Social Security & You
By Brandon P. Smith, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
Social Security helps you secure today and tomorrow with financial benefits, information, and tools that support you throughout life’s journey. If you don’t have enough Social Security credits to qualify for benefits on your own record, you may be able to receive benefits on your spouse’s record.
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 who is younger than age 16 or who has a disability and is entitled to receive benefits on your spouse’s record
If you wait until you reach full retirement age, your full spouse’s benefit could be up to one-half the amount your spouse is entitled to receive at their full retirement age. If you choose to receive your spouse’s benefits before you reach full retirement age, you will get a permanently reduced benefit. You’ll also get a full spouse’s benefit before full retirement age if you care for a child who is entitled to receive benefits on your spouse’s record.
If you’re eligible to receive retirement benefits on your own record, we will pay that amount first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits that equal the higher spouse benefit. For example, Sandy qualifies for a retirement benefit of $1,000 and a spouse’s benefit of $1,250. At her full retirement age, she will receive her own $1,000 retirement benefit. We will add $250 from her spouse’s benefit, for a total of $1,250.
Want to apply for either your or your spouse’s benefits? Are you at least 61 years and nine months old? If you answered yes to both, visit ssa.gov/benefits/retirement to get started today.
Are you divorced from a marriage that lasted at least 10 years? You may be able to get benefits on your former spouse’s record. For more information, please visit our website at ssa.gov/planners/retire/divspouse.html.
Victoria Manning Montgomery
My husband is a military veteran and we will be married ten years in September but we are not living together and he doesn’t provide for me so how can I get health care and benefits through the VA.I know that I am entitled to all the benefits through the VA and his social Security
Estelle R. Brown
Hello, Victoria. Brandon advises that you should reach out to the VA for the process and eligibility requirements for VA benefits: https://www.va.gov/family-member-benefits/
You might also want to look up the Veterans Service Commission in your county for additional information.
I hope this helps.
Kasandrae Mitchell
I am disabled how old do I have to be to collect I my husband’s social security he passed away in 2020. I was told 50 but I would like advise if that age is right since I am disabled.
Estelle R. Brown
Kasandrae, our Social Security blogger Brandon Smith provided this information in response to your question:
If you are the surviving spouse of a person who worked long enough under Social Security, you can:
* Receive reduced benefits as early as age 60.
If you qualify for retirement benefits on your own record, you can switch to your own retirement benefit as early as age 62.
* Begin to receive benefits as early as age 50 if you have a disability and the disability started before or within 7 years of the worker’s death.
If a surviving spouse who is caring for the worker’s children receives Social Security benefits, they’re still eligible if their disability starts before those payments end or within 7 years after they end.
* Receive survivors benefits at any age, if you have not remarried and you take care of the deceased worker’s child who is under age 16 or has a disability and receives child’s benefits.
If you remarry after you reach age 60 (age 50 if you have a disability), your remarriage will not affect your eligibility for survivors benefits.
Cherrie Drerup
Yes I was married in Mar.of 71 we divorced in oct.of 1980.But they say I have to be married to my spouse for 10 yrs.He passed in April.of 2001 .I have struggled with paying bills and putting food on the table it would have been nice if they could see past the 5 months of not being married in those few short months .