Can a Spouse Who Never Worked Outside the Home Receive Social Security Benefits?
Social Security has been part of our lives for over 70 years. It was supposed to supplement other retirement income, but for many individuals and couples, it is their sole source of income in their retirement years. If your spouse was a homemaker and did not work outside of your home she qualifies based on your benefits. She will also qualify for Medicare benefits when she is 65 years old.
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Guidelines
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If your wife does not qualify for benefits from her work experience, she is entitled to one-half of your benefit when she reaches 65 years of age. She can begin collecting benefits at age 62, but she will receive a reduction in benefit payments, based on a percentage tied to the number of months remaining, until she reaches full retirement age. If you were previously married and your divorced spouse receives benefits, it will not affect the benefits you and your spouse are entitled to receive.
Delayed Benefits
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If you are at full retirement age, you can have your benefits suspended while you continue to work and your spouse can begin receiving spouse's benefits. This will allow you to continue accruing benefit credits until you are 70 years old. If your spouse did work, and is entitled to her own benefits, she can delay receiving her benefits and start receiving the spouse's benefit. This will allow her to continue to accrue the benefits of delayed retirement credits. Delayed credits mean that your benefit amount will be permanantly increased when you start collecting benefits.
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Medicare
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You can qualify for Medicare at age 65, based on your, or your spouse's Social Security eligibility, or if you or your spouse worked long enough in a government job and you meet the age requirements. You can also qualify if you are under age 65 and you have been a Social Security disability beneficiary for 24 months. Medicare also offers prescription drug coverage at an additional cost. Prescription drug costs have continued to rise and drug costs are often prohibitive for the elderly. Prescription drug coverage can literally be a lifesaver, if you cannot afford to pay for your prescriptions.
Considerations
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If you are eligible for benefits, but you are still working, you and your spouse should delay collecting benefits as long as you remain employed. People are living longer than ever. Each month you delay collecting benefits your benefit amount increases. The amount may not seem important today, but you will appreciate the additional income when you are fully retired. If you do not need the additional income now, delay your benefit payments as long as possible.
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