior care: what it costs nationally and how Medicaid, Medicare, VA benefits, and private pay each fit. Who qualifies, what's covered, in 2026.

Find personalized help deciding when to claim Social Security spousal benefits at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

BC

Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.