How much is the Social Security spousal benefit?

The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of your spouse's full retirement age (FRA) benefit. If your spouse's FRA benefit is $3,000/month, you could receive up to $1,500/month. However, claiming before your FRA permanently reduces the spousal benefit. At 62, you'd receive about 32.5% instead of 50%.

Can I receive spousal benefits if I'm divorced?

Yes, if your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you're currently unmarried, and you're at least 62. Your ex-spouse must be at least 62 (but doesn't have to have filed). Your divorced spousal benefit does NOT reduce your ex-spouse's benefit or affect their current spouse's benefit.

Can I collect both my own benefit and a spousal benefit?

You cannot collect both in full. When you file, Social Security automatically gives you the higher of the two—your own benefit or the spousal benefit. If your own benefit is $800 and the spousal benefit would be $1,200, you'll effectively receive $1,200 total (your $800 plus a $400 spousal top-up).

Social Security Spousal Benefits: How They Work in 2026

Social Security spousal benefits can provide up to 50% of your spouse’s benefit, potentially adding hundreds or thousands of dollars per month to your household income. Understanding the rules helps you maximize what your family receives.

How Spousal Benefits Work

Basic Eligibility Requirements

Requirement	Details
Age	At least 62
Marriage duration	Married for at least 1 year (or caring for spouse’s child under 16)
Spouse has filed	Your spouse must have filed for their own Social Security benefits
Your own benefit	If your own benefit is higher, you’ll receive that instead

Maximum Spousal Benefit

Spouse’s FRA Benefit	Maximum Spousal Benefit (at your FRA)	Spousal Benefit at 62
$1,500	$750	$525
$2,000	$1,000	$700
$2,500	$1,250	$875
$3,000	$1,500	$1,050
$3,500	$1,750	$1,225
$4,000 (near max)	$2,000	$1,400

Claiming Age and Benefit Reduction

Spousal Benefit by Claiming Age

If your FRA is 67 and spouse’s FRA benefit is $3,000:

Your Claiming Age	% of Spousal Benefit	Monthly Benefit	Annual Benefit
62	32.5%	$975	$11,700
63	35.0%	$1,050	$12,600
64	37.5%	$1,125	$13,500
65	41.7%	$1,251	$15,012
66	45.8%	$1,374	$16,488
67 (FRA)	50.0%	$1,500	$18,000

Important: Unlike your own benefit, spousal benefits do NOT increase past your FRA. There is no benefit to waiting past FRA for a spousal benefit.

Your Own Benefit vs Spousal Benefit

Your Own FRA Benefit	Spousal Benefit (50% of spouse’s)	What You Receive
$800	$1,500	$1,500 (spousal is higher)
$1,200	$1,500	$1,500 (spousal is higher)
$1,500	$1,500	$1,500 (equal—receives own)
$2,000	$1,500	$2,000 (own is higher)
$2,500	$1,500	$2,500 (own is higher)

You always receive the higher of the two, not both combined.

Divorced Spouse Benefits

Eligibility for Divorced Spousal Benefits

Requirement	Details
Marriage lasted	At least 10 years
Divorce final	At least 2 years ago (unless ex-spouse already filed)
Your age	At least 62
Marital status	Currently unmarried
Ex-spouse’s age	At least 62 (doesn’t need to have filed if divorced 2+ years)

Key Differences From Current Spouse Benefits

Feature	Current Spouse	Divorced Spouse
Marriage duration	1 year	10 years
Spouse must file first	Yes	No (if divorced 2+ years)
Affects spouse’s benefit	No	No
Multiple ex-spouses	N/A	Can claim on highest-earning ex
Remarriage	N/A	Lose benefit if you remarry (unless that marriage ends)
Ex-spouse’s knowledge	N/A	They don’t need to know or consent

Survivor Benefits (After Spouse’s Death)

Survivor Benefit Amounts

Your Age at Claim	% of Deceased Spouse’s Benefit
60	71.5%
61	75.6%
62	79.6%
63	83.7%
64	87.8%
65	91.8%
66	95.9%
67 (FRA)	100%

Survivor benefits can be up to 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefit—double the 50% spousal benefit.

Survivor vs Spousal Benefit Comparison

Feature	Spousal Benefit	Survivor Benefit
Maximum amount	50% of spouse’s FRA benefit	100% of spouse’s actual benefit
Earliest claiming age	62	60 (50 if disabled)
Can delay past FRA?	No benefit to delaying	Only beneficial to delay to FRA
Strategy available	Claim spousal, switch later	Claim survivor, switch to own at 70

Strategies to Maximize Household Benefits

Strategy 1: Higher Earner Delays to 70

Scenario	Monthly Benefit	Household Monthly Total
Both claim at 62	Spouse A: $1,800, Spouse B: $700	$2,500
A claims at 67 (FRA), B at 62	Spouse A: $2,500, Spouse B: $700	$3,200
A delays to 70, B claims spousal at 67	Spouse A: $3,100, Spouse B: $1,250	$4,350

Strategy 2: File and Switch (Survivor Benefits)

Step	Age	Action	Monthly Benefit
1	60	Claim survivor benefit	$1,800
2	60-70	Let own benefit grow with delayed credits	—
3	70	Switch to own benefit	$2,800

This strategy works when your own benefit at 70 would exceed the survivor benefit.

Working While Receiving Spousal Benefits

Earnings Test (Under FRA)

Year	Earnings Limit	Benefit Reduction
2026 (before FRA year)	$23,400	$1 withheld for every $2 over limit
2026 (year you reach FRA)	$62,160	$1 withheld for every $3 over limit
2026 (month you reach FRA and after)	No limit	No reduction

Withheld benefits are not lost—Social Security recalculates and increases your monthly benefit at FRA to account for months withheld.

Government Pension Offset (GPO)

If you receive a pension from work NOT covered by Social Security (some government jobs):

Feature	Details
Offset amount	Spousal benefit reduced by 2/3 of your government pension
Example	Government pension of $1,800/month → spousal benefit reduced by $1,200
Impact	If spousal benefit is $1,500 and offset is $1,200, you receive $300
May eliminate benefit	If offset exceeds spousal benefit, you get $0

Common Questions and Scenarios

Scenario Comparison Table

Situation	Best Strategy
One spouse never worked	Claim spousal benefit at FRA for 50% of worker’s benefit
Both spouses worked, similar earnings	Both delay to 70 for maximum individual benefits
Big earnings gap	Higher earner delays to 70; lower earner claims spousal at FRA
Divorced after 10+ years	Claim on ex-spouse if their benefit produces higher spousal amount
Spouse recently passed away	Consider survivor benefit at 60, switch to own at 70 if higher
Both receiving, one spouse dies	Surviving spouse keeps the higher of the two benefits