If you're a stay-at-home spouse, you may be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits based on your spouse's work history. Those who worked typically receive the higher of their earned or spousal benefits.
For a spouse who is not entitled to benefits on his or her own earnings record, this reduction factor is applied to the base spousal benefit, which is 50 percent of the worker's primary insurance amount.
Can you still receive Social Security as a stay-at-home mom or dad? The good news is you can. If you are a married person with little to no earnings history, you can receive a benefit up to half of your spouse's Social Security.
Social Security Program Rules
The wife of a retired worker is eligible for a spousal benefit of up to 50 percent of her husband's primary insurance amount ( PIA ), if claimed at her full retirement age ( FRA ).
Can A Stay at Home Mom Collect Social Security Disability Insurance? A disabled stay at home parent may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if they worked at an earlier point in their life and earned enough work credits to be eligible for Social Security.
Even if they have never worked under Social Security, your spouse may be eligible for benefits if they are at least 62 years of age and you are receiving retirement or disability benefits. Your spouse can also qualify for Medicare at age 65.
Can a non-working spouse qualify for Medicare? Medicare isn't just for people who retire after many years of working. Anyone who meets Medicare eligibility requirements can get Medicare, including spouses.
To qualify for spouse's benefits, you must be one of the following: 62 years of age or older. Any age and have in your care a child younger than age 16, or who has a disability and is entitled to receive benefits on your spouse's record.
Each survivor benefit can be up to 100% of your benefit. The amount may be reduced if the women start benefits before their own full retirement age, but they don't have to share — the amount isn't reduced because you've had more than one spouse.
Yes, you can. Notify the Social Security Administration that you were married more than once and may qualify for benefits on more than one spouse's earnings record. They will be able to tell you which record provides the higher payment and set your benefit accordingly.
A wife with no work record or low benefit entitlement on her own work record is eligible for between one-third and one-half of her spouse's Social Security benefit.
What Happens If I Remarry? Generally, you cannot collect benefits on your ex-spouse's work record unless your second marriage ends by annulment, divorce, or death. Your SSI benefits payments may change based on your new spouse's record.
Qualifying spouse beneficiaries must be married to the retiring spouse for at least one continuous year prior to applying for benefits, with certain exceptions.
If you qualify for your own retirement benefit and a spouse's benefit, we always pay your own benefit first. You cannot receive spouse's benefits unless your spouse is receiving his or her retirement benefits (except for divorced spouses).
Yes. If you qualify for your own retirement and spouse's benefits, we will always pay your own benefits first. If your benefit amount as a spouse is higher than your own retirement benefit, you will get a combination of the two benefits that equals the higher amount.
There used to be a “file and suspend” loophole meant to help married couples maximize their Social Security benefits. However, after Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act in 2015, this loophole no longer applies.
If you re-married and your second spouse is deceased, you qualify to claim benefits from either your first spouse if that marriage lasted at least 10 years, or your second spouse if you were married at least 9 months before they died.
For example, if you were to get married for a second time without a will, trust, nor prenuptial agreement, your second wife would be entitled to 50% of your community property earned during your second marriage, while your children from your first marriage would also be entitled to 50% after your death.
This is good news when former spouses are not on good terms. Your ex cannot “block” you from drawing your spousal benefit. In fact, he probably won't even know if you are drawing off him unless he calls SSA to ask.
The longer the spouse with the higher benefit waits to start collecting, the higher benefits will be for both spouses. Delaying the higher earning spouse's benefits could also eventually increase the other spouse's survivors benefits.
Whether you can make this switch is determined by whether your spouse is already receiving benefits. If your spouse is not receiving any retirement benefits yet, then you could technically take your regular Social Security benefit as early as age 62.
As a spouse, you can claim a Social Security benefit based on your own earnings record, or collect a spousal benefit in the amount of 50% of your spouse's Social Security benefit, but not both. You are automatically entitled to receive whichever benefit provides you the higher monthly amount.
To qualify for Medicare, your spouse must be age 65 or older. If your spouse is age 62 (or any age under 65), he or she could only qualify for Medicare by disability.
Regardless of your work history, you are eligible for Medicare at age 65 (or younger in some cases) if you're a U.S. citizen.
If you are enrolling in Medicare coverage and your spouse is younger than 65 and does not meet one of the Medicare eligibility exceptions (such as a disability or chronic condition), they will need to secure their own insurance coverage until they reach the age requirement for Medicare.