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The rules changed in 2015. Here's what you need to know now.
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Updated July 22, 2024 Fact checked by Fact checked by Suzanne KvilhaugSuzanne is a content marketer, writer, and fact-checker. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance degree from Bridgewater State University and helps develop content strategies for financial brands.
Part of the Series Understanding Social SecurityHow Social Security Is Organized
Benefits and Your Income
Benefits for Spouses
Benefits for Dependents, Survivors, After Divoce
Immigrants, Non-Citizens, Americans Abroad
Smart Benefits Strategies
If you've never worked or paid Social Security taxes (or didn't pay them for long enough), you won't be eligible to claim Social Security retirement benefits on your own account. However, you may be able to receive spousal benefits through your spouse's account. You can file a claim under their account as early as age 62, as long as your spouse has already filed to collect their own benefits. You will also be able to apply for Medicare health coverage at age 65.
For many working couples, both partners will be eligible to collect individual benefits. However, that does not preclude either person from collecting under the other person's account. When you apply for benefits, both accounts will be checked to determine which claim will result in a higher benefit amount.
If your own benefit is larger, you will automatically receive that amount. If your spousal benefit is larger, you will receive a combination of benefits that total that amount.
While you can apply for spousal benefits as early as age 62, your benefit will be permanently reduced from what you would receive at your full retirement age. Full retirement age, for Social Security purposes, is between 66 and 67, depending on your year of birth.
One exception: If you are caring for your spouse's child who is either under age 16 or who receives Social Security disability benefits, you can collect spousal benefits at any age without a reduction.
In addition, if you decide to claim before full retirement age, your benefit amount may be reduced if you continue working, depending on how much you earn. Eligibility for government, foreign, or public service pensions may also affect your payments.
If you wait until full retirement age to claim benefits, you'll receive the maximum amount you can collect as a spouse. That is equal to 50% of your spouse's benefit amount.
The benefits claiming strategy known as "file and suspend" has been totally eliminated.
Some changes to the law in recent years have affected how you can collect spousal benefits. If you were born on or before Jan. 1, 1954, you may still be eligible to use a benefits-claiming strategy known as a "restricted application" to increase your benefits. Younger recipients won't be able to use this strategy, which was ended by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.
If you reach full retirement age and are eligible for your own benefits as well as spousal benefits, you may choose to collect benefits under your spouse's account now and defer your own benefits until later. To file a restricted application, both you and your spouse must be of full retirement age, and you both must have filed for Social Security benefits.
Filing a restricted application can result in a higher benefit amount when you later file for Social Security under your own account. The reason is you will have accrued delayed retirement credits for each year you deferred retirement, up to age 70, when benefits max out. However, only one person per couple may collect spousal benefits while earning delayed retirement credits on his or her own account.
And, to repeat, this option is no longer available to anyone who wasn't born on or before Jan. 1, 1954.
You may have heard about a Social Security claiming strategy known as file and suspend. It is no longer applicable, due to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Using this strategy, the higher-earning spouse could file for Social Security at full retirement age (thus making it possible for their spouse to get spousal benefits), but then "suspend" his or her claim and not take benefits until later, while racking up delayed retirement credits in the meantime. This is no longer the case.
Depending on your birth year, you'll hit your full retirement age at 66 or 67. (If you were born in 1960 or later, it's 67.) If you can delay collecting benefits until you're 70, consider doing so. You'll get 8% more benefits every year you delay until age 70.
You can apply for spousal benefits online at the Social Security Administration (SSA) website, over the phone, or by making an appointment at your local Social Security office. The SSA website also has links to information about the maximum amount you can earn while collecting benefits and an online calculator to help estimate your potential spousal benefit.
If you're a spouse who doesn't qualify for Social Security on your own, you may be eligible to receive benefits based on your spouse's earnings record. If you have questions, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) via the phone or in person. You can find your local field office on the SSA website.
