Last Updated: December 16, 2025

If you’re part of a married couple, you have more than one set of Social Security benefits to factor into your retirement equation. What’s the best way to manage both benefits payments? What do you do when one spouse’s check is larger than the other? In this lesson, we’ll dive into these questions and more so you’re able to put together a solid strategy that maximizes your benefits. 

As long as your spouse is already receiving their Social Security benefits, you’ve been married for at least one year, and you’re at least 62 years old, you are eligible to draw benefits based on the work credits your spouse has earned over the years. How much you’ll receive in Social Security spousal benefits depends on your age, your spouse’s age, the maximum amount of your spouse’s benefit, and whether other benefits are available to you. The maximum amount you can claim is 50 percent of your spouse’s full benefit.

Should you draw your own benefits or your spouse’s benefits? 

It sure sounds good to be able to collect Social Security benefits based on your spouse’s record. But don’t get too excited yet; if your retirement benefit is higher than the spousal benefit you’d receive, then Social Security will pay you only your own retirement benefit. If 50% of the spousal benefit is higher, then Social Security will pay you the spousal benefit rather than your own. So, the good news is you’ll always receive the higher of the two amounts. The bad news is, there’s no double-dipping when it comes to Social Security benefits. 

Example: 

Let’s say your spouse has earned an average of $90,000 per year working full-time for over 40 years and is eligible for monthly Social Security benefits of $2,500. Half of that is $1,250. (Remember: spousal benefits are 50% of your spouse’s full benefit at your full retirement age. Prior to that, you’ll receive a lower percentage.) You earned an average of $20,000 per year at various part-time jobs over 20 years, along with raising your children. Your Social Security benefits would equate to $750 per month, which is less than $1,250. So in a case like this, you would receive the spousal benefit because it would be higher than your own retirement benefit. 

What if you’re a widow? 

If your spouse has passed, your spousal benefits will look a little different. In this case, you’re eligible to receive the full amount of your late spouse’s benefit, if you’ve reached full retirement age, rather than only 50%. However, you’ll still be paid the higher of this amount or your own retirement benefits; not both. But if you qualify for your own benefit, you may be able to receive survivor benefits first while delaying your own benefit and then switch to your own.