Social Security Spousal Benefits Guide

How Spousal Benefits Work

A spouse can claim up to 50% of the higher earner's full retirement age (FRA) benefit, or their own benefit — whichever is larger. You must be at least 62 and your spouse must have filed for their own benefits (or be 62+ and eligible).

For example, if the higher earner's FRA benefit is $3,000/month, the spouse can claim up to $1,500/month as a spousal benefit — even if their own work history would only generate $800/month.

Survivor Benefits

When one spouse dies, the surviving spouse can claim 100% of the deceased spouse's benefit (if it's higher than their own). This makes it critical for the higher earner to delay Social Security as long as possible — that larger benefit protects the surviving spouse for life.

Survivor benefits can be claimed as early as age 60 (50 if disabled), but they're reduced if claimed before the survivor's FRA.

Divorced Spouse Benefits

If you were married for 10+ years and are currently unmarried, you can claim spousal benefits based on your ex-spouse's record. Your ex doesn't need to know or approve, and it doesn't reduce their benefit. This is one of the most overlooked Social Security strategies.

Coordinating Claims as a Couple

The optimal strategy depends on each spouse's age, health, and benefit amount. In many cases, the lower earner claims early (62-64) while the higher earner delays to 70, maximizing the survivor benefit. We model multiple scenarios for couples to find the best combination.