| When Social Security was first established, most | | | | system may qualify for benefits even if they are |
| families only had one bread-earner, and only the | | | | not U.S. citizens. You must live in the United |
| working spouse qualified for retirement benefits. | | | | States when you collect retirement benefits if |
| This caused financial difficulties for the spouse | | | | you are a non-citizen (U.S. citizens may reside |
| who didn't work (and therefore didn't qualify for | | | | outside the U.S. and still collect benefits), and you |
| retirement benefits) if the working spouse passed | | | | must meet the other requirements to be eligible |
| away first. Thankfully the Social Security | | | | for retirement benefits. |
| Administration recognized this hardship and | | | | Given the Social Security eligibility requirements |
| amended the law to allow wives to collect | | | | listed above, most full-time homemakers will not |
| benefits based on their husband's earnings. | | | | qualify for benefits on their own, unless they |
| The family dynamic has changed a lot since Social | | | | worked for 10 years (40 credits) before they |
| Security was established back in 1935, but there | | | | became a homemaker. |
| are still many families where one spouse does not | | | | However, homemakers may qualify for benefits |
| work, and therefore does not qualify for | | | | based on their spouse's earnings. Spousal benefits |
| retirement benefits based on their own earnings. | | | | allow husbands and wives to collect retirement |
| There are several requirements in order to be | | | | benefits based on their spouse's earnings if they |
| eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, | | | | result in a higher benefit than their own. To be |
| including: | | | | more specific, a spouse who has not worked or |
| Age: In order to qualify for retirement | | | | who has significantly lower earnings than their |
| benefits, you must be at least age 62. Other | | | | husband or wife can receive up to as much as |
| benefits, such as survivor benefits or disability | | | | half of their spouse's full retirement benefit. In |
| benefits may be collected at an earlier age, but | | | | addition, homemakers can collect benefits on their |
| the Social Security eligibility rules require you to be | | | | ex-spouse's earnings if they were married for at |
| age 62 before you can apply for retirement | | | | least ten years and they are currently unmarried. |
| benefits. On the other hand, you can delay | | | | In addition to spousal benefits, homemakers may |
| collecting benefits until age 70; if you are still | | | | also qualify for survivor benefits. Widows and |
| working or you want to maximize your | | | | widowers can start collecting benefits based on |
| retirement income. | | | | their deceased spouse's earnings beginning at age |
| Work Credits: You must work in a covered | | | | 60 (age 50 if they are disabled). Children of |
| job (i.e., where you contribute to Social Security | | | | deceased workers who are under age 18 (19 if |
| through payroll tax deductions) for at least 40 | | | | they are still in high school) may also qualify for |
| credits to qualify for retirement benefits. You can | | | | survivor benefits. This is very helpful for families |
| earn up to four credits per year; so essentially, | | | | with young children when the main bread earner |
| you must work for 10 years to be eligible for | | | | passes away at an early age. |
| Social Security. In order to earn a work credit, | | | | While full-time homemakers who have never |
| you must earn a minimum dollar amount; in 2009 | | | | worked or who have worked for less than 10 |
| this minimum was $1,090. Credits do not have to | | | | years generally won't qualify for Social Security |
| be earned consecutively, which allows for people | | | | retirement benefits on their own, as you can see, |
| to leave the workforce for several years (to | | | | they may be eligible for benefits based on their |
| raise a family, etc.) and return to work later | | | | husband's earnings. Note: while this article has |
| without losing their work credits already earned. | | | | assumed that the homemaker is female, Social |
| Citizenship or Residency Status: Many people | | | | Security is gender neutral, so men who choose to |
| will be surprised to learn that you do not have to | | | | stay home to raise the kids can also qualify for |
| be a U.S. citizen to qualify for Social Security | | | | spousal and survivor benefits. |
| retirement benefits. Workers who pay into the | | | | |