MYTH: If you are married and were a non-working spouse or did not have enough work credits to qualify on your own, you are not eligible for Social Security.
It seems obvious enough. If you didn’t pay into the system, you can’t collect from it. Fortunately for many homemakers, that’s not how it works in all cases. Social Security has protections in place for spouses that raised children or otherwise didn’t pursue a career while their husbands (or wives) earned the household income.
While both spouses are living, the non-working spouse can collect up to half the amount of the working spouse’s full retirement age benefit. If widowed, the non-working spouse will receive the full Social Security benefit that the deceased spouse was receiving.
If both spouses qualify for benefits based on their individual work histories, the one with the lower benefit will receive additional Social Security income for a total benefit amount equal to one half the amount received by the higher-earning spouse.
To be eligible for Social Security, an individual must have paid into the system for at least 40 quarters, paying Social Security taxes through payroll withholdings or directly to the IRS. That means at least ten years of paid work.
Social Security reviews the last 35 years of work history to determine your benefit amount, and zero income years will take your benefits down. If you own a business and your spouse assists you in running it, make sure to pay for the work – at least $5,200 a year. This will allow your spouse to earn Social Security credits and become fully vested in the system, which means more income in retirement for both of you.
Not associated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency.
The company I just started working for does not take out Social Security. If I continue working for this company until I retire, how will this affect what I’ve already paid into Social Security and will I still be eligible for Social Security benefits when I’m able?
It will depend on your prior and future work history. You need to at least have 10 years of earning over the minimum.
My spouse and I have been married for 25 years. During all this time and the present, she has been a home-maker and raising a child. I am retired and have been receiving Soc Sec payments since 2020 or so.
Is the amount my spouse may be eligible to collect a reduction to my monthly Soc Sec check or ?
Oscar, your wife would be eligible for a 1/2 benefit of what you are receiving once she reaches the age of 62 or older and it dosn’t change your amount. Ideally you would wait until you are 70 and she woudl be 67 to reach maximum benefits.
Why would Oscars wife get anything if she didn’t put into social security, this is why social security is going broke. Only invested should get anything out, regardless of anything.
This is a program to help families including stay at home spouses.
I have a brother that didn’t work because he had mental issues. So he lived off of my parents his entire life. Both of my parents are dead now and he has some from inheritance but that won’t last forever. Since he was a dependent his entire life, can he get SS benefits to help him survive?
Your parents should have worked to get him on SSI while living since he could not work, the inheritance also could have gone into a special needs trust.I would set up an appointment at a local social security office to see what his options are.
I am eligible to collect SS as I am 66 and meet all the requirements, but I own a business and was getting paid as an employee, however because of slow business I decided not to take a paycheck until it picks up. I have gone without a paycheck since July of 2024 and do not see me getting one anytime soon. Will this affect my SS distribution when I do start taking it? Should I just start taking it now?
Kellie, we would need a lot more information to help but delaying benefits can be helpful for you during the rest of your life. Each year you delay from FRA to age 70 there is 8% increases.. which can really add up!