Retirement Social Security

Here’s the Average Social Security Spousal Benefit by Age

See how claiming age affects the average spousal benefit amount.

By David Maina

Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Feb. 27, 2026

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Social Security is often viewed as an individual benefit, but many couples also qualify for a monthly payment based on a spouse's work record. For households where one partner earned less, that spousal benefit can make a meaningful difference in retirement income.

The amount varies based on when the lower-earning spouse files, so monthly checks can look very different from one age to another. Understanding how the averages change over time can help you set realistic expectations and make the right moves before choosing a claiming date.

Here's what the average Social Security spousal benefit looks like by age.

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How spousal benefits are calculated

A spousal benefit allows you to receive a payment based on your partner's work record if it's higher than what you earned on your own. Social Security first calculates your retirement benefit from your own work history, then adds a spousal amount only if it increases your total monthly payment.

The amount you can receive as a spouse is tied to your full retirement age (FRA), which is the age when you qualify for your full Social Security benefit. For most people retiring today, that age falls between 66 and 67, depending on birth year.

At your full retirement age, the maximum spousal benefit is up to 50% of your spouse's primary insurance amount (PIA). The PIA is simply your spouse's full benefit at their own full retirement age, based on their lifetime earnings.

The spousal benefit is calculated from that full-retirement amount, and not from a larger payment your spouse might receive if they choose to delay claiming their benefits.

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The average spousal benefit by age

Here are the average monthly spousal benefits for spouses of retired workers, based on December 2024 data from the Social Security Administration's Annual Statistical Supplement:

62: $644.97
63: $640.97
64: $652.82
65: $728.99
66: $780.71
67: $881.93
68: $901.08
69: $916.43
70: $925.24

These are averages, so your actual benefit may be higher or lower depending on earnings history and the age you claim. They also reflect amounts before more recent cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), so current checks are generally somewhat higher.

Why the average benefit rises as claiming age increases

The increase comes from how Social Security adjusts spousal benefits for early filing. When a spouse claims before full retirement age, the benefit is reduced because payments begin sooner and last longer.

As the claiming age moves closer to full retirement age, that reduction becomes smaller, which is why average monthly amounts rise through the 60s.

A simple example makes the tradeoff clearer. If the worker's full-retirement-age benefit is $1,600, the maximum spousal benefit would be $800. But claiming three years early would reduce that amount to roughly $600 instead of $800.

After full retirement age, the percentage stops increasing. Unlike a worker's own retirement benefit, spousal benefits do not earn delayed retirement credits.

Waiting beyond full retirement age usually doesn't raise the spousal amount, aside from the annual cost-of-living adjustments that apply to all Social Security payments.

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What can make your spousal benefit higher or lower

Age is a big driver of spousal benefits, but it isn't the only one. Two people can claim at the same age and still end up with very different checks, because the spousal benefit is tied to the couple's earnings history and a few key filing rules.

One factor is the worker's earnings record. Since the spousal benefit is based on a share of the worker's full-retirement-age amount, higher lifetime earnings generally lead to a larger spousal check.

Your own work history also matters. If you qualify for a retirement benefit based on your own earnings, Social Security pays that benefit first. You'll only receive a spousal add-on if it increases your total monthly payment, which means some spouses never receive a separate spousal benefit.

Timing between spouses can also affect when benefits start. In most cases, a current spouse cannot collect a spousal benefit until the worker has filed for their own retirement benefit, which is why couples often coordinate their filing decisions.

It's also important not to confuse spousal benefits with survivor benefits. Spousal benefits are limited to a percentage of the worker's full-retirement-age amount, while survivor benefits follow different rules and can be larger depending on when the worker claimed.

How spousal benefits work after divorce

Divorced spouses generally follow the same calculation rules, but the eligibility requirements are different.

To qualify, the marriage must have lasted at least 10 years, you must be age 62 or older, and you must be unmarried when you claim. If you remarry, you typically can't collect on a former spouse's record unless that later marriage ends.

There's also one practical difference. A divorced spouse may be able to claim spousal benefits even if the ex-spouse hasn't filed yet, as long as the divorce has been final for at least two years and both people are old enough to qualify. That added flexibility can make the timing easier to manage.

As with married couples, the actual amount still depends on the worker's earnings record and the age you claim.

Bottom line

Average spousal benefits by age offer a helpful benchmark, but your actual payment depends on your spouse's earnings record and when you claim.

To put the numbers in context, compare the averages with your own full retirement age and filing timeline. A quick reality check now can help you set clear expectations and support a more stress-free retirement with fewer surprises later.

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