There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. If you don't feel comfortable mailing these documents, you can take them in person to your local SSA office. Although it isn't required, it will decrease your wait time. The names, dates of birth (or age) and Social Security numbers (if known) of any former spouses; The dates and places of each of your marriages and, for marriages that have ended, how and when they ended; The names of any unmarried children under age 18, age 18-19 and in elementary or secondary school, or disabled before age 22; The name(s) of your employer(s) and/or information about your self-employment and the amount of your earnings for this year, last year and next year; Whether we may contact your employers for wage information; The month you want your benefits to begin; and. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. We will help you get them. Social Security’s benefit to your spouse is called the “spousal benefit,” and the benefit may apply to a current spouse, widowed spouse, or ex-spouse if you’re divorced. However, claimants should take an RIB application in a reduced benefit situation when the spouse is insured for RIB as the "deemed filing" provision applies. Any additional benefits for which you may qualify (e.g. If you were born on or before Jan. 1, 1954, once you reach your FRA, you can choose to receive only the spousal benefit by filing a restricted application. % of people told us that this article helped them. Your spouse's primary insurance amount is $500 a month, and they started receiving benefits at their NRA. [1] Spousal benefits allow you to get up to 50 percent of the total benefits your spouse is eligible for without taking away from their benefits. You can use the card anywhere that MasterCard is accepted or withdraw cash from an ATM. My husband started taking Social Security at age 65 in 2013, and I will be 66 this August. How to Calculate Your Own Social Security Spousal Benefits (the RIGHT Way) The spousal benefit calculation is straightforward if you don’t have a benefit of your own. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. We may ask you to provide documents to show that you are eligible, such as: We accept photocopies of W-2 forms, self-employment tax returns or medical documents, but we must see the original of most other documents, such as your birth certificate. The SSA will use that email address to send you notices about your account and your benefits, so make sure it's one you have regular access to. It is always based on your spouse's primary insurance amount, which is the amount they would receive if they started claiming benefits at their normal retirement age (NRA). By using our site, you agree to our. Spousal benefits are based on the income earned during a qualifying worker’s life, as well as the retirement age of both the worker and their spouse. The SSA will request several documents during the application process. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Last Updated: November 14, 2019 This article has been viewed 13,376 times. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. Technically, you would be paid your $200 a month in retirement benefits, plus another $50 a month in spousal benefits, to bring you up to the full $250 a month. If you’re thinking about your golden years, you may have questions like “What spousal benefits does Social Security provide?” Social Security’s benefit to your spouse is called the “spousal benefit,” and the benefit may apply to a current spouse, widowed spouse, or ex-spouse if you’re divorced. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. As a surviving spouse, you can receive 100% of your deceased spouse’s benefits once you reach your full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60. Understanding the full range of benefits youre eligible to receive will enable you to get the most from yo… You can apply online through the Social Security's Retirement/Medicare Benefits Application to receive retirement, spousal or Medicare benefits. When you reach age 70, contact Social Security and request that they lift the restriction and pay you your benefits, including the DRCs. Tip: If you decide to go to the local Social Security office in person, you might want to call ahead and schedule an appointment. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If you are between the age of 62 and your normal retirement age, the amount of spousal benefits you receive is reduced by a percentage that is based on the number of months until you reach normal retirement age. Access to the Restricted Application can be an important strategy for a divorced client who was also the lower-earner. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fb\/Apply-for-Spousal-Social-Security-Benefits-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Apply-for-Spousal-Social-Security-Benefits-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fb\/Apply-for-Spousal-Social-Security-Benefits-Step-1.jpg\/aid11500558-v4-728px-Apply-for-Spousal-Social-Security-Benefits-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"

\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Restricted Application – An application is filed for only a spousal benefit, when the Social Security beneficiary is also entitled to a retirement benefit based on his or her own record. Even if you have a bank account, you can still sign up for a Direct Express card if you prefer to get your benefits that way. It’s important to consider how the spousal benefit is affected by early retirement. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Navigating social security can be tricky, so make sure you have the right application to maximize your benefits. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. If you are within 3 months of age 65, whether you want to enroll in Medical Insurance (Part B of Medicare). In some situations, it might make sense for you to claim your spousal benefits early. My wife began receiving Social Security insurance benefits early which resulted in her getting a monthly benefit that is approximately 86% of what she would have received had she waited to her full retirement age. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 13,376 times. Some people also refer to free spousal benefits as the \"restricted application strategy,\" however we find this term to be less intuitive and will use the term free spousal benefits goin… wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If you are married or divorced and nearing retirement age, you may be eligible for spousal Social Security benefits. You must be at least 61 years and 9 months old and want your benefits to start no more than four months in the future. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Your spouse doesn’t need to have a work history with Social Security at all in order to qualify for benefits on your record as long as they are at least 62 years of age, and are receiving or eligible for retirement or disability benefits. Technically, the application form for Social Security spousal benefits is an SSA-2, but Social Security no longer uses paper application forms. This article has been viewed 13,376 times. You have reached your full retirement age. For example, suppose you are eligible for $200 a month in retirement benefits. However, if your spouse was in the workforce longer than you or made more money, spousal benefits could add to the overall benefits you receive. Any original documents will be returned to you. (We will return them to you.). This provision allows a person to apply for benefits based upon his or her spouse’s record while delaying receipt of benefits based upon his or her own record. Then you’ll probably qualify for spousal benefits. Your Social Security number or claim number, Your financial institution's routing transit number, Your account number and account type (checking or savings). That is, you are \"free\" to take a spousal benefit while letting your own retirement benefit continue to grow. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. This age is based on the year you were born. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. If you can't apply online or don't want to use the online form, you can also call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

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