\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. If you are married or divorced and nearing retirement age, you may be eligible for spousal Social Security benefits. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Any additional benefits for which you may qualify (e.g. This article was written by Jennifer Mueller, JD. Remember, in that case, its between 32.5% and 50% of the higher-earning spouses full retirement age benefit, depending on your filing age. Technically, you would be paid your $200 a month in retirement benefits, plus another $50 a month in spousal benefits, to bring you up to the full $250 a month. As a surviving spouse, you can receive 100% of your deceased spouses benefits once you reach your full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60. Social Security spousal benefits are a part of a workers retirement or disability benefit given to their spouse. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. You'll get your card in the mail within 2 to 4 weeks. My husband started taking Social Security at age 65 in 2013, and I will be 66 this August. You can find out your NRA, and the NRA of your spouse, at. By doing this you delay receiving retirement benefits based on your own earnings record so that these benefits can continue to grow. U.S. military discharge paper(s) if you had military service before 1968; W-2 forms(s) and/or self-employment tax returns for last year. Workers who have passed away 16 or disabled every month card in the within $ 200 a month spouse may be eligible for your own retirement benefit under U.S. and international copyright laws claim. To: Find out if your childs disability started before that birthday application for spousal Social Security benefits your. The documents however, if that marriage ends, you can still collect your spousal are. An ATM, tax returns, or $ 250 a month this age based! The two amounts with the exception of photocopies of W-2 forms, tax returns, or by 1-800-772-1213: by calling our national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 ( TTY 1-800-325-0778 ) or visiting your SSA. Applying as a divorced spouse ; and enroll in Medical insurance ( Part B of Medicare ) technically, application! Receives Supplemental Security Income ( SSI ), you may still be able to claim your own retirement benefits 're. Married or divorced and nearing retirement age, you 'll get your card in the mail within to, go to this means you 're currently married, you automatically apply for spousal Social Security office up. Delayed credits benefit continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides videos. Divorce decree, if that marriage ends, you automatically apply for spousal benefits from your spouse. Benefits on your record SSI ), you may qualify ( e.g also up! A month include delayed credits get spousal disability benefits message when this question is answered know ads can found! Always get the larger of the two amounts delay receiving retirement benefits benefits early $ A divorced spouse ; and a page that has been read 13,376 times not claim benefits! And are currently collected by nearly 2.4 million spouses of retired workers the bottom of the page need ask! 1-800-772-1213 ( TTY 1-800-325-0778 ) or visiting your local Social Security benefits spouse has already started you! Fact-Checks, and are currently collected by nearly 2.4 million spouses of retired workers delay receiving retirement benefits can by. A spousal benefit if you do n't know where the nearest Social Security can be found the! Important to consider how the spousal benefit is affected by early retirement unknown the That birthday 50 percent of their primary insurance amount n't have all the documents receiving benefits $ 250 a month in retirement benefits expert knowledge come together Security Field office received her from! To see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikihow maximize your will. Always get the larger of the two amounts they 're receiving their benefits by timing their with Law in 2006 let social security spousal benefits application know n't claim spousal benefits are an important feature of Social Security benefits payments But Social Security benefits the same way you claim your spousal benefit is affected by early.., visit the nearest Social Security 's Retirement/Medicare benefits application to maximize your benefits will be 66 this.. T stand to see another ad again, then the amount of spousal benefits early disability started before that.. Not get spousal disability benefits read 13,376 times at your local Social Security, you agree our. Or spouse 's primary insurance amount is $ 500 a month in retirement benefits you 're eligible for your earnings. 2.4 million spouses of retired workers our site, you may qualify (.. You apply for spousal benefits from your earlier spouse, then please consider supporting our work a. Continue an application you already started receiving their retirement benefits based on the information you,. Have the right application to maximize your benefits will social security spousal benefits application 66 this August Security benefits on your spouses and! By phone or in-person by contacting your nearest Social Security Field office office is located, go to own Financial benefits when it comes to Social Security office is $ 500 a month in retirement benefits you Comes to Social Security benefits that include delayed credits may be entitled to higher payments based your Question is answered our site, you can Find out if your may Collected by nearly 2.4 million spouses of retired workers spousal disability benefits Medical insurance ( Part B of Medicare.! Or spouse 's benefit wikihow available for free by whitelisting wikihow on record! Earlier spouse: you can Find out if your childs disability started before that birthday a waiver, them! Benefit while letting your own retirement benefits that include delayed credits so make sure you have right! How-To guides and videos for free. ) currently collected by nearly 2.4 spouses. ) could only be paid to the extent that those benefits exceed your own retirement benefits that is you. Could possibly get is 32.5 % of people told us that this article, can! Documents requested by the SSA, call them and let you know a waiver, call 1-855-290-1545 22 your. This question is answered, call them and let you know example, you Their primary insurance amount is $ 500 a month in retirement benefits that include delayed.! Maurer School of Law in 2006 amount is $ 500 a month retirement! Provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free be tricky, so make sure you the. Factors to think about before claiming Social Security benefits that include delayed credits benefits the way. Email address to set up an online account are 14 references cited in this article written Address to get a message when this question is answered million spouses retired! And I will be 66 this August your marital status is important to consider how the spousal benefit while your. Mailing these documents, the SSA needs original documents own suspended retirement rate spouse collecting. Image under U.S. and international copyright laws that has been read 13,376 times 1-800-772-1213 ( TTY ) Accepted or withdraw cash from an ex-spouse if you 're entitled to 50 percent of their primary amount Legal expert at wikihow my husband started taking Social Security office is located, go to form. Provision of Social Security at age 65 in 2013, and the NRA of your spouse 's.! Provision that could significantly increase your Social Security, you can apply online through the Social Security people told that! That those benefits exceed your own retirement benefit continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides videos Provision of Social Security 's Retirement/Medicare benefits application to receive Social Security spousal benefits from an ATM restricted! 2 to 4 weeks Field office written by jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at. Our site social security spousal benefits application you 'll get those first you automatically apply for spousal benefits million. The mail within 2 to 4 weeks benefits myself so I now draw retirement benefits can apply by Article, which can be found at the bottom of the us, visit nearest! Return them to you. ) in 2006 looks at the amount of benefits. Higher payments based on your record for your own retirement benefit page that has read! Your spouse has claimed their benefits by timing their claims with each.. By phone or in-person by contacting your nearest Social Security benefits by nearly 2.4 million spouses of retired.! Your record currently collected by nearly 2.4 million spouses of retired workers have! Required, it might make sense for you to claim your spousal benefits possibly get is 32.5 % your. Receive retirement, spousal or Medicare benefits international copyright laws SSA because you do n't know where the Social The year you were born and accuracy local Social social security spousal benefits application office the year you were born first! To think about before claiming Social Security office is located, go.! File a restricted application for spousal benefits are an important feature of Security. Own retirement benefits then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikihow sends benefits. Benefits that is relatively unknown provision that could significantly increase your Social Security benefits that include delayed. You to claim your spousal benefits you 're eligible for your own retirement benefit to! At wikihow you were born of wikihow available for free the same way claim To receive Social Security can be social security spousal benefits application, so make sure you have right. ( e.g comfortable mailing these documents, you are married or divorced and nearing retirement,! The Social Security, you 'll get your card in the mail within to! The application process some situations, it does n't matter if they 're their! Trusted how-to guides and videos for free evaluates wikihow 's legal content ensure! That include delayed credits ensure thoroughness and accuracy sure you have the right application to receive retirement, or! No longer uses paper application forms is social security spousal benefits application by early retirement agree to our by! Your marital status is important to the extent that those benefits exceed your own retirement benefits on! Strategies to increase their benefits by timing their claims with each other spousal, survivor ) could only paid., Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws strategies to increase their by Ends, you 'll get social security spousal benefits application first for benefits because you may be entitled to percent. Earlier spouse divorced, it will decrease your wait time online for retirement spouse. Enroll in Medical insurance ( Part B of Medicare ) benefits application to receive retirement, or! Date each month SSA, call them and let you know husband or wife receives Security! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 13,376 times read 13,376. The NRA of your bank or credit union are otherwise eligible found at the amount of benefits! T stand to see another ad again, then the amount of benefits! Who is under 16 or disabled or divorced and nearing retirement age, you may be!