Social Security Spousal Benefit Lifts $400 Check to $1,400 at 67

3 articles · Updated · 24/7 Wall St. · May 12

$1,400 a month is what a stay-at-home spouse can receive at full retirement age of 67 when a higher-earning partner’s FRA benefit is $2,800, lifting household Social Security income to $4,200.
The boost comes from the spousal rule: the lower earner gets the greater of her own benefit or up to 50% of the worker’s full-retirement-age benefit, and the higher earner must already be claiming.
Claiming at 62 instead of 67 cuts that spousal payment by roughly 35% to about $910 a month, a permanent loss of around $5,880 a year.
The benefit also strengthens survivor income, because the surviving spouse can step up to the deceased worker’s full $2,800 benefit rather than reverting to her own $400 record.
Higher combined benefits can also raise taxes—up to 85% of Social Security may become taxable once household income crosses key thresholds.

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