How much is the spousal Social Security benefit and how does it work?

A spousal benefit can be worth up to 50% of the higher earner's PIA (their benefit at full retirement age), if you claim it at your own FRA. Claim earlier and the spousal amount is reduced — at 62 it drops to roughly 32.5%. You qualify based on your spouse's record once they have filed for their own benefit. Importantly, you receive the higher of your own benefit or the spousal benefit, not both stacked. Spousal benefits do not earn delayed retirement credits, so there is no gain in waiting past your FRA to claim them. This matters most for a lower-earning or non-working spouse whose own record would produce a smaller check. Couples should coordinate who claims when; run both records together at wealthserene.com/tools/social-security-optimizer.