Can a woman draw her husband's Social Security if he is still alive?

Yes, a wife can draw spousal Social Security benefits on her living husband's record, but she must be at least 62 (or caring for his child under 16/disabled) and cannot get more than 50% of his full retirement amount, usually receiving the higher of her own benefit or the spousal benefit. She generally can't claim until he starts his own benefit, and must apply for both if eligible for both, receiving a combined amount.

Can I draw my husband's Social Security if he's alive?

Yes, you can draw Social Security benefits on your living husband's record as a "spousal benefit," which can be up to half of his Full Retirement Amount (FRA), but you must be at least 62, your spouse must be receiving benefits, and you'll receive your own higher benefit if it's greater than the spousal amount, or a combination that equals the higher amount, with reductions for claiming early. 

When a spouse dies, does their Social Security go to the surviving spouse?

Yes, a surviving spouse can receive Social Security survivor benefits, which provide monthly payments based on the deceased's earnings record, with eligibility often starting at age 60 (or 50 with a disability, or any age if caring for a young/disabled child). You can get up to 100% of the deceased's benefit if you've reached your own full retirement age (FRA) for survivors, though the amount can vary, and you'll receive the higher of your own retirement benefit or the survivor benefit, not both. 

What are the rules for collecting your spouse's Social Security?

To collect your spouse's Social Security, you generally must be at least 62 (or any age if caring for a qualifying child under 16 or disabled) and your spouse must already be receiving their own benefits; you'll get the higher amount of your own earned benefit or up to 50% of your spouse's benefit, but claiming early reduces the spousal amount, and you can even collect as a divorced spouse if married at least 10 years and meet other rules.
 

What percentage of spouse's Social Security does a widow get?

A surviving spouse can receive up to 100% of a deceased spouse's Social Security benefit if they wait until their own full retirement age (FRA), but the percentage decreases if claimed earlier, generally starting at 71.5% (or 71% to 99% depending on age) at age 60, increasing to 75% if caring for a child under 16, and reaching 100% at your own FRA. The exact amount depends on the survivor's age and if they claim early or at their FRA. 

How Divorced Social Security Spousal Benefits Work

Can you collect your dead husband's Social Security and your own?

No, you cannot collect your own Social Security retirement benefit and your deceased spouse's benefit at the same time; Social Security pays the higher of the two amounts, not a combined total, but you can strategically choose when to claim them to maximize your monthly payment. You can receive survivor benefits on your spouse's record, which can be 100% of their benefit if you've reached your own full retirement age (FRA) and are older than age 60 (or 50 if disabled), or you can take your own retirement benefit, potentially switching later to the higher survivor benefit if it's more advantageous. 

What is the new law for Social Security spousal benefits?

The biggest recent change for spousal benefits is the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) of 2023, effective January 2024, which eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) for many, meaning spouses and survivors with government pensions won't have their benefits reduced as much, if at all. Key rules remain: spouses can get up to 50% of the primary earner's benefit, can claim at 62 (with reductions), or care for a qualifying child (no reduction). Deemed filing still means applying for one benefit usually means applying for both.
 

How does a wife qualify for her husband's Social Security?

You can collect Social Security based on your husband's record as a spouse (up to 50% of his benefit), or as a survivor (up to 100% if you're full retirement age or older) if he passes away, provided you meet marriage duration and age/dependency rules, often needing him to be receiving benefits first (unless you're widowed). Eligibility requires being married at least a year (or divorced for 2+ years if married 10+ years), being at least 62 (or caring for a child under 16/disabled). You'll get the higher of your own benefit or the spousal/survivor benefit, and you apply online at ssa.gov/myaccount/ or by contacting the Social Security Administration (SSA).
 

Can I collect spousal Social Security and then switch to my own?

You generally cannot claim spousal benefits at your Full Retirement Age (FRA) and then switch to your own higher retirement benefit if you were born after January 1, 1954, due to "deemed filing" rules, which make you apply for both and get the higher amount. However, you can switch if you were born before 1954, or if you are switching from a deceased spouse's survivor benefit to your own higher retirement benefit, or if you start your own lower benefit and wait to switch to a higher spousal benefit (if applicable). 

Do married couples get two Social Security checks?

Yes, married couples generally receive two separate Social Security checks, one for each spouse based on their own earnings record, or a higher spousal benefit if it's more than their own, but they don't get both amounts added together; the system pays the higher benefit, not double. Each person can collect their own retirement benefit, and if one spouse earns significantly less (or nothing), they can claim up to 50% of the higher earner's benefit, but the final payment is the greater of the two, not the combined sum. 

Why would a widow not receive her husband's Social Security?

If the widow does not wait until age 60 to marry, she cannot claim the widow benefit on her first husband's record. This leaves her ineligible for Social Security benefits for the first 24 months after attaining age 60. Assume that she files for the spouse benefit from her second husband's record at age 62.

Can a grown child collect parents' Social Security?

In summary, while grown children are generally not eligible to collect a parent's Social Security benefits, exceptions exist for adult children with disabilities. These individuals can receive support as long as they meet the SSA's requirements and continue to qualify under the rules for Disabled Adult Child benefits.

What not to do when a spouse dies?

Top 10 Things Not to Do When Someone Dies

1. 1 – DO NOT tell their bank. ...
2. 2 – DO NOT wait to call Social Security. ...
3. 3 – DO NOT wait to call their Pension. ...
4. 4 – DO NOT tell the utility companies. ...
5. 5 – DO NOT give away or promise any items to loved ones. ...
6. 6 – DO NOT sell any of their personal assets. ...
7. 7 – DO NOT drive their vehicles.

Can I collect spousal Social Security if my spouse is still alive?

But did you know that you might be able to collect a Social Security benefit based on your spouse's earning record? This may be possible whether your spouse is still alive, if your spouse has passed, or if you and your spouse have divorced.

Can my wife collect my Social Security while I'm alive?

Yes, your wife can collect a spousal Social Security benefit on your record while you're alive, provided you're already receiving your own Social Security retirement or disability benefits, she's at least 62 (or any age caring for a young/disabled child), and you've been married at least a year. She'll receive up to 50% of your full benefit, but if she's eligible for her own, she gets the higher of the two amounts. 

Does a wife get her dead husband's Social Security?

Surviving spouse, at full retirement age or older, generally gets 100% of the worker's basic benefit amount. Surviving spouse, age 60 or older, but younger than full retirement age, gets between 71% and 99% of the worker's basic benefit amount.

Can I claim my husband's Social Security instead of mine?

Yes, you can claim Social Security on your husband's record instead of your own if his benefit is higher, but you generally receive the higher of the two amounts (your own or the spousal benefit), up to 50% of his full retirement amount, and you must meet age/filing requirements; if you claim your own smaller benefit first, you might switch later to a spousal benefit when he files, but claiming early reduces amounts, and rules changed to end some strategic "file and suspend" tactics. 

What is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding Social Security?

Claiming Benefits Too Early

One of the biggest mistakes people make is claiming Social Security benefits as soon as they're eligible, which is at age 62. While getting money sooner can be tempting, claiming early has a significant downside: your monthly benefit will be reduced.

Why will some Social Security recipients get two checks in December?

Some Social Security recipients, specifically those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), got two checks in December 2025 because January 1st, New Year's Day, is a federal holiday, causing the January 2026 payment to be moved up to December 31st, resulting in December's payment (Dec 1st) and January's payment (Dec 31st) both landing in December. This is a standard Social Security Administration (SSA) practice for SSI payments, not a bonus, ensuring funds are available before holidays or weekends. 

What is the Social Security spousal benefits loophole?

The "Social Security spousal benefits loophole" referred to strategies like "file and suspend" and "restricted application" that allowed couples to maximize benefits by having the higher earner suspend their own claim (after full retirement age) so the lower earner could claim a spousal benefit, while the higher earner's benefit grew, but these were largely closed by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 for most new applicants, making it harder to get spousal benefits without also claiming your own. A separate, lesser-known "loophole" exists for caregivers of disabled children, allowing a parent (often the mother) to receive spousal benefits earlier than usual.
 

How long do you have to be married to draw your spouse's Social Security?

To draw your spouse's Social Security, you generally must have been married for at least one year, be age 62 or older (or caring for a young/disabled child), and your spouse must already be receiving retirement or disability benefits, though the one-year rule has exceptions if you're caring for their child or were already collecting benefits on another record. For divorced spouses, the marriage must have lasted at least 10 years, and you must be unmarried when you apply. 

Can I stop my ex-wife from getting my Social Security?

This is good news when former spouses are not on good terms. Your ex cannot “block” you from drawing your spousal benefit. In fact, he probably won't even know if you are drawing off him unless he calls SSA to ask.

Can I take my Social Security now and switch to spousal benefit?

Yes, you can often claim your own Social Security retirement benefit early (starting at 62) and then switch to a higher spousal benefit later when your spouse files, but only if you file a "restricted application" for spousal benefits at your Full Retirement Age (FRA), or if your spouse hasn't filed yet; otherwise, current rules (Deemed Filing) might make you take the higher of the two benefits immediately, or you can get your own smaller amount and switch if the spousal amount is higher after your spouse files, but claiming early reduces both, so waiting until FRA for the switch is key to maximizing payments. 

What are the three ways you can lose your Social Security benefits?

You can lose Social Security benefits by working while collecting early, leading to earnings limits; incarceration, which suspends payments; or through garnishment for federal debts like taxes, student loans, or child support, along with other factors like remarriage or changes in disability status. 

Why would spousal benefits be denied?

Common reasons for denial:

Your deceased spouse must have earned a certain number of credits for you to qualify for benefits. The SSA offers a handy calculator to determine the required credits. Remarriage before age 60: Remarrying before age 60 usually makes you ineligible for benefits.