Social Security Spousal Benefit Calculator: the facts

1. A spouse can receive up to 50 percent of the worker's full retirement benefit, once the worker has filed (20 CFR 404.333). It is paid on top of the spouse's own benefit only as the excess over it.
2. Claimed before the spouse's own full retirement age, the spousal amount is reduced 25/36 of a percent a month for the first 36 months and 5/12 of a percent beyond (404.410(b)): at 62 with a full retirement age of 67, 32.5% of the worker's full benefit instead of 50.
3. Waiting past full retirement age adds nothing to a spousal benefit; delayed retirement credits apply only to a person's own record. There is no reason to wait past it for the spousal part.
4. Example: a worker's full benefit is $3,000 and the spouse's own is $1,000. The spousal excess is $500; claimed at 62, the spouse receives $700 on their own record plus $325 of reduced excess, $1,025 in all.
5. Since the deemed-filing rules, claiming either benefit is treated as claiming both; a spouse can no longer take the spousal benefit alone and let their own grow, unless born before 1954.
6. A divorced spouse married ten years or more has the same benefit on the former spouse's record, without the former spouse having to file if the divorce is two years old, and without affecting the former spouse or a new spouse.

Educational only, not investment, tax, or legal advice. Results are hypothetical estimates that vary with each use and over time and are not guaranteed accurate or complete. Using this tool creates no client relationship with Considerate Capital, and the site that linked here is not affiliated with it. By using it you agree to the tool terms.