How Social Security spousal benefits work
Social Security spousal benefits date all the way back to 1939. Back then, Congress amended the Social Security Act of 1935 to offer benefits for spouses and survivors of workers.
The initial change was meant to provide financial security for women since most of them didn’t work at the time. But with spousal benefits, a husband or wife can now easily claim payments depending on the work history of a spouse who is eligible to receive Social Security. Here’s the criteria in question:
- You have to work in a place that pays Federal Insurance Contributions Act or self-employment taxes into the Social Security system;
- You have to earn a minimum of 40 Social Security credits, which typically requires a 10-year work history.
Workers can also earn up to four Social Security credits per year, and they also acquire one credit for every $1,640. Basically, you have to earn a minimum of $6,560 on a yearly basis to pay Social Security taxes and earn all four credits.
As soon as someone gathers 40 credits, they are automatically eligible for retirement benefits, and their spouse is also eligible for spousal benefits.
