Social Security Spousal Benefits
How much a spouse gets from Social Security: the 50% rule, how claiming early reduces it, divorced-spouse rules, and a calculator combining your own and spousal benefit.
Social Security spousal benefits calculator
Social Security spousal benefits: how much
A spouse can get up to 50% of the worker's full retirement age benefit (primary insurance amount). If your own benefit is smaller, you receive your own benefit plus a spousal top-up to reach that amount. The worker must have filed for benefits, and you must be at least 62 (or caring for the worker's child under 16).
Claiming early reduces it
For a full retirement age of 67, the spousal benefit is reduced by 25/36 of 1% for each of the first 36 months before full retirement age and 5/12 of 1% for each additional month, so at 62 it's 32.5% of the worker's benefit instead of 50%. Example: worker's benefit $3,000: spousal $1,500 at 67, about $975 at 62. Unlike your own benefit, the spousal benefit doesn't grow if you wait past full retirement age.
A divorced spouse can qualify if the marriage lasted 10 years or more and they haven't remarried. When the worker dies, the spouse may switch to a larger survivor benefit.
Common questions
How much is the Social Security spousal benefit?
Up to 50% of the worker's full retirement age benefit, reduced if you claim before your own full retirement age.
What is the spousal benefit at 62?
32.5% of the worker's benefit for someone with a full retirement age of 67.
Can a divorced spouse get benefits?
Yes, if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and you're unmarried.
Sources
More retirement calculators: Roth vs Traditional 401k · Social Security Death Benefit · SSDI Benefits
Related
- Social Security survivor benefits
- Social Security quick calculator
- Maximum Social Security benefit
- Life expectancy calculator SSA
General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check important numbers with the official source before acting on them.