How Does the Spousal Benefit Work?
Due to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, some well known strategies that most couples once used to increase their income are now gone.
But don’t worry, spouses can still claim benefits regardless of whether they ever held paid jobs, based on their partner’s record. In order to qualify, the spouse with a work record must already be getting retirement or disability benefits, and the nonworking spouse must be at least age 62.
However, when it comes to other Social Security benefits, spousal benefits are permanently minimized if the nonworking spouse starts to receive before reaching their own full retirement age. If the nonworking spouse actually waits until full retirement age, they will be rewarded with a spousal benefit of up to 50 percent of their partner’s full retirement benefit.
Also, spouses who are widowed become eligible for 100 percent of their partner’s full benefit unless they also had a job, and the benefit they’ve earned through their own income is higher. In certain cases, divorced spouses can quality for spousal benefits based on their former partner’s record.
