Do you also qualify for benefits on someone else's Social Security record?

Perhaps you also may be eligible to get benefits on someone else's record--for example, on the record of your current spouse or a divorced or deceased former spouse.

If you qualify on your own record, we will pay you that amount first. But if you also qualify for a higher amount as a spouse, widow or widower on another record, you'll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount.

If your spouse is already receiving benefits when you apply online, or if you and your spouse apply online at the same time, we will check your eligibility for benefits as a spouse. If you qualify, your application will automatically serve as a request for spousal benefits.

If you have reached your full retirement age, and are eligible for a spouse's or ex-spouse's benefit and your own retirement benefit, you may choose to receive only spouse's benefits. If you do that, you can delay receiving your own retirement benefit until a later date to take advantage of delayed retirement credits.

If you will receive benefits on someone else's Social Security record and you also will receive a pension for your work that was not covered by Social Security, your Social Security benefits may be affected by your pension.

For information about potential benefits on someone else's record, you should call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or visit your local Social Security office.

Privacy rules prohibit us from giving you a Social Security Statement on another record, so you can't request your spouse's record. But we can tell you what benefits you may be entitled to, after we have established your relationship to your spouse.

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