Key Points
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You must be at least 62 and married to a worker who qualifies for a retirement benefit.
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You may be able to claim a spousal benefit on your ex’s work record if you were married for at least 10 years.
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You’ll only get a spousal benefit if it’s larger than your own retirement benefit.
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Spousal Social Security benefits sound straightforward enough on the surface: You tie the knot, and when you’re old enough, you apply for checks, and the money starts coming in each month. But the reality is a little more complicated.
There are four specific criteria you have to meet if you hope to claim a benefit on your partner’s work record. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering this option.
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1. You’re 62 or older
The same age requirements apply to spousal Social Security benefits and retirement benefits. You become eligible at age 62 and can sign up at any point after this.
Unlike retirement benefits, though, spousal benefits stop growing at your full retirement age (FRA). This is 67 for most people today. So there’s no incentive to delay a spousal Social Security claim beyond this point.
2. You have or had a qualifying marriage to a worker eligible for a retirement benefit
You typically have to be married to a worker eligible for a retirement benefit for at least one year to claim a spousal benefit on their work record. This is waived if you and the worker have a child together or if you were eligible for Social Security benefits in the month prior to the month you married.
If you’re divorced, you may still qualify for a spousal benefit on your ex’s work record if you were married for at least 10 years before divorcing and you have not remarried. Your ex’s remarriage will not affect your eligibility.
3. Your partner is already receiving retirement benefits
Currently married individuals must wait until their partner is receiving retirement benefits before they’re eligible to claim spousal benefits. This is why it’s a good idea to coordinate with your partner to decide when each of you will sign up so you can maximize your household income.
Divorced people can claim a spousal benefit even if their ex isn’t yet receiving retirement benefits, provided they’ve been divorced for at least two years. If your ex is already receiving retirement benefits, you may be able to sign up sooner, even if you’ve been divorced for less than two years.
4. Your retirement benefit must be smaller than your spousal benefit
The Social Security Administration only gives you the larger of your own retirement benefit or your spousal benefit. You will not receive both. But you don’t have to figure out which is larger on your own.
Contact the Social Security Administration by phone or visit your local Social Security office, and someone there should be able to help you understand your options and figure out which type of benefit will give you the most money overall.
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