While Social Security is not a military benefit, MOAA’s finance and benefit counselors are asked about it often. A recent MOAA webinar on the topic gave an overview of the Social Security program and answered questions from members on many areas of interest – Premium and Life members can access the webinar at this link (login required), while others can register here to receive a link to the presentation.

One question that came up in the webinar (and frequently in talking with members) is the difference between spousal benefits and survivor benefits. The short version:  

• Spousal benefits are available to retired workers’ spouses or ex-spouses. They pay up to 50% of a worker’s monthly retirement or disability benefit.
• Survivor benefits are paid to a surviving spouse or surviving ex-spouse when a Social Security beneficiary dies.

Here’s a bit more about each benefit. Need more financial guidance? Visit MOAA.org/Finance for articles, links to member-exclusive publications, and other resources.

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Spousal Benefits

Eligibility: A spouse can qualify for spousal benefits once that spouse turns 62 or if they are caring for a child under 16 or a child receiving disability benefits. It’s important to note that a spouse can only qualify for benefits if the retired worker is receiving retirement or disability benefits.

Unmarried ex-spouses also qualify starting at age 62 if the marriage lasted 10 or more years. If the divorce occurred more than two years previously, the ex-spouse can collect spousal benefits even if the retired worker has not started receiving benefits. Spousal benefits paid to an ex-spouse do not impact the benefits a current spouse may be eligible for.

Calculation: A beneficiary is eligible for up to half of what their spouse would receive at full retirement age (also called the primary insurance amount, or PIA). But the amount received depends on when spousal benefits are claimed. If a spouse starts taking spousal benefits right at age 62, for example, their benefit is reduced to 32.5% of the retired worker’s PIA.

The amount received increases with each year a spouse delays claiming benefits. At their own full retirement age, the spouse can claim the maximum amount – 50% of the PIA. Since spousal benefits can’t exceed 50% of the other worker’s benefit amount, there is no point in delaying claiming spousal benefits beyond full retirement age.

The Social Security Administration has a helpful spousal benefit calculator on its website.

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Dual Eligibility: If a spouse is eligible for Social Security benefits based on their own record, they need to be careful when filing for spousal benefits. That’s because when they file for one benefit, it is treated as an application for all benefits. The person receives whichever benefit is higher; you can’t activate one benefit while you delay another.

Survivor Benefits

Eligibility: Survivor benefits are paid to spouses and eligible dependents of deceased workers who qualified for Social Security retirement benefits.

Calculation: The benefit amount is based on how much the deceased person was eligible to collect in benefits at full retirement age. Widow or widower benefits can be claimed any time after age 60, but if benefits are started before the survivor’s full retirement age, they will be reduced.

If the retired worker claimed Social Security benefits at full retirement age, their survivor is entitled to 100% of that benefit. If the deceased worker claimed benefits before full retirement age, they reduced their benefits and consequently their survivor’s benefits.

Maximizing Survivor Benefits: A worker can increase their own (and their survivor’s) benefit by delaying the start of the benefit. For each year past full retirement age they delay taking Social Security, their benefit increases by 8%. The benefit increase stops at age 70.

More Resources

The Social Security website has a calculator that can help you plan a benefit claiming strategy. The site also has many articles and blog posts, and if you create a my Social Security account, you can receive a personalized retirement benefit estimate, get estimates for spouse benefits, check application status, and even request a replacement Social Security card.

While MOAA offers webinars and other tools to help answer general Social Security benefit questions, issues related to your personal benefit situation are best directed to the SSA or your local field office.