Social Security Spouse Benefit

Social Security Spouse Benefit is also extended to your spouse in any of the following circumstances:

Age 62 or older, unless he or she collects a higher Social Security Spouse Benefit based on his or her earnings record. The Social Security 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 Spouse Benefit. Your spouse would receive Social Security Spouse Benefit until the child reaches age 16. At that time, the child's benefits continue, but your spouse's Social Security Spouse Benefit stops 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 Social Security Spouse Benefit 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 Social Security Spouse Benefit 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 Social Security Spouse Benefit:

• At 64, the Social Security Spouse Benefit amount would be about 46 percent of the retired worker's full benefit.


• At age 63, the Social Security Spouse Benefit it would be about 42 percent


• At age 62, the Social Security Spouse Benefit would be at 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 Social Security Spouse Benefit, regardless of age.