If you’re a married couple with little or no work history, you may get half of your spouse’s Social Security income. You get half of your spouse’s “main insurance amount,” which is the Social Security payment they get at full retirement age, which for most individuals is now 66 or 67.

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The “spousal benefit” is what you get when you get half of your spouse’s Social Security payments.

If you wish to claim this benefit, you must follow the following conditions and restrictions:

• Take the larger of your own Social Security payout or half of your spouse’s benefit.
• You must be 62 years old to qualify, and your pension will be lowered if you apply before reaching full retirement age. For example, if your full retirement age is 66 and you retire at 62, you would get 70% of what you would have received at 66.
• Unless they were grandfathered in under the previous “file and suspend” system, your spouse must be receiving Social Security as of May 1, 2016, for you to be eligible for the spousal benefit.
• To receive half of your spouse’s benefit, you must have been married for at least one year.
• This marital benefit may only be used by one partner in a marriage.

Keep in mind that if you are still working and receive a spousal benefit before reaching full retirement age, which is now 66 or 67 for most individuals, some or all of your benefits may be withheld, depending on your earnings. If you earn more than $16,920 per year, $1 in benefits will be deducted for every $2 you earn over that amount. These advantages aren’t taken away from you. When you quit working or reach full retirement age, they will be credited to your monthly benefit. Your benefit will be recalculated at that time, and the withheld funds will be included to increase your total benefit.