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If I Claim $3,000 in Social Security, Does My Wife Have to Separately File for Her Spousal Benefit?

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Spousal benefits are worth up to 50% of the higher earning spouse's benefit at full retirement age.
Spousal benefits are worth up to 50% of the higher earning spouse’s benefit at full retirement age.

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When you file for Social Security, your spouse becomes eligible for payments known as spousal benefits. However, they won’t receive these payments automatically. Instead, they must file with the Social Security Administration, whether they’re receiving their own retirement benefits or not.

A financial advisor can help you plan for Social Security and build a comprehensive retirement income plan. Connect with a fiduciary advisor.

For example, imagine that a man will receive $3,000 at his full retirement age. His wife can collect up to $1,500 in spousal benefits under his earnings history, but she must file for them. Here’s a closer look at how spousal benefits work.

Spousal benefits are a form of Social Security payments for the spouses of beneficiaries. If you’re married or formerly married, you can claim benefits that are worth up to 50% of your spouse’s full retirement benefit. For most people, this means the benefits they would receive at age 67. These payments are not deducted from your spouse’s payments, and your spouse cannot alter your right to receive them.

To claim spousal benefits, the SSA requires the following:

If both of these criteria are met, the secondary spouse can file for spousal benefits. There are two exceptions to these rules however:

  • If the spouses have been divorced for more than two years, the secondary spouse can claim spousal benefits regardless of the primary spouse’s retirement status

  • If the secondary spouse cares for a child who is under 16 years old or who receives disability benefits through the SSA. they can file for spousal benefits before age 62

You can also file for retirement benefits based on an ex-spouse’s benefits if you were married for at least 10 years and you have not remarried. This is not affected by the primary spouse’s marital status, and in some situations, you may claim benefits before the primary spouse has retired.

Whether it’s guidance on spousal benefits or advice on how and when to make withdrawals from retirement accounts, a financial advisor can help you plan for retirement.

A woman looks on as her husband files for spousal benefits from the Social Security Administration.
A woman looks on as her husband files for spousal benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Spousal benefits are capped at are 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s “primary insurance amount” (PIA) – their benefit at full retirement age. For example, if you receive $3,000 per month in Social Security, your spouse can receive up to $1,500 per month in spousal benefits if they wait until their own full retirement age.

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