What spouse benefits are and who can receive them

If your spouse receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you may be able to receive benefits on their record even if you have never worked or have limited work history. Spouse benefits are monthly payments made to you based on your spouse's disability, not your own. You do not need to be disabled to receive them.

The Social Security Administration pays spouse benefits to help support the household when one person's disability reduces family income. The amount you receive is a percentage of what your spouse gets — typically 32.5 percent of their benefit amount, though the exact percentage can vary based on your age and family circumstances.

Spouse benefits are separate from your own Social Security retirement or disability benefits. If you are also may have access to to benefits on your own work record, Social Security will pay you the higher of the two amounts, not both.

Key Takeaways

  • You can receive spouse benefits at age 62 or older, or at any age if you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16 or disabled.
  • The amount you receive is typically 32.5 percent of your spouse's SSDI benefit, but this can be reduced if other family members also receive benefits on the same record.
  • If you remarry, your spouse benefits usually stop, though exceptions exist if you remarry after age 60.
  • You must contact Social Security directly to request spouse benefits — the agency does not automatically add you to your spouse's case.
  • Your spouse's benefits do not decrease because you receive spouse benefits; the family maximum may limit what other dependents receive.

Age requirements and when you can start receiving payments

The most common path to spouse benefits is reaching age 62. At that age, you can request benefits on your spouse's SSDI record regardless of whether you have worked. If you start benefits before your full retirement age (which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year), your monthly payment will be permanently reduced — typically by about 32.5 percent of your spouse's amount, but less if you wait.

You can also receive spouse benefits at any age if you are the primary caregiver for your spouse's biological, adopted, or stepchild who is under age 16 or who became disabled before age 22. This path does not require you to reach any particular age. The child must be receiving benefits on your spouse's SSDI record for you to may have access to as a caregiver.

If you are already receiving your own Social Security retirement or disability benefits, you cannot also receive spouse benefits. Social Security will pay whichever amount is higher, but not both.

How to request spouse benefits from Social Security

You must contact Social Security yourself to request spouse benefits. Your spouse's SSDI case does not automatically include you. You can start the process by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local Social Security office, or creating an account on ssa.gov to request benefits online.

When you contact Social Security, have your spouse's Social Security number and your own available. You will need to provide proof of your age (a birth certificate, passport, or driver's license), proof of citizenship or legal residency, and proof of your marriage (a marriage certificate). If you are requesting benefits as a caregiver for a child, bring documentation showing the child's relationship to your spouse and proof that the child is receiving benefits on your spouse's record.

Social Security will review your request and send you a notice showing whether you have been approved and what your monthly payment will be. This process typically takes several weeks. You can check the status of your request by logging into your my Social Security account online or by calling the agency.

How the family maximum affects your payment

Social Security sets a family maximum — a limit on the total amount all family members can receive based on one person's SSDI record. This maximum is typically 150 to 180 percent of the disabled worker's benefit amount, though the exact percentage varies by case.

If your spouse receives SSDI and other family members also receive benefits on that same record (such as children, a former spouse, or you as the current spouse), the total paid to everyone cannot exceed the family maximum. When the family maximum is reached, each person's payment is reduced proportionally.

For example, if your spouse's benefit is $1,200 per month and the family maximum is $2,000, and there are two other beneficiaries, each person's share is reduced so the total does not exceed $2,000. Your spouse's payment is never reduced, but yours and others' payments may be. Social Security will explain the family maximum amount in your approval notice.

What happens to spouse benefits if circumstances change

Your spouse benefits will stop if your spouse's SSDI case ends — for instance, if they return to work and earn above the substantial gainful activity level, or if they reach full retirement age and switch to retirement benefits instead. When your spouse moves from SSDI to retirement benefits, you may be able to continue receiving benefits as a spouse on their retirement record, though the amount may differ.

If you remarry, your spouse benefits typically stop. However, if you remarry after age 60, you can continue to receive benefits on your former spouse's record. This exception applies only if you were married for at least 10 years before the divorce.

If you reach your full retirement age, your benefit amount will not increase, but you will no longer face the reduction that applies to those who start benefits before full retirement age. If you are receiving benefits as a caregiver and the child turns 16 or is no longer disabled, your caregiver benefits stop, though the child's benefits continue.

How spouse benefits differ from ex-spouse and widow benefits

Spouse benefits are available only while your spouse is alive and receiving SSDI. If your spouse passes away, you become may be able to access for widow or widower benefits instead, which are calculated differently and have different age requirements. Widow benefits can begin as early as age 60 (or 50 if you are disabled), whereas spouse benefits require age 62 or caregiver status.

If you were divorced from your spouse and the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you may be able to receive benefits on their SSDI record as a divorced spouse. The rules are similar to current spouse benefits — you must be age 62 or older, or caring for a child under 16 or disabled. Your ex-spouse does not need to have applied for benefits first, though they must be age 62 or older.

Former spouses who remarry before age 60 lose the ability to receive benefits on that record, but remarriage after 60 does not affect may be able to access. Current spouses and ex-spouses cannot both receive benefits on the same SSDI record; Social Security coordinates payments to avoid duplication.

Reporting changes and managing your account

Once you are receiving spouse benefits, you must report certain changes to Social Security. If you return to work and earn income, you must report your earnings, as they may affect your benefit amount if you have not yet reached full retirement age. If you move, marry, divorce, or if your spouse's situation changes, contact Social Security to update your information.

You can manage your benefits through your my Social Security account online, where you can view your payment history, update your address, and see your annual benefit statement. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office. If you receive benefits by direct deposit, changes to your account are usually processed within one to two business days.

Social Security sends a notice each year showing your benefit amount and any changes to your case. Review this notice carefully and contact the agency if anything appears incorrect. Errors caught early are easier to correct than those discovered years later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive spouse benefits if my spouse is still working?

Yes. Your spouse's work does not prevent you from receiving spouse benefits. However, if your spouse's earnings are high enough, Social Security may reduce or suspend their own SSDI benefit, which could affect the family maximum and the amount you receive. Contact Social Security if your spouse's work situation changes.

What if I have my own Social Security record from working?

Social Security will pay you the higher of your own benefit or your spouse benefit, but not both. If your own retirement or disability benefit is higher than the spouse benefit you would receive, you get only your own benefit. The agency compares the amounts and pays the larger one automatically.

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to receive spouse benefits?

No, but you must be a lawful resident. You will need to provide proof of your legal residency status when you request benefits. Undocumented immigrants are not able to receive spouse benefits.

Will my spouse's benefits decrease if I start receiving spouse benefits?

No. Your spouse's SSDI payment stays the same. However, if other family members also receive benefits on your spouse's record, the family maximum may limit what they receive. Your spouse is always paid their full amount first.

What happens to my spouse benefits if my spouse goes back to work and no longer qualifies for SSDI?

Your spouse benefits will stop when your spouse's SSDI case ends. If your spouse switches to Social Security retirement benefits instead, you may be able to continue receiving spouse benefits on their retirement record, though the amount may be different. Contact Social Security to understand how the change affects your payment.