Can My Wife Get Half of My Social Security Benefit?

by | Mar 13, 2023 | Spousal IRA | 24 comments

Can My Wife Get Half of My Social Security Benefit?




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When couples get married, they usually hope that their love will last forever. They plan their futures together, dreaming of growing old and enjoying their golden years. However, life is unpredictable, and sometimes marriages end in divorce or the death of a spouse. In these situations, financial matters can become complicated, especially when it comes to Social Security benefits. Many people wonder if their ex-spouse or surviving spouse can receive a portion of their Social Security benefit. In this article, we’ll discuss whether someone’s wife can get half of their Social Security benefit.

First of all, it’s essential to understand how Social Security benefits work. Social Security is a federal program that provides financial assistance to those who are retired, disabled, or have lost a spouse or parent. To qualify for Social Security benefits, individuals must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least ten years. The amount of Social Security benefits you receive depends on various factors, including your income, the age you start receiving benefits, and how long you’ve worked.

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In general, Social Security benefits for married couples are determined based on the higher-earning spouse’s work record. If you’re married and have worked long enough to qualify for Social Security benefits, you can receive up to 50% of your spouse’s benefit if you claim at full retirement age. This means that if your Social Security benefit is $1,000 per month, and your spouse’s benefit is $1,500 per month, you can receive up to $750 per month (50% of your spouse’s benefit).

However, there are rules and restrictions that apply. For example, if you’re divorced but were married for at least ten years, you may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits based on your ex-spouse’s work record. If you’re a surviving spouse, you may be eligible to receive the full amount of your deceased spouse’s Social Security benefit if you wait until full retirement age to claim. Additionally, if you start claiming Social Security before full retirement age, your benefit amount may be reduced.

So, can your wife get half of your Social Security benefit? The answer is, it depends. If you’re currently married and plan to stay married, your wife can receive up to 50% of your Social Security benefit if she waits until full retirement age to claim. If you’re divorced, your ex-spouse may be eligible to receive benefits based on your work record if you were married for at least ten years. If you’re a surviving spouse, your wife can receive the full amount of your Social Security benefit if she waits until full retirement age to claim.

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In conclusion, Social Security benefits can be a source of confusion and frustration, especially in situations involving divorce or the death of a spouse. If you’re unsure whether your wife is eligible to receive Social Security benefits based on your work record, it’s best to consult with a financial advisor or Social Security representative. They can guide you through the process and help ensure that you and your loved ones receive the benefits you’re entitled to.

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24 Comments

  1. Ron Edwards

    Ridiculous you can't be damn married. Or your penalized. What a joke.
    Why can't we get it changed… our Christian rights

  2. Nadia Zahroon

    When can spouse claim 50% sis from husbands

  3. Doug B

    My wife was on Disability since before she turned 62, and I think she's past her FRA at this point. Would she have any deduction from half of my SS when I start collecting?

  4. YO Pappy

    Thanks Josh, keep going over and over I for one really appreciate all you do.

  5. Ray Mann

    Hi Josh, with all the talk about social security will run out of funds, so you think we can still count social security as part of retirement income? Thank you.

  6. Kim

    ok. questions . At my FRA I will receive $2750 and my husbands FRA $1884. If my husband files for a reduced SS benefit at 65, can I then take a spousal benefit off of his SS benefit ( I would be 64 y/o at this time) and let my own SS grow to my FRA, before I file for my SS at 67 y/o. But if I do this will that cause my SS @ my FRA to be reduced? Does any of this make sense– we are very close in age–

  7. Shell Azcona

    Not only can a wife get half of social security. Ex-wife and Ex-husband can get half of a persons social security. The says that if you where married for 10 yrs or more you can collect half the benefits. There is no why around it. The only thing a person can do is try to put money away for their future. I closed my Trustco stocks and decided put money by opening an annuity.

  8. King David

    Would you recommend that someone have some precious metals as a backup/protection for emergency. If so how many ounces of each should someone have.

  9. Dave Scheirer

    Thanks Josh for discussing this topic. It's more complicated than I first realized.

  10. Tina Lippincott

    I recently bought your book; hoping to have time to read it soon. Thanks for all your excellent content, as always. Love your podcasts!

  11. Ramse

    Related to the same topic, I will be impacted by WEP at my FRA. How will this impact spousal benefit if she will be 63 at that time? She doesn't intend to take SS benefits before I start.

    Thanks!

    John

  12. chris forker

    Great video Josh! People often get confused by the SSI rules, this is not easy stuff!

  13. Barry Morton

    Thanks for taking the time to answer questions 🙂

  14. Wilma

    I’m confused. Can you put on the white board? I thought the spouse could start SS at reduced rate and then when Carl turned 67 she would switch to half of his. In this video it sounds now she will be reduced and not get half of his.

  15. Ray Hitt

    Wife can’t get half of her husband’s SS until she reaches her full retirement age. She can get 35 per cent at 62.

  16. Scott A

    The question is reduced by how much. If my wife took hers at 62 for $1000 per month, what would be the reduction off of $1500 spousal benefit @ 67, which is half if my PIA?

  17. Waren PLT

    One step further…when he passes, your wife DOES receive 100% of YOUR FRA PIA, but her's stop.

    @Josh
    Question. If he takes delayed credits (taking his SS after 67yo), when he passes, does wife receive 100% of his SS benefits including the delayed credits?

  18. wcb55

    It is a little complicated in how it is calculated. There are separate reduction factors for the individual and spousal benefits. Devin Carroll has a good example in his youtube video
    Calculating Social Security Spousal Benefits with Dual Entitlement
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH7nkC_katc&t=252s

  19. Stephen Cullum

    Once the spouse hits their full retirement age there are no more delay retirement credits for a spousal benefit. My wife was a year past her full retirement age before I filed. She could not file for a spouse benefit until I filed. She got half of my full benefit at my full retirement age. My benefit was reduced. I filed so she could file. To make it short we will net more together that way than waiting for my full retirement age. Also if I pass before she does she will net a few percent more than I did because she was at her full retirement age. But she will not get my full retirement age amount.

  20. Jeremy Rhodes

    The spouse can receive both benefits (hers and the 50% of her husband – at reduced amounts if taken early)?

  21. Mark Abreu

    This is a great question & answer because it comes up frequently in retirement circles.

  22. llg63

    Josh, your videos always reference the spousal benefit being 50% of the primary. Can both spouses take their own full benefit it they would receive more in that scenario?

  23. Ed Collinge

    At age 62 it would be 32,71%

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