When can my spouse get Social Security benefits on my record? (2024)

If you are receiving retirement or disability benefits, your spouse may be eligible for spouse benefits if they are:

  • At least age 62.
  • Any age and caring for a child who is under age 16 or who has a disability that began before age 22.

Your spouse also can qualify for Medicare at age 65.

For more information go to Benefits For Your Familypage.

When can my spouse get Social Security benefits on my record? (2024)

FAQs

When can my spouse get Social Security benefits on my record? ›

To qualify for spouse's benefits, you must be one of the following: 62 years of age or older. Any age and have in your care a child younger than age 16, or who has a disability and is entitled to receive benefits on your spouse's record.

At what age can a wife draw off her husband's Social Security? ›

When a worker files for retirement benefits, the worker's spouse may be eligible for a benefit based on the worker's earnings. Another requirement is that the spouse must be at least age 62 or have a qualifying child in her/his care.

What percentage of a husband's Social Security does a wife get? ›

The maximum spousal benefit you can receive is 50% of your spouse's benefit at their full retirement age. The precise amount you'll get and when you'll get it depends on several circ*mstances, including your spouse's age and past income, your age and past income, and more.

How can a wife get half of her husband's Social Security? ›

To qualify, you must have been married to the deceased spouse for at least nine months, with some exceptions, and be at least 60 years old or 50 if you're disabled. "The survivor benefit amount is based on the deceased spouse's earnings record and can be up to 100% of their benefit," Miller said.

Can a wife get husband's Social Security while he is alive? ›

Yes, you can collect Social Security's on a spouse's earnings record.

Can my spouse collect Social Security on my record 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. This wasn't always the case.

Can my wife take Social Security at 62 and then switch to spousal benefit? ›

If your spouse is not receiving any retirement benefits yet, then you could technically take your regular Social Security benefit as early as age 62. When your spouse files for their benefit later you could switch to spousal benefits.

Why am I not getting half of my husband's Social Security? ›

If you qualify for your own retirement benefit and a spouse's benefit, we always pay your own benefit first. You cannot receive spouse's benefits unless your spouse is receiving his or her retirement benefits (except for divorced spouses).

How will the Social Security spousal rule change in 2024? ›

The current spouse benefit is based on 50 percent of the PIA of the other spouse. Reduce this percent each year by 1 percentage point beginning with newly eligible spouses in 2024, until the percent reaches 33 in 2040.

What are the rules for spousal benefits? ›

Who is eligible for spousal Social Security benefits?
  • You must have been married at least 10 years.
  • You must have been divorced from the spouse for at least two consecutive years.
  • You are unmarried.
  • Your ex-spouse must be entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits.
Sep 5, 2023

Which wife gets the Social Security? ›

If you are married and you and your spouse have worked and earned enough credits individually, you will each get your own Social Security benefit.

What is the 10 year rule for Social Security? ›

The number of credits you need to receive retirement benefits depends on when you were born. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (10 years of work). If you stop working before you have enough credits to be eligible for benefits, the credits will remain on your Social Security record.

Does a second wife get Social Security? ›

Here's what that means for Social Security survivor benefits. If you've been married multiple times, your current and former spouses could be eligible for Social Security benefits based on your earnings record, subject to certain requirements.

References

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