Spouse's social security or MINE

tx2024 — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:52:06 GMT

I am entitled to 50% of my spouse's SS monthly income or 100% of mine, what if he's already drawing Social Security benefits?

Re: Spouse's social security or MINE

Holly W1 — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:43:03 GMT

Hello @tx2024

Thank you so much for joining us today!
Per the Social Security Website:
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. You cannot receive spouse’s benefits unless your spouse is receiving his or her retirement benefits (except for divorced spouses). If you took your reduced retirement first while waiting for your spouse to reach retirement age, when you add spouse’s benefits later, your own retirement portion remains reduced which causes the total retirement and spouses benefit together to total less than 50 percent of the worker’s amount. You can find out more on our website.

Your spouse actually needs to be drawing it in order for you to draw it.
Here is the link for additional information: https://blog.ssa.gov/understanding-spouses-benefits/#:~:text=Your%20full%20spouse's%20benefit%20could,pay%20your%20own%20benefit%20first.

Please let me know if you have any other questions, I want to be sure your question is answered thoroughly.

Re: Spouse's social security or MINE

rschule1 — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:46:24 GMT

Here's a great link that offers information for applying for Spouses SS

Apply for spouses social security

After providing SSA with proof of legal entitlement to spouses social security, I would think the benefits would then be equally divided. However, Social Security Administration would make the final decision.

topic Spouse's social security or MINE in Retirement tax questions

Spouse's social security or MINE

Re: Spouse's social security or MINE

Re: Spouse's social security or MINE