Social Security Spouse Benefits

Benefits Payable to Your Spouse

    Social Security benefits are also extended to your spouse in any of the following circumstances:

• Age 62 or older, unless he or she collects a higher Social Security benefit based on his or her earnings record. The spouse benefit amount will be permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months up to his or her full retirement age.
• At any age if he or she is caring for your child under age 16 or disabled and receiving Social Security benefits. Your spouse would receive these benefits until the child reaches age 16. At that time, the child's benefits continue, but your spouse's benefits stop unless he or she is old enough to receive retirement benefits (age 62 or older) or survivor benefits as a widow or widower (age 60).

    A spouse receives one-half of the retired worker's full benefits unless the spouse begins collecting benefits before full retirement age. In that case, the amount of spouse benefits is permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months before he/she reaches full retirement age.

For example, based on the full retirement age of 65, if a spouse begins collecting benefits:

• At 64, the benefit amount would be about 46 percent of the retired worker's full benefit.
• At age 63, it would be about 42 percent and 
  
• At age 62, 37.5 percent.

    However, if a spouse is taking care of a child who is either under age 16 or disabled and receiving Social Security benefits, a spouse gets one-half of the retired worker’s full benefits, regardless of age.