At what age can a wife take half of her husband's Social Security?

Asked by: Delaney Stroman  |  Last update: August 4, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (68 votes)

In addition, to be eligible for spouse's benefits, you must be one of the following: 62 years of age or older. Any age if you have a child who is younger than 16 in your care or has a disability and is entitled to benefits on your spouse's record.

When can I collect 50% of my spouses' Social Security?

Can I Collect Half of My Spouse's Social Security at Age 62? Not quite. The percentage of your spouse's full retirement benefit that you receive could be as little as 32.5% at age 62. It steps up gradually to 50% as you near your full retirement age, which is 65, 66, or 67, depending on your birth year.

How does my wife get half of my Social Security?

When a worker files for retirement benefits, the worker's spouse may be eligible for a benefit based on the worker's earnings. Another requirement is that the spouse must be at least age 62 or have a qualifying child in her/his care.

At what age can I collect half of my ex-husband's Social Security?

You must be age 62 or older. If your ex is deceased, you can collect at age 60 as a surviving divorced spouse. If your ex is deceased and you are disabled, you can collect at age 50.

Can a wife collect her husband's Social Security while he is alive?

Yes, you can collect Social Security's on a spouse's earnings record.

Social Security at 62 & Take Spousal Benefit Later

30 related questions found

How much does a wife get of her husband's Social Security if he dies?

Surviving spouse, any age, with a child younger than age 16, gets 75% of the worker's benefit amount. Child gets 75% of the worker's benefit amount. There's a limit to the benefits we can pay to you and other family members each month. The limit varies between 150% and 180% of the deceased worker's benefit amount.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?

Specifically, a rumored $16,728 bonus that had people wondering if it was true or not in 2024? Sadly, there's no real “bonus” that retirees who receive Social Security can collect.

At what age can your spouse get half of your Social Security?

In addition, to be eligible for spouse's benefits, you must be one of the following: 62 years of age or older. Any age if you have a child who is younger than 16 in your care or has a disability and is entitled to benefits on your spouse's record.

What is the loophole for Social Security spousal benefits?

The first exception, which can be deemed as the Social Security spousal benefits loophole, works where an individual who remarries at 60 or later may still be entitled to Social Security survivors' benefits if the second marriage ends before the death of the first spouse.

Can my wife take Social Security at 62 and then switch to spousal benefit?

If your spouse is not receiving any retirement benefits yet, then you could technically take your regular Social Security benefit as early as age 62. When your spouse files for their benefit later you could switch to spousal benefits.

Can a second wife collect Social Security from her husband?

When someone who was married more than once dies, who is eligible for their Social Security benefits? Anyone who was married to a Social Security beneficiary can potentially receive survivor benefits on the death of that person.

What are the three ways you can lose your Social Security?

Indeed, here are three ways you can lose at least part of your Social Security benefit.
  • No. 1: Keep working while taking benefits early. ...
  • No. 2: Be a substantially lower-earning spouse. ...
  • No. 3: Be alive in 2034. ...
  • Social Security still provides an important foundation for retirement.

Can I take half my spouse's Social Security and let mine grow?

Yes. If you qualify for your own retirement and spouse's benefits, we will always pay your own benefits first. If your benefit amount as a spouse is higher than your own retirement benefit, you will get a combination of the two benefits that equals the higher amount.

How can my wife get half of my Social Security?

Once you turn 62, you typically qualify for a spouse's Social Security benefit. The spouse's Social Security benefit amount is up to one-half the amount that the wage-earning spouse is eligible to receive at full retirement age.

When a husband dies, does the wife get his social security disability?

If you've reached your full retirement age, you can receive 100% of your spouse's disability benefits. If you're between 50 and 59 and you also have a disability, you can receive 71.5% percent of your spouse's benefits. If you're caring for a child under the age of 16, you can receive 75% of your spouse's benefits.

What is the best Social Security strategy for married couples?

Either spouse can maximize their regular Social Security benefit amount by waiting past their full-retirement age to apply, up to age 70. Benefits generally increase 8% each year filing is delayed.

Can my spouse collect 50% of my Social Security?

Your full spouse's benefit could be up to 50 percent of your spouse's full retirement age amount if you are full retirement age when you take it. If you qualify for your own retirement benefit and a spouse's benefit, we always pay your own benefit first.

At what age can I collect my ex-husband's Social Security benefits?

You're at least 62 years old. You're currently unmarried. Your ex-spouse is eligible for Social Security retirement or disability benefits.

At what age do you get 100% of your Social Security?

For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.

Can I stop my ex-wife from getting my Social Security?

This is good news when former spouses are not on good terms. Your ex cannot “block” you from drawing your spousal benefit. In fact, he probably won't even know if you are drawing off him unless he calls SSA to ask.

What is the Social Security spousal rule for 2024?

A Social Security spousal rule that was around for decades ended this year for the last eligible retirees — those who turned 70 on Jan. 1, 2024. The rule allowed recipients to switch between their benefits and their spouses' to receive the maximum amount.

How much of her husband's Social Security does a widow get?

Payments start at 71.5% of your spouse's benefit and increase the longer you wait to apply. For example, you might get: Over 75% at age 61. Over 80% at age 63.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

How to get $3000 a month in Social Security?

Exactly how much in earnings do you need to get a $3,000 benefit? Well, you just need to have averaged about 70% of the taxable maximum. In our example case, that means that your earnings in 1983 were about $22,000 and increased every year to where they ended at about $100,000 at age 62.

What is the Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook?

The $22,924 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook.