Many seniors rely on Social Security to cover their living expenses once they’re no longer working. And while those benefits won’t replace your entire former paycheck, they may, depending on when you file for them, replace a nice chunk of it.
But what if you don’t have a former paycheck to replace? The good news is that even if you never held down a job, you may still be entitled to Social Security income. As long as you’re married to someone who’s entitled to benefits, or you’re divorced from an eligible recipient, you can collect spousal benefits based on your partner or ex-partner’s work record.
That said, if you did work and are entitled to a benefit of your own, you can’t just double dip and take both benefits. Here’s what you need to know.
How spousal benefits work when you have an earnings record yourself
If you’ve never worked and will be reliant on spousal benefits during retirement, you’ll be eligible to collect 50% of your spouse’s or ex-spouse’s benefit — provided you file at full retirement age. This means that if you’re married and your spouse gets a monthly benefit worth $1,800, you’re entitled to $900 a month if you wait until your full retirement age to sign up for Social Security.
That said, if you have an earnings record of your own, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will pay you the higher of either your own benefit or 50% of your spouse’s benefit. In other words, if you were a lower earner and are only entitled to a Social Security benefit of $850…
