Spousal Benefit

The spouse of a wage earner can receive up to one-half the wage earner's "full benefit" amount. The full benefit amount is based on the wage earner's work history. In 2011, the maximum wage earner's monthly benefits was $2,366.

Many figures used to calculate Social Security Spouse benefits are revised annually by the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Federal agency that administers the program. These figures are usually updated in October and can be found in the November issue of the Federal Register, the official government source for administrative changes.

Note: the Press Office http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pressrel.htm of the Social Security Administration issues annual updates on the Social Security cost-of-living increases. The figures are reliable and are updated each year after October 1st, based on an examination of changes in the Consumer Price Index since the previous year.

You can also find the figures on the SSA website, or by calling Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, or TTY at 1-800-325-0778 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.

The amount of a spousal benefit depends upon the work record of the wage earner.  The benefit amount is a percentage of the wage earner's benefits.  If others also receive a benefit on the wage earner's work record, the spousal benefit may be reduced if the total amount of benefits paid on a single work record exceeds a family maximum.  Learn more about Benefits For Your Spouse through the Social Security Administration online.