How it works
A spouse can receive the greater of their own benefit or up to 50% of the higher earner's full benefit. The top-up is the extra the spousal rule adds on top of their own.
Who this is for
A lower-earning spouse checking whether claiming on their partner's record pays more than claiming on their own, before deciding when and how to file.
Worked example
If the higher earner's full benefit is $2,800 and the other spouse's own benefit is only $1,000, the spousal rule pays up to $1,400 — half of $2,800 — a $400 top-up over what they'd get on their own record alone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get my own benefit plus the spousal top-up? No — you receive the higher of the two amounts, not both added together.
Does claiming early reduce this? Yes — claiming before full retirement age permanently reduces the spousal benefit, often to around 32-35% instead of 50%. See the full spousal benefits guide for the rules.
What about divorced spouses? A divorced spouse can often still claim on an ex's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and they're currently unmarried.