What a spousal benefit is
Social Security lets a lower-earning spouse claim a benefit based on the higher earner's record — up to 50% of that spouse's full retirement benefit. If your own benefit would be smaller than that, Social Security pays you the bigger of the two. The calculator above estimates which applies to you.
How claiming early cuts it
The 50% figure assumes you claim at full retirement age. Claim earlier — as early as 62 — and the spousal benefit is permanently reduced, often to around 32-35%. Unlike your own benefit, a spousal benefit does not grow past full retirement age, so there's no bonus for waiting beyond it.
Who qualifies
You generally must be at least 62 (or caring for the worker's young or disabled child), and the higher earner must have already claimed. Divorced spouses can qualify too, if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and you're currently unmarried.
The bigger picture
Spousal timing is one piece of a couple's strategy. Often the higher earner delays to grow their check (which also raises a future survivor benefit) while the lower earner claims earlier. The break-even calculator and claiming-age optimizer help you time it.
Common questions
Can I get both my benefit and a spousal benefit? Not stacked — you get the higher of the two, not the sum.
Does my claiming reduce my spouse's check? No — your spousal benefit doesn't lower what the worker receives.
What about after my spouse dies? A survivor benefit is different, up to 100% of the deceased's benefit — a separate calculation.