BLOG: THE ELIGIBLE SPOUSE

BLOG: THE ELIGIBLE SPOUSE

A spouse can receive social security benefits in a variety of ways. These benefits are in addition to what the worker receives and are not taken from the worker’s benefits.

SPOUSES WHO ARE STILL MARRIED TO THE WORKER

A spouse can receive Social Security Benefits if the spouse is married to a retired or disabled worker who is receiving benefits if

a. the spouse is 62 years old and the spouse was married to the worker for 1 year before filing for benefits; or

b. the spouse is the parent of the worker’s child; and

i. the child is under the age of 16; or

ii. the child is over the age of 16 and the child is disabled; or

iii. the child is entitled to benefits under the worker’s social security record.

DIVORCED SPOUSES

Divorced spouses can receive benefits from a fully insured worker who is not retired and not disabled when:

i. both spouses are 62 years old;

ii. neither spouse has filed a claim for benefits;

iii. they were married for at least 10 years;

iv. they have been divorced for 2 years in a row.

SURVIVOR BENEFITS FOR SPOUSES

The full retirement age for a surviving spouse is 66. A surviving spouse at full retirement age will get 100% of the deceased worker’s benefit amount.

If the surviving widow is over 60 years old but under full retirement age, they can receive anywhere from 71 to 99 % of the deceased worker’s benefit amount.

The surviving spouse is entitled to survivor benefits at any age if she is the parent of the deceased worker’s child who is under 16 or of a child who has been disabled before the child is 22. The surviving spouse will automatically get 75% of the deceased worker’s benefits regardless of the surviving spouses age

If the surviving spouse can begin receiving benefits on her 50th birthday if she is disabled.