If your spouse (or ex-spouse) is still alive and is due to receive Social Security benefits, it pays to look into how much you could receive. Here, we'll cover seven essential things you should know before filing for spousal Social Security benefits.
1. Basic eligibility rules
To be eligible to collect spousal Social Security benefits, the following must be true:
- Your spouse must have claimed their own retirement benefits. As you'll see below, this rule does not necessarily apply for ex-spouses.
- You're 62 or older. However, there is an exception to this rule. You can collect at any age if you care for a child under the age of 16 or who has a disability and is entitled to benefits based on your spouse's record.
- You haven't earned enough work credit for a Social Security retirement benefit of your own, or you have earned a retirement benefit of your own, but the spousal benefit would be higher.
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2. How much you can expect to receive
Your benefit is 50% of the amount your spouse is eligible to receive when they reach full retirement age. For example, if your spouse is scheduled to receive $3,000 per month at full retirement age, your benefit would be $1,500.
If you decide to receive spousal benefits before you reach your full retirement age, your monthly benefit will be permanently reduced.
3. You can find the numbers you're looking for online
The Social Security Administration (SSA) makes all the facts, figures, and some of the services you're looking for available on their site. You only need to create a free and secure my Social Security account.
Here's a breakdown of what you can do with your my Social Security account:
- Get a personalized retirement benefit estimate
- Get proof that you don't receive benefits
- Check your application status
- Get your Social Security statement
- Request a replacement Social Security card
- Upload documents and submit online forms
- Set up or change direct deposit
- Get a Social Security 1099 (SSA-1099) form
- Print a benefit verification letter
- Change your address
4. Here's what happens if your spouse postpones taking Social Security
Let's say your spouse postpones taking Social Security until age 70 to earn delayed retirement credits and increase their monthly benefit. While they'll be collecting more in retirement, your maximum spousal benefit remains 50% of the amount they would have received if they'd retired at full retirement age.
5. What happens if your work record makes you eligible for benefits
If you're eligible for retirement benefits based on your own work record and spousal benefits, you'll need to apply for both. It's called "deemed filing" because once you apply for one of the two benefits, you're deemed to have applied for both. The SSA ensures that you receive the larger of the two benefit amounts.
Here's an example: One partner is eligible for a monthly retirement benefit of $1,500, and because their spouse is eligible to receive $4,000 at full retirement age, their spousal benefit would be $2,000. Since the spousal benefit is higher, that's the amount they receive.
According to the SSA, "If a spouse is eligible for a retirement benefit based on his or her own earnings, and if that benefit is higher than the spousal benefit, then we pay the retirement benefit. Otherwise, we pay the spousal benefit."
6. Divorced? Here's how to know you're still eligible for spousal benefits
Divorce doesn't necessarily mean you're no longer eligible for spousal benefits. Here's how to know you're eligible:
- You were married to your ex for at least 10 years.
- You're currently unmarried.
- You're at least 62.
- Your ex is currently receiving Social Security benefits, or they've reached retirement age and are eligible to receive benefits but have not applied. You can apply if you've been divorced for at least two years.
- If your ex has reached retirement age but hasn't applied for benefits, you can still apply if you've been divorced for two years or more.
7. You can apply online
Whether you're applying for your retirement benefits, a spouse's benefit, or both, the application can be completed online. If you're at least 61 years and 9 months old, visit the Social Security Administration's website to get started.
Planning for retirement is all about feathering your nest to the best of your ability. If collecting spousal Social Security benefits helps maximize your Social Security income, there's no question it's a win.
