RS 00615.201 Reduced Spouse's Benefits

A. Policy - general

1. When spouse's benefits are reduced

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Spouse is under FRA and does not have a child in care.
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After 12/72 a spouse reentitled prior to FRA as a spouse on the same earnings is reduced the same number of months as the earlier entitlement. An ARF at FRA will remove all months of nonentitlement.
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After 12/72, spouse reentitled after FRA on the same NH's record (after a period of nonentitlement). The spouse is eligible for an ARF for nonentitlement months.

2. When spouse's benefits are not reduced

Spouse's benefits are not reduced:

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For any month that the spouse has an entitled child of the NH in care and under 16, or 16 and over who is disabled and the child is entitled to child's benefits on any record.

NOTE: Benefits for a spouse with a child-in-care convert to aged spouse benefits as follows: (1) if the spouse is FRA or over and had a child-in-care for all months prior to FRA, benefits will convert to aged spouse benefits effective with the month there is no longer a child-in-care; (2) if the spouse is FRA or over and had a child-in-care for only some of the pre-FRA months, benefits will convert to aged spouse benefits effective with the month there is no longer a child-in-care. At that time we will apply an ARF for those pre-FRA months when there was a child-in-care. See RS 00615.482C. ; (3) if the spouse is between 62 and FRA, benefits will convert with the month there is no longer a child-in-care. An ARF will be applied at FRA to reduce the reduction factor for any prior entitlement as a reduced spouse, taking into consideration all months of child-in-care. See RS 00615.482C. When RIB entitlement is involved, for months with a child-in-care, the amount payable as a spouse will always be the difference between the unreduced spouse benefit and the reduced RIB rate.
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For all months before FRA for a divorced spouse if they had an entitled child of the NH in care in the first month that they were entitled to benefits as a divorced spouse.
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For any person who first becomes entitled to spouse's benefits at or after FRA unless they have been entitled to a reduced RIB prior to FRA.
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For a person who becomes entitled to spouse's benefits after previous entitlement to a spouse's benefit on another earnings record. The entitlement to the first spouse's benefit has no effect on the amount of the spouse's benefit on the second earnings record.

B. Policy - reduced spouse’s benefits

1. Amount of spouse's reduction

a. First 36 months

The unreduced spouse's benefit is 50% of the NH's unreduced PIA (subject to reduction for the family maximum and up to a $105 limitation for months 2/68 through 12/69). This is reduced by 25/36 of 1% for each of the first 36 months. The total reduction for 36 months is 25%.

b. Months in excess of 36

When there are more than 36 reduction months (RF), the unreduced spouse's benefit is reduced by 25% (for the first 36 months) plus 5/12 of 1% for each month in excess of 36.

c. Reduction formulas

Reduced spouse's benefits are computed as follows:

If the total RF is 1 through 36:	OB multiplied by (144 minus RF) then divided by 144 equals the MBA
If the total RF is 37 through 60:	OB multiplied by (180 minus ARM) then divided by 240 equals the MBA

(ARM = Number of RF in excess of 36.)

Round the result down to the next dime for benefits after 5/82 and up to the next dime for benefits prior to 6/82. If the spouse's benefit is reduced because of the family maximum, use the reduced amount in place of the OB.

NOTE: The basic reduction for a spouse is 25/36 of one percent per month. 25/36 of one percent is equal to 1/144. So, by multiplying the PIA by 143/144 we are in effect reducing the PIA by 1/144. Using 142/144 for 2 RF we are reducing the PIA by 2 times 25/36 times .01%. The fraction provides both a simplified method of computing reduced benefits and a more accurate method. The basic reduction for a spouse after the first 36 months is 5/12 of one percent. 5/12 of one percent is equal 1/240. When we multiply the PIA by 180/240 we start with a benefit already reduced by 25%. By subtracting 1/240 for each RF after 36 we are therefore reducing the PIA by 25% plus 5/12 of one percent for each of those months.

d. Reduction percentage is based only on number of RF

The reduction for each of the first 36 RF is 25/36 of 1%. The reduction for each month greater than 36 is 5/12 of 1%. The reduction amount is based solely on the number of months involved.

EXAMPLE: Benefits for a person with a FRA of 67 who is entitled at age 62 will be reduced for 60 months of early entitlement. At age 67 we find that an ARF is applicable for 25 months. It is not material when those months actually occurred. After the ARF, a reduction for 35 months applies. The reduction is calculated using 25/36 of 1% for 35 months regardless of when those 35 months occurred.

2. Chart - spouse's benefit reduction factors

This chart shows the factors to use when determining a reduced spouse's rate. Multiply the spouse's benefit by the fraction shown for the applicable number of reduction months (RF). Round the result down to the next dime for benefits after 5/82 and up to the next dime for benefits prior to 6/82. This chart can be used whether a spouse's full retirement age is 65 or greater.

RF	FRACTION
1	143/144
2	142/144
3	141/144
4	140/144
5	139/144
6	138/144
7	137/144
8	136/144
9	135/144
10	134/144
11	133/144
12	132/144
13	131/144
14	130/144
15	129/144
16	128/144
17	127/144
18	126/144
19	125/144
20	124/144
21	123/144
22	122/144
23	121/144
24	120/144
25	119/144
26	118/144
27	117/144
28	116/144
29	115/144
30	114/144
31	113/144
32	112/144
33	111/144
34	110/144
35	109/144
36	108/144
37	179/240
38	178/240
39	177/240
40	176/240
41	175/240
42	174/240
43	173/240
44	172/240
45	171/240
46	170/240
47	169/240
48	168/240
49	167/240
50	166/240
51	165/240
52	164/240
53	163/240
54	162/240
55	161/240
56	160/240
57	159/240
58	158/240
59	157/240
60	156/240

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0300615201

RS 00615.201 - Reduced Spouse's Benefits - 12/07/2023
Batch run: 12/07/2023
Rev:12/07/2023

Social Security

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)