497 | Your Social Security Questions Answered | Mike Piper
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Understanding How Spousal Benefits are Calculated
Spousal benefits are directly linked to the primary insurance amount (PIA), which is the retirement benefit one would receive if claimed at full retirement age. If one spouse has no work history and thus no PIA of their own, they can receive up to 50% of the other's PIA as their maximum spousal benefit. For instance, if the PIA is $2,000, the non-working spouse can receive a maximum of $1,000. If the working spouse claims benefits early, the non-working spouse's benefit may be reduced, but still calculated based on the PIA, not on the reduced benefit amount. Conversely, if benefits are claimed later than full retirement age, the working spouse receives an amount greater than their PIA, but the spousal benefit remains half of the original PIA. In summary, spousal benefits are always calculated from the PIA and not from any adjusted amounts due to early or late filing.
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