how do i apply for spousal social security benefits

Create or open your my Social Security account, scroll to the ‘Plan for Retirement’ section, and:

• Select ‘See what you could receive from a spouse’ if you are not eligible for retirement benefits yourself or select the ‘Include a spouse?’ tab if you are eligible for ...
• Choose a future age or date when you would like to start receiving spouse’s benefits.
• Enter your spouse’s retirement benefit estimate at their full retirement age or PIA.

Full Answer

What is the earliest you can apply for Social Security?

There are three key ages when it comes to Social Security:

• Age 62: This is the earliest age you can begin to receive retirement benefits. Your monthly benefit will be permanently reduced.
• Age 66: This is currently “full retirement age” (FRA). ...
• Age 70: This is the latest age you want to file for benefits. ...

Who qualifies for Social Security spousal benefits?

You may also qualify for the spousal benefit If you’re divorced but the marriage lasted for at least 10 years and you’re not currently married. How Much Is the Social Security Spousal Benefit? If you’re eligible and can qualify, the spousal benefit can be as much as 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s full retirement age benefit.

When should I apply for Social Security?

The Social Security Administration (SSA ... Bear in mind that you should make your application as soon as possible to avoid missing out on payments. The SSA do not back pay benefits you may ...

How much does a spouse get in Social Security?

A spouse can choose to retire as early as age 62, but doing so may result in a benefit as little ...

How do I qualify for spousal Social Security benefits?

Benefits For Your Spouse Even if they have never worked under Social Security, your spouse may be eligible for benefits if they are at least 62 years of age and you are receiving retirement or disability benefits. Your spouse can also qualify for Medicare at age 65.

How much is spouse benefit for Social Security?

The spousal benefit can be as much as half of the worker's "primary insurance amount," depending on the spouse's age at retirement. If the spouse begins receiving benefits before "normal (or full) retirement age," the spouse will receive a reduced benefit.

When can a spouse collect spousal Social Security benefits?

age 62You can claim spousal benefits as early as age 62, but you won't receive as much as if you wait until your own full retirement age. For example, if your full retirement age is 67 and you choose to claim spousal benefits at 62, you'd receive a benefit that's equal to 32.5% of your spouse's full benefit amount.

When can my spouse collect half of my Social Security?

You can receive up to 50% of your spouse's Social Security benefit. You can apply for benefits if you have been married for at least one year. If you have been divorced for at least two years, you can apply if the marriage lasted 10 or more years. Starting benefits early may lead to a reduction in payments.

Can my wife claim spousal benefits before I retire?

No. You have to be receiving your Social Security retirement or disability benefit for your husband or wife to collect spousal benefits.

Can I take my Social Security and then switch to spousal benefit?

In this case, you can claim your own Social Security beginning at 62 and make the switch to spousal benefits when your husband or wife files. Social Security will not pay the sum of your retirement and spousal benefits; you'll get a payment equal to the higher of the two benefits.

What is the best Social Security strategy for married couples?

3 Social Security Strategies for Married Couples Retiring EarlyHave the higher earner claim Social Security early. ... Have the lower earner claim Social Security early. ... Delay Social Security jointly and live on savings or other income sources.

Documents you may need to provide

We may ask you to provide documents to show that you are eligible, such as:

What we will ask you

You should also have your checkbook or other papers that show your account number at a bank, credit union or other financial institution so you can sign up for Direct Deposit, and avoid worries about lost or stolen checks and mail delays.

How old do you have to be to get spouse's Social Security?

To qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be one of these: At least 62 years of age.

When will my spouse receive my full retirement?

You will receive your full spouse’s benefit amount if you wait until you reach full retirement age to begin receiving benefits. You will also receive the full amount if you are caring for a child entitled to receive benefits on your spouse’s record who is younger than age 16 or disabled.

What happens if your spouse's retirement benefits are higher than your own?

If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Here is an example: Mary Ann qualifies for a retirement benefit of $250 and a spouse’s benefit of $400.

How much can I collect as a spouse?

If you wait until full retirement age to claim benefits, you'll receive the maximum amount you can collect as a spouse. That is equal to 50% of your spouse's benefit amount. 3 . The benefits claiming strategy known as "file and suspend" has been totally eliminated.

What is the full retirement age for Social Security?

Full retirement age, for Social Security purposes, is between 66 and 67, depending on your year of birth. 2 . One exception: If you are caring for your spouse's child who is under age 16 or who receives Social Security disability benefits, you can collect spousal benefits at any age without a reduction. 3 . ...

Can you collect spousal benefits on your own?

However, only one person per couple may collect spousal benefits while earning delayed retirement credits on his or her own account. And, to repeat, this option is no longer available to anyone who wasn't born on or before Jan. 1, 1954.

Can I apply for Social Security if my spouse is not eligible?

Key Takeaways. Spouses who aren't eligible for Social Security on their own work record can apply for benefits based on the other spouse's record. The maximum spousal benefit is equal to 50% of the other spouse's benefit. People can apply for spousal benefits as early as age 62, but they'll get more money if they wait until their full retirement ...

When can I file for Medicare?

You can file a claim under their account as early as age 62, as long as your spouse has already filed to collect their own benefits. 1  You will also be able to apply for Medicare health coverage at age 65. 1 .

Can I file a restricted application for Social Security?

To file a restricted application, both you and your spouse must be of full retirement age, and you both must have filed for Social Security benefits. 5 . Filing a restricted application can result in a higher benefit amount when you later file for Social Security under your own account.

Can I claim my spouse's Social Security if I never worked?

If you have never worked or paid Social Security taxes (or didn't pay them for long enough), you won't be eligible to claim Social Security retirement benefits on your own account. However, you may be able to receive spousal benefits through your spouse's account.

How many people receive Social Security benefits as a spouse?

A recent Social Security report found that 2.3 million individuals received at least part of their benefit as a spouse of an entitled worker. Some of these spouses had benefits of their own, but were eligible to receive higher benefit because the spousal benefit amount was greater than their own benefit. Others never worked outside the home ...

How long do you have to be married to get spousal benefits?

The Two Exceptions to Know Around the 1 Year Marriage Requirement. Normally, you must be married for at least 12 continuous months to meet the spousal benefit duration-of-marriage requirement. However, there are two exceptions to this rule.

How much is spousal benefit?

Depending on how old you are when you file, the spousal benefit amount will range between 32.5% and 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s full retirement benefit. Check out the chart below to get an idea of how the benefit works and what your payment might be if you can take advantage ...

What is the 1 year requirement for Social Security?

The 1-year requirement is also waived if you were entitled (or potentially entitled!) to Social Security benefits on someone else’s work record in the month before you were married. An example of these benefits would be spousal benefits, survivor benefits or parent’s benefits.

How much of my spouse's Social Security is my full retirement?

Remember, in that case, it’s between 32.5% and 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s full retirement age benefit, depending on your filing age. However, it can seem a little more complicated if you have Social Security benefits from your work history.

Can a spouse receive Social Security?

They have no benefit of their own, but thanks to the Social Security spousal benefit available under their spouse’s work record, they can still receive payments. This particular benefit doesn’t just provide retirement income, either. As an eligible spouse, you could also receive premium-free Medicare benefits.

Does spousal benefit increase after full retirement?

You may have also noticed that the spousal benefit does not increase beyond your full retirement age. When considering your own Social Security benefit, there can be a lot of advantages to waiting to file and delaying when you start receiving payments well past your retirement age, but that’s not the case here.