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Benefits For Family Benefits
If you’re receiving retirement benefits, some members of your family
also can receive benefits.
Those who can include:
Spouse’s Benefits
A spouse receives one-half of the retired worker’s full benefit unless
the spouse begins collecting benefits before reaching full retirement
age. In that case, the amount of the spouse’s benefit is permanently
reduced by a percentage based on the number of months before she or he
reaches 65. For example, if your spouse begins collecting benefits at
64, the benefit amount would be about 46 percent of your full benefit.
At age 63, it would be about 42 percent and 37.5 percent at age 62. However,
if your spouse is taking care of a child who is under age 16 or disabled
and receiving Social Security benefits, your spouse gets full benefits,
regardless of age.
If you’re eligible for both your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefit first. If your benefit as a spouse is higher than your retirement benefit, you’ll get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit.
Here’s an example:
Mary Ann qualifies for a retirement benefit of $250 and a wife’s benefit of $400. At age 65, she will receive her own $250 retirement benefit and we will add $150 from her wife’s benefit, for a total of $400. If she takes her retirement benefit at any time before she turns 65, both amounts will be reduced.
Maximum Family Benefits
If you have children eligible for Social Security, each will receive up
to one-half of your full benefit. But there is a limit to the amount of
money that can be paid to a family. If the total benefits due your spouse
and children exceed this limit, their benefits will be reduced proportionately.
Your benefit will not be affected.
Benefits For A Divorced Spouse
A divorced spouse can get benefits on a former husband’s or wife’s
Social Security record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. The divorced
spouse must be 62 or older and unmarried. If the spouse has been divorced
at least two years, he or she can get benefits, even if the worker is
not retired. However, the worker must have enough credits to qualify for
benefits and be age 62 or older. The amount of benefits a divorced spouse
gets has no effect on the amount of benefits a current spouse can get.
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