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Are You Eligible for a Spousal Benefit? - MSN.com
Even if you never worked, if you are married or were married at least 10 years, you could qualify for benefits based on your spouse’s record. You can get a spousal benefit equal to 50% of your spouse’s full retirement age (FRA) benefit, regardless of when your spouse starts their own benefit, when you reach your own FRA.
If you are going to be eligible for a spousal benefit, you should consider it when you or your spouse is deciding when to start receiving Social Security. If 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s FRA benefit is more than 100% of the lower-earning spouse’s benefit, the difference between those two amounts is the amount you will receive as a spousal boost.
A spousal benefit maxes out at your FRA, and you must also delay taking your own benefits until you reach your FRA to receive the maximum spousal benefit. If you are married, your spouse must be receiving their own benefit for you to be able to receive it. If you are divorced for at least two years, your ex-spouse only needs to be at least 62 or on disability, but does not have to be receiving their benefits.
Like any other benefit, if you take your spousal benefit before your FRA, it will be reduced, and it is a permanent deduction. You cannot delay taking your spousal benefit if your spouse is already receiving their benefits when you apply. You will automatically be deemed as filing for all benefits available to you, and if you have not yet reached your FRA, the amount you receive will be permanently reduced.
Kailey Hagen writes about things you should know when spousal benefits are part of your retirement plan. Read her full article here …
This posting is presented for informational purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. Any opinions or interpretations presented are either those of the original author or, in the case of articles authored by the AMAC Foundation, are the opinions of AMAC Foundation staff, originally trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA) and certified via the AMAC Foundation. Any links included in the article are valid on the posted date; socialsecurityreport.org cannot guarantee the duration of the links’ validity. NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (https://amacfoundation.org/services/) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org. Because we are a non-profit organization, there is no charge for these services.