Social Security provides benefits to a worker’s spouse or ex-spouse and to a deceased worker’s surviving spouse.
Spouses are entitled to benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. A spouse is entitled to an amount equal to one-half of the worker’s full retirement benefit. To receive this benefit, the spouse must be at his full retirement age or caring for a child who is under 16 years of age. In addition, the spouse must file for Social Security benefits even if he is not receiving them.
If you could receive more from Social Security based on your own earnings record than through the spousal benefit, the Social Security Administration will automatically provide you with the larger benefit. If you have reached your full retirement age, you may also elect to receive spousal benefits and delay taking your benefits, allowing your own delayed retirement credits to accrue, and switch to your own benefits at a later date. You cannot elect to receive spousal benefits below your retirement age and later switch to your own benefits.
An ex-spouse is also entitled to receive one-half of the worker’s full retirement benefit so long as the marriage lasted at least 10 years. Unlike a current spouse, a divorced spouse can begin receiving benefits even before the worker has applied for benefits. The worker must be at least 62 years old and the divorce must have been final for at least two years.
If you are a surviving spouse at full retirement age, you are entitled to the worker’s full retirement benefits. If the worker delayed retirement, the survivor’s benefit will be higher. Survivors are entitled to benefits even if they are divorced as long as they had been married for at least 10 years. If you file for benefits after you are over age 60 but below full retirement age, you will receive a reduced percentage of the worker’s benefits. Surviving spouses who are younger than 60 receive benefits only in limited circumstances, such as cases of disability or caring for a disabled child.
Consult your estate planning attorney for further information.