Hello,

Having less than 40 quarters of credit means that your wife has not yet met the minimum threshold for her own Social Security retirement benefits, which requires 40 credits (typically 10 years of work).

However, she may still be eligible for spousal benefits based on your Social Security record if you are receiving retirement benefits. She could receive up to 50% of your primary insurance amount (PIA) at her full retirement age (FRA). If she chooses to take the spousal benefit before her FRA, the amount will be reduced.

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please feel free to reach out to an RSSA here.

Warmly,
Martha

Find An RSSA®
Back to All