What spouse benefits are and who can receive them

If your spouse receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you may be able to receive a monthly payment based on their work record—even if you have never worked or have not worked recently. This is called a spouse benefit. The payment comes from the same Social Security trust fund that pays your spouse's SSDI, and it does not reduce the amount your spouse receives.

You do not need your own work history to may have access to for a spouse benefit. Social Security looks only at your spouse's earnings record and your relationship to them. The benefit is separate from any SSDI you might receive on your own account, though you cannot collect both at the same time—Social Security will pay you whichever is higher.

Spouse benefits are available to married couples, and in some cases to former spouses. The rules differ depending on your age and whether you are caring for a child. Understanding which rule applies to you determines how much you can receive and when you can start.

Key Takeaways

  • A spouse can receive up to 50 percent of the disabled worker's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) if they are age 62 or older, or any age if they are caring for the worker's child under 16.
  • Your spouse's SSDI payment does not change when you receive a spouse benefit—you are drawing from the same pool, but your benefit is calculated separately.
  • If you are under 62 and not caring for a child, you cannot receive a spouse benefit on SSDI, even if your spouse is disabled.
  • Former spouses can receive benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are at least 62 years old, and you are not currently married.
  • Earning income above the annual limit may reduce or eliminate your spouse benefit, though the rules change at your full retirement age.

Age requirements and the Primary Insurance Amount

The amount you receive as a spouse depends on your age and your spouse's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)—the monthly SSDI payment your spouse receives. Social Security calculates the PIA based on your spouse's lifetime earnings record. You can ask Social Security for this figure, or your spouse's SSDI award letter will show it.

If you are age 62 or older, you can receive up to 50 percent of your spouse's PIA. For example, if your spouse's PIA is $1,200 per month, your maximum spouse benefit would be $600. However, if you claim before your full retirement age (which varies by birth year, typically between 66 and 67), Social Security will reduce your benefit by a percentage that increases the earlier you claim. Claiming at 62 results in a larger reduction than claiming at 65.

If you are under 62, you can receive a spouse benefit only if you are caring for your spouse's child who is under age 16. In this case, age does not matter—you can be 30 or 40 and still receive the benefit. The amount is the same: up to 50 percent of your spouse's PIA.

Caring for a child under 16

If you are caring for your spouse's biological, adopted, or stepchild who is under age 16, you can receive a spouse benefit regardless of your age. The child must be receiving SSDI benefits on your spouse's record as well—that is, the child must be disabled, or the child must be the biological or adopted child of the disabled worker.

The benefit ends when the child turns 16, even if you continue to care for them. At that point, you would need to be age 62 or older to continue receiving a spouse benefit. If you are younger than 62 when the child turns 16, your benefit stops until you reach 62.

This rule allows a younger spouse to receive income while raising the disabled worker's minor children. It does not matter whether you are working or whether you have your own Social Security record.

Former spouse benefits and the 10-year marriage rule

If you are divorced, you may receive a spouse benefit on your ex-spouse's SSDI record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are at least 62 years old, and you are not currently married. Your ex-spouse does not need to agree, and they do not need to know you are explore. Social Security will not tell them.

The 10-year rule is strict: a marriage that lasted 9 years and 11 months does not may have access to. Social Security counts from the date of marriage to the date the divorce became final. If you remarry after age 60, you can still receive benefits on your ex-spouse's record, but if you remarry before age 60, you lose the right to those benefits.

The amount you receive as a former spouse is the same as for a current spouse: up to 50 percent of your ex-spouse's PIA, reduced if you claim before your full retirement age. If your ex-spouse has not yet claimed SSDI but is age 62 or older, you may still be able to claim on their record.

How earnings affect your spouse benefit

If you work and earn income above the annual limit, Social Security will reduce your spouse benefit. For 2024, the limit is $23,400 per year (or $1,950 per month). For every $2 you earn above this limit, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefit. This rule applies until you reach your full retirement age.

Once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies. You can earn any amount without affecting your spouse benefit. This is an important threshold: if you are close to your full retirement age, waiting a few months to claim might result in a higher lifetime benefit.

The earnings limit applies only to you, not to your spouse. Your spouse's SSDI payment is not affected by how much either of you earns. Also, the limit counts only wages from work and net income from self-employment—it does not count investment income, pensions, or other unearned income.

How spouse benefits interact with your own SSDI

If you are disabled and receiving SSDI on your own work record, you cannot receive a spouse benefit at the same time. Social Security will pay you whichever amount is higher. This is called the deemed filing rule. When you claim one benefit, you are automatically deemed to have claimed the other.

For example, suppose your own SSDI benefit is $800 per month and your spouse's PIA would allow you a $900 spouse benefit. Social Security will pay you $900—the higher amount. You do not receive both; you receive one payment equal to the larger of the two.

If you are not yet disabled but your spouse is, you can receive a spouse benefit if you meet the age or child-care requirements. Later, if you become disabled, your own SSDI benefit may be higher than the spouse benefit, and Social Security will switch you to your own record.

How to report changes and what happens to benefits after death

You must report certain changes to Social Security within 10 days. These include changes in your living situation, changes in how much you earn, if you return to work, if you marry or divorce, or if you leave the United States for more than 30 days. Failure to report can result in overpayment, which you may be required to repay.

If your spouse dies, your spouse benefit ends. However, you may be able to receive widow(er) benefits on your spouse's record instead. Widow(er) benefits have different rules and amounts than spouse benefits. If you are age 60 or older, you can receive widow(er) benefits. If you are caring for your spouse's child under 16, you can receive them at any age. Contact Social Security to learn how your benefit will change.

If you die, your spouse may be able to receive benefits on your record if they meet the requirements for widow(er) benefits. Your spouse's benefit as your widow(er) is separate from any SSDI they receive on their own record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive a spouse benefit if my spouse has not claimed SSDI yet?

Yes, if your spouse is age 62 or older and has been found disabled by Social Security, you may be able to claim a spouse benefit even if your spouse has not yet applied. Your spouse must have a Social Security account and a disability information on file. Contact Social Security to confirm your spouse's status.

What if I was married for 9 years and 11 months?

You do not meet the 10-year requirement. Social Security counts from the marriage date to the divorce date, and the rule is strictly 10 years or more. A marriage of 9 years and 11 months does not may have access to you for former spouse benefits.

Does my spouse benefit count as income for Medicaid or other programs?

Yes. Spouse benefits are counted as unearned income when determining your income for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and other means-tested programs. The amount of your spouse benefit may affect your may be able to access or the amount of other benefits you receive. Contact your state Medicaid office or local SSI office to learn how it applies to your situation.

Can I receive a spouse benefit if I am working full-time?

You can receive a spouse benefit while working, but if your earnings exceed the annual limit ($23,400 in 2024), your benefit will be reduced. Once you reach your full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies and you can work without affecting your benefit.

What happens to my spouse benefit if I remarry?

If you remarry before age 60, you lose the right to receive benefits on your ex-spouse's record. If you remarry at age 60 or later, you can continue to receive benefits on your ex-spouse's record. If you remarry and your new spouse is receiving SSDI, you may be able to receive a spouse benefit on their record instead.