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Projections by Beneficiary Type
- Divorced Spousal
Beneficiaries - Early Eligibility
Age Beneficiaries - Spousal-Only
Beneficiaries - Survivor-Only
Beneficiaries - Women & Dual
Entitlement
Spousal-Only Beneficiaries in 2050
Methodology »Released: May 2024
Next expected update: 2028
DEFINITION: Spousal-only beneficiaries are individuals who did not work at all or enough to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits on their own earnings records, but do qualify for one-half of their spouses' monthly benefit.
In 2050, we project that:
- Almost 3 percent of all beneficiaries aged 62 or older will be spousal only and more than three-fourths of spousal-only beneficiaries aged 62 or older will be women.
- The poverty rate will be higher for spousal-only beneficiaries compared with all beneficiaries aged 62 or older.
- Spousal-only beneficiaries will be disproportionately in low-earning households.
- Spousal-only beneficiaries will earn some credits by 2050, but not enough to qualify for benefits on their own records. a
a. To be fully insured for Social Security retirement benefits, a worker must have at least 10 years (or 40 credits) of earnings.
SOURCE: Modeling Income in the Near Term, Version 8 (MINT8) microsimulation model using 2023 Trustees Report intermediate assumptions.