You don’t have to have a work history of your own to collect Social Security. If you’re married, or were married for long enough, you may be able to claim a benefit based on your spouse’s or ex-spouse’s record, and it can be worth up to half of what they get.
Spousal benefits are one of the most overlooked parts of Social Security. As of September 2026, the average spousal benefit was about $987 a month, according to Social Security data cited by Yahoo Finance.
Here’s how much you could get, who qualifies, and the rules that catch people out.
How much you can get
The most a spousal benefit can be is 50% of your spouse’s “primary insurance amount” (PIA), which is the benefit they’d get at their full retirement age. For anyone born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67.
You only get that full 50% if you wait until your own full retirement age to claim. Claim earlier and it’s permanently reduced. Here’s how it works for someone whose spouse has a PIA of $3,000:
| Your age when you claim | Share of spouse’s PIA | Monthly spousal benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | 32.5% | $975 |
| 63 | 35% | $1,050 |
| 64 | 37.5% | $1,125 |
| 65 | about 41.7% | $1,250 |
| 66 | about 45.8% | $1,375 |
| 67 (full retirement age) | 50% | $1,500 |
One big difference from regular retirement benefits: there’s no bonus for waiting past full retirement age. Your own benefit grows if you delay until 70, but a spousal benefit tops out at 67.
And if you qualify for both your own benefit and a spousal benefit, you don’t get both. Social Security pays you whichever is higher.
Who qualifies
If you’re married:
- You’re generally at least 62.
- Your spouse has already filed for their own Social Security retirement or disability benefits. You can’t claim on their record until they do.
- You’ve usually been married for at least one year, though there are some exceptions.
If you’re divorced:
- Your marriage lasted at least 10 years.
- You’re currently unmarried.
- You’re at least 62.
- Your ex is 62 or older. If your ex hasn’t filed yet, you can still claim as long as you’ve been divorced for at least two years.
Claiming on an ex’s record doesn’t reduce their benefit or their new spouse’s benefit.
If you’re caring for a child:
There’s no minimum age if your spouse is getting retirement or disability benefits and you care for their child who is under 16 or disabled.
If you never worked:
That’s fine. Spousal benefits don’t require a work record of your own. This is one of the main ways stay-at-home parents and caregivers get Social Security income in retirement.
Rules that catch people out
You can’t pick and choose anymore. Older strategies like “file and suspend” and “restricted applications” were mostly ended by a 2015 law. If you were born on or after January 2, 1954, “deemed filing” applies: when you apply for either your own benefit or a spousal benefit, you’re treated as applying for both, and you get the higher amount.
Early claiming is permanent. If you take a reduced spousal benefit at 62, it stays reduced. It won’t jump to 50% when you reach full retirement age.
Working can reduce it for now. If you claim before full retirement age and keep working, the earnings limit applies, just as it does for regular benefits. For 2027, SSA holds back $1 for every $2 you earn above $25,560.
Good news for some government retirees
For decades, a rule called the Government Pension Offset cut or wiped out spousal and survivor benefits for people who also got a pension from government work that didn’t pay into Social Security, such as some teachers, police officers and firefighters. The Social Security Fairness Act, signed in January 2025, repealed that rule. If you were turned down for spousal benefits in the past because of a government pension, it’s worth checking again with SSA.
If your spouse dies: survivor benefits
Survivor benefits work differently, and they can be worth a lot more. A widow or widower can get up to 100% of the late spouse’s benefit, not just 50%. Survivor benefits can start as early as 60, or 50 if you’re disabled, though they’re reduced if you claim before full retirement age. Divorced spouses can qualify for survivor benefits too, if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.
How to apply
- You can apply up to four months before you want your benefits to start.
- Apply online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Social Security office.
- Have your spouse’s or ex-spouse’s Social Security number, and your marriage and, if relevant, divorce paperwork ready.
Spousal benefits also go up each year with the COLA, so they’ll rise 3.6% in January 2027 along with everyone else’s.
Rules can depend on your exact situation, so before you claim, check your options with SSA or a trusted financial adviser.
Sources: Yahoo Finance, “Social Security spousal benefits: How they work for married and divorced spouses” (October 21, 2026) and the Social Security Administration.
Jackson is a dedicated USA news writer, who covers important topics such as Social Security payment schedules, COLA increases, IRS tax refunds, stimulus payment announcements, Medicare eligibility, retirement benefits, and changes to state driving laws. His goal is to provide clear, informative, and easy-to-follow articles that help retirees, seniors, taxpayers, and American families stay informed.