Spousal Benefits Explained | Durham News

Want to maximize your Social Security spousal benefit? You can get up to 50% of your spouse’s full retirement amount—but claiming early slashes it by up to 35%. COLA for next year may be around 3.6%, designed to offset inflation, not boost purchasing power. To qualify, your spouse must be receiving benefits and you must be at least 62; Social Security pays the higher of your own or spousal benefit. Divorced spouses qualify if married at least 10 years and haven’t remarried. Crucially, delaying retirement past your FRA doesn’t boost spousal benefits—those credits only apply to your own earnings. Before filing, review both your records on ssa.gov to plan for optimal household income and future survivor benefits.

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