United States · SSA spouse benefits
Social Security spousal benefit.
Enter the worker's full-retirement-age benefit (PIA), your own PIA and the age you plan to claim to see the spousal amount after the early-claiming reduction.
A spouse can receive up to 50% of the worker's PIA at full retirement age. Claiming earlier reduces it by 25/36 of 1% for each of the first 36 months and 5/12 of 1% for each month beyond 36. Spousal benefits do not grow after full retirement age.
Your inputs
Spousal benefit estimate
Worked example
A worker has a PIA of $2,500 and the spouse (born 1960, full retirement age 67) has no own benefit. The maximum spousal benefit is 50% × $2,500 = $1,250. Claiming at 65 is 24 months early: 24 × 25/36 of 1% = 16.6667%, a reduction of $208.33 that SSA rounds up to $208.40, leaving $1,041.60. Claiming at 62 is 60 months early: 36 × 25/36% + 24 × 5/12% = 25% + 10% = 35%, leaving $812.50. If the spouse's own PIA were $1,000, only $250 of spousal excess exists, and 35% off that is $162.50.
Formula notes
Spousal excess = 50% of the worker's PIA minus your own PIA (zero if negative). Reduction % = 25/36 × (first 36 months early) + 5/12 × (months early beyond 36). Reduction is rounded up to the next dime. Full retirement age is 66 for births 1943–1954, rises 2 months a year to 66 and 10 months for 1959, and is 67 for 1960 and later.
Not modelled: the worker must have filed for retirement or disability benefits for you to be paid; the reduction does not apply for months you care for a worker's entitled child; the family maximum; the earnings test; divorced-spouse rules (marriage of 10+ years); government pension offset and windfall elimination changes; deemed filing of your own benefit; taxes and COLAs.
Sources: 20 CFR 404.410(b), reduction for wife's or husband's benefits; 42 U.S.C. 402(b)(2) and (q); 42 U.S.C. 416(l) retirement age; SSA's spouse benefits page. Rules verified October 1, 2026.
FAQ
Do spousal benefits increase if I wait past full retirement age? No. Delayed retirement credits apply to your own retirement benefit, not to the spousal add-on.
Does my spouse need to have claimed? Yes. Spousal benefits are generally payable only once the worker is receiving retirement or disability benefits.
Why is my spousal amount zero? If your own PIA is at least half the worker's PIA, there is no spousal excess.
Not an SSA determination
This is a simplified educational estimate, not personalized advice or a benefit determination. Confirm with SSA before you file.