How much to expect in Social Security as a spouse
If you want to calculate your spousal benefit, you first have to know the worker’s primary benefit amount, because that will determine how much the spousal benefit will be.
If the primary worker and his or her spouse wait until they reach their full retirement age, meaning 67 for those who were born in 1960 and later, to start tapping on their benefits, then the Social Security spousal benefits will be half the worker’s amount.
However, if the two begin the benefits early, it will automatically reduce their monthly payments. Workers can easily begin their benefits as soon as they reach 62 years old. But remember that it will reduce the primary benefit amount by up to 30%.
That, in return, might reduce the spousal benefit available to the husband or wife. Naturally, the husband and wife in question can also tap into the spousal benefits at 62 years old, but their amount will be reduced by a fraction of a percent for every month that passes since they started their benefits.
