Spousal Social Security Benefits: 5 Things All Retired Couples Should Know

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Social Security is primarily recognized for offering financial support to millions of retirees, but it provides much more. One key, yet frequently misunderstood, aspect of the program is Social Security spousal benefits.

Marriage benefits are designed to offer important income in retirement for couples where one partner has had a relatively lower income level. One common example is families where one partner stayed home to raise their children. However, marriage benefits can also apply in cases where one spouse had a significantly higher average salary.

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1. What is the maximum amount for a spousal benefit?

You can expect to get $2,000 per month at your full retirement age, and if you're eligible, the maximum spousal benefit based on your work record would be $1,000.

For someone reaching full retirement age in 2025, the Social Security benefit is $4,018 per month. This means the maximum possible spousal benefit is about $2,000.

What is the average monthly Social Security benefit for a spouse who receives benefits based on their spouse's work record?

According to the 2024 Social Security Statistical Supplement, there are approximately 1.98 million people currently receiving a spousal benefit from Social Security. The average monthly benefit is $890.24, which is roughly $10,670 per year.

This amount may seem insignificant, and indeed it is when compared to the average retired worker's monthly benefit of $1,905. However, for couples relying solely on one income earner, this can greatly impact their financial security in retirement.

3. Spousal benefits can be reduced for early retirement

Benefits for spouses who retire early can also be reduced just like workers' Social Security benefits.

You can start claiming spousal benefits as early as age 62, but your benefits will be reduced. For each month you claim benefits before your full retirement age, you'll have 1/36 of 1% reduced for the first 36 months. After that, your benefits will be reduced by 1/12 of 1% for each month.

Let me break it down simply: If your normal retirement age is 67 and you start taking your spouse's benefits at 62, it'll be about 35% less than it would be at age 67.

However, one big difference is that unlike retired workers' benefits, there's no additional credit for delaying spousal benefits after reaching full retirement age. In other words, there's no financial incentive for waiting until after full retirement age to start collecting a spousal benefit.

There's a possibility that you can still be qualified even if you're divorced.

In many cases, former spouses can receive a benefit off of their ex-spouse's work record. They generally must be unmarried and at least 62 years old, and the marriage must have lasted for at least 10 years. If it has been at least two years since the divorce was finalized, a spousal benefit can usually be claimed even if the ex-spouse hasn't applied for a retirement benefit yet.

5. You can get an estimate of your future retirement benefit if you have a spouse.

After logging in or creating an account, you can see your entire record of annual earnings as well as a personalized estimate of your future Social Security benefits. This can also help you compare your estimated benefit to half of your spouse's full retirement benefit, giving you a clear idea of what you can expect to receive.

Many retirees frequently miss out on a valuable Social Security bonus.

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