There are eligibility requirements that determine whether spouses or ex-spouses qualify for spousal benefits. The Social Security Administration automatically gives you the larger of your own retirement benefit or your spousal benefit.

The change marks a major improvement in customer service, allowing beneficiaries and applicants to manage their Social Security accounts at any time, day or night. Social Security remains a critical pillar for more than 60 million Americans, whose financial security often depends on timely access to the program's resources.