Key Points
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You may be eligible for Social Security based on a current or former spouse’s earnings record.
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There’s a limit to how much Social Security will pay in spousal benefits.
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Waiting too long to sign up could cause you to lose out.
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It’s common for older Americans to qualify for Social Security benefits by working and paying taxes on their wages throughout their careers. As long as you end up with 40 work credits in your lifetime, you can file for Social Security benefits starting at age 62.
But if you don’t have enough work credits to qualify for Social Security on your own, there’s another path available to some seniors. You may be eligible for spousal Social Security benefits based on your current or former spouse’s earnings record.
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Spousal Social Security benefits, however, work differently than benefits you’re claiming based on your own earnings history. And it’s important to be mindful of one key rule when signing up.
There’s no credit for delaying a spousal Social Security claim
When you’re claiming Social Security, whether based on your own record or as a spousal benefit applicant, full retirement age is when you’re entitled to that benefit without a reduction. Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.
Now, when you’re claiming Social Security based on your own record, you can accrue delayed retirement credits for waiting past full retirement age. Those credits give your benefits an 8% boost, and they don’t run out until age 70.
Spousal benefits work differently. If you’re claiming spousal benefits, the maximum you can collect is 50% of your spouse or ex-spouse’s full retirement age benefit. This means that if your spouse (current or former) is eligible for $2,800 a month in Social Security based on their own earnings history, the most you can collect in spousal benefits is $1,400 a month.
There are no delayed retirement credits for spousal Social Security benefits, so waiting beyond your full retirement age to sign up doesn’t make sense. If anything, all you’ll do is force yourself to delay those benefits with no upside. And you could end up losing out on benefits.
Social Security will generally pay up to six months of benefits retroactively for people who delay too long. But if you wait until you turn 68 to claim spousal benefits, you could end up forfeiting months of payments.
Make sure you know the rules
Spousal Social Security benefits can be a lifeline for some retirees, but the rules aren’t exactly the same as benefits claimed on your own record. It’s important to know how spousal benefits work so you sign up at the right time and don’t give up retirement income you’re entitled to.
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