The 2024 Social Security Survey conducted by the Nationwide Retirement Institute highlighted widespread and significant knowledge gaps regarding spousal benefits.
– 30% of surveyed adults mistakenly believed the statement “Social Security may offer benefits for your spouse or children” to be false.
– 53% of surveyed adults incorrectly thought the statement “If you are divorced, you may be eligible for Social Security benefits based on your ex-spouse’s record” was false.
These misunderstandings could result in financial errors. Below are three important aspects of spousal Social Security benefits for married couples to consider.
### 1. Spouses Can Claim Social Security on Their Retired Partner’s Work Record
Social Security retirement benefits are accessible to retired workers and their spouses, even if the spouse lacks a work history. Spouses may claim benefits based on their partner’s earnings record, provided certain conditions are met:
– The marriage must have lasted at least one year.
– The spouse must be at least 62 years old or have a qualifying child in their care, defined as a child under 16 or receiving disability benefits.
– The retired worker must be receiving retirement benefits.
Some spouses might qualify for benefits based on both their own earnings record and their partner’s. In such cases, the higher amount is awarded automatically when they apply.
### 2. Spouses Can Maximize Their Benefit by Claiming Social Security at Full Retirement Age
The amount of benefit income a spouse receives is influenced by their claim age and their partner’s primary insurance amount (PIA), which is the benefit a retired worker receives if they start collecting Social Security at full retirement age (FRA), set at 67 for individuals born in 1960 or later.
At most, the spousal benefit equals half of the retired worker’s PIA, but it requires claiming Social Security at FRA. Claiming earlier results in a reduced payout. The reduction amount varies based on early start months, with the most significant decrease at age 62.
The following chart illustrates the spousal benefit as a percentage of the retired worker’s PIA for those born in 1960 or later:
| Claim Age | Spousal Social Security Benefit |
|———–|———————————|
| 62 | 32.5% |
| 63 | 35% |
| 64 | 37.5% |
| 65 | 41.7% |
| 66 | 45.8% |
| 67 (FRA) | 50% |
There is a crucial difference between retired-worker benefits and spousal benefits. Retired workers earn delayed retirement credits, increasing their benefit if they start Social Security after FRA. Spouses cannot earn these credits, so claiming later offers no advantage. Maximum benefits are obtained by claiming at FRA.
Moreover, an individual eligible for both types of benefits cannot collect spousal benefits while also earning delayed retirement credits on their own retirement benefits. Applying for Social Security automatically applies them for both, awarding the larger benefit.
### 3. Divorced Spouses Can Collect Social Security Benefits on Their Ex-Partner’s Work Record
Divorced spouses may still claim benefits based on their ex-partner’s work record if certain conditions are fulfilled:
– The divorced spouse must be at least 62 years old or have a qualifying child in their care.
– The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years.
– The spouse must not be remarried and must have been divorced for at least two years.
Some misconceptions may arise. Generally, spouses can only collect benefits on a partner’s earnings record if that partner is receiving them, but divorced spouses are exempt from this rule.
Remarrying disqualifies a divorced spouse from claiming on their ex-partner’s work record, though the reverse is not true. An ex-partner’s remarriage does not impact the divorced spouse’s ability to claim benefits.
Finally, claiming Social Security based on an ex-partner’s record does not affect the ex-partner’s benefits, nor will they be notified of the claim.
