Will My Wife Qualify for a Spousal Benefit When I Claim My $3,000 Social Security?

Core Points - Spousal benefits are available for spouses of Social Security beneficiaries, allowing them to claim up to 50% of the primary spouse's full retirement benefit [3][7] - To qualify for spousal benefits, the primary earning spouse must have filed for their own retirement benefits, and the secondary spouse must be at least 62 years old or have a qualifying child [6] - Spousal benefits are not deducted from the primary spouse's payments, and the secondary spouse's right to receive them is not affected by the primary spouse's marital status [3][6] Eligibility Criteria - The primary earning spouse must have filed for their own retirement benefits [6] - The secondary spouse must be at least 62 years old or have a qualifying child in their care [6] - If divorced for more than two years, the secondary spouse can claim spousal benefits regardless of the primary spouse's retirement status [6] Benefit Calculation - Spousal benefits are capped at 50% of the higher-earning spouse's primary insurance amount (PIA), which is the benefit at full retirement age [7] - For example, if the primary spouse receives $3,000 per month, the secondary spouse can receive up to $1,500 per month in spousal benefits if they wait until their own full retirement age [7]