People often depend on Social Security to provide a foundation of financial support during their later years. Individuals who spent much of their lives raising children, managing a household, or supporting a family in non-paid roles often worry that a limited employment history will prevent them from receiving meaningful retirement income. Federal law recognizes the important role that non-earning or lower-earning spouses play within families and includes several avenues for those spouses to qualify for benefits. To help you prepare for long-term financial planning, the attorneys at Thompson Law help you to understand Social Security spousal retirement benefits.
Understanding the Work Credit System
Social Security retirement benefits are earned through covered employment. Each year, workers accumulate “credits,” which serve as the building blocks of eligibility. As of 2025, a credit is earned when an individual reports at least $1,810 in wages or self-employment income to the federal government. The income threshold increases from time to time to reflect changes in the national economy. Workers may earn up to four credits annually. Individuals born after 1929 must accumulate forty credits to qualify for retirement benefits, meaning that most people must maintain at least ten years of employment.
Someone who devoted a substantial portion of life to caregiving or household responsibilities may not earn enough credits to qualify independently. Federal rules address this imbalance by providing access to benefits derived from a spouse’s work record. These rules protect individuals who contributed to the stability of a household in ways that are not measured through traditional employment.
Spousal Benefits for Married Individuals
A spouse may receive retirement income based on the wage-earner’s employment history once both individuals meet certain requirements. The spouse claiming the benefit must be at least age 62. In addition, the wage-earning spouse must already be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Before awarding a spousal benefit, the Social Security Administration evaluates whether the applicant qualifies for a personal retirement benefit under his or her own work history. If the applicant qualifies and the personal benefit exceeds the spousal amount, the applicant receives the personal benefit. If the spousal benefit is higher, the system increases the applicant’s payment so that the total equals the larger amount.
This coordinated structure ensures that the lower-earning or non-earning spouse is not placed at a financial disadvantage. It also allows married couples to maintain a baseline level of income in retirement even when one spouse spent limited time in the traditional workforce.
Individuals born before January 2, 1954 have an additional option known as a restricted application. These individuals may claim only the spousal benefit while postponing their own retirement benefit. By delaying the personal benefit, they allow it to grow until reaching full retirement age or age 70. This strategy is no longer available to individuals born on or after that date, meaning that most people approaching retirement today will have their benefits automatically coordinated.
Benefits Derived from the Work Record of an Ex-Spouse
Divorce does not necessarily sever access to Social Security benefits based on an ex-spouse’s work record. Many individuals who remained out of the workforce during marriage depend on this provision to secure long-term financial stability. To qualify based on a former spouse’s record, the applicant must meet several conditions. The marriage must have lasted at least ten years. The applicant must be unmarried at the time of the claim. The applicant must be 62 or older. The applicant’s own retirement benefit must be lower than the amount available through the former spouse. Finally, the former spouse must be eligible to receive retirement or disability benefits, although the former spouse does not need to be actively receiving those benefits for the applicant to qualify.
This system recognizes that many individuals dedicated years of unpaid labor to the marriage, whether through child-rearing, caregiving, or household support. These individuals often sacrifice career opportunities and income growth during marriage. Access to a former spouse’s work record provides a measure of financial protection during retirement.
Understanding Survivor Benefits
Social Security also provides important protection for families when a wage-earner dies. Survivor benefits can help spouses, former spouses, and certain children maintain financial stability in the aftermath of loss. Although full retirement benefits typically require forty credits, the Social Security system includes special rules designed to assist families when death occurs earlier in life. If the deceased worker earned at least six credits within the three years prior to death, certain relatives may qualify for benefits even though the worker had not reached the forty-credit threshold.
A surviving spouse may begin receiving benefits at age 60. If the surviving spouse has a qualifying disability, eligibility may begin at age 50. A surviving spouse who is caring for the deceased worker’s minor child or a child with a qualifying disability may receive benefits at any age. Divorced spouses may also qualify if the marriage lasted at least ten years and the applicant remains unmarried, although certain exceptions apply for individuals caring for a child of the deceased worker.
Unmarried children may also receive benefits if they are under age 18, are full-time students up to age 19, or have disabilities that began before age 22. These provisions ensure that vulnerable family members receive assistance during a critical period.
Determining the Amount of Survivor Benefits
The amount paid to each survivor depends on several factors, including the survivor’s age, disability status, and relationship to the deceased worker. A surviving spouse who has reached full retirement age receives 100 percent of the worker’s benefit. A surviving spouse age 60 to full retirement age receives a reduced percentage that falls between 71½ percent and 99 percent. A surviving spouse with a qualifying disability who is between ages 50 and 59 receives 71½ percent. A surviving spouse caring for the decedent’s child who is under 16 or disabled receives 75 percent. Children who qualify also receive a percentage of the worker’s primary amount, subject to family maximum rules that limit the total amount payable on a single worker’s record.
The Role of Benefit Awareness in Retirement Planning
Understanding these programs is vital for individuals approaching retirement in North Dakota. Many families rely on a single primary income while the other spouse performs essential household or caregiving duties. Social Security rules acknowledge this imbalance by allowing non-earning or lower-earning spouses to receive retirement income based on the work history of the wage-earner. Knowledge of these provisions can make a meaningful difference when developing a retirement strategy.
People often underestimate the significance of these benefits and the long-term financial support they provide. The timing of a claim, the choice to remarry, or the decision to coordinate personal benefits with spousal or survivor benefits can substantially influence financial security during later years. By understanding how each category of benefits operates, individuals can make informed choices that safeguard long-term income.
Do You Have Questions about Social Security Spousal Retirement Benefits?
Please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar or webinar. If you have additional questions or concerns about Social Security spousal retirement benefits, contact a North Dakota and Minnesota estate planning attorney at Thompson Law by calling 605-362-9100 to schedule an appointment.
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