Social Security: Benefits If You Have Never Been Employed

If your career has been caring for your family and home, you have Social Security protection through your spouse’s work. You can receive Social Security benefits when your spouse dies or retires or if your spouse becomes disabled.

If you have a child in your care who is under age 16 or who is disabled, you may also receive benefits. However, you must be age 62 or older if you are caring for a child when your spouse retires or becomes disabled.

Receiving benefits is possible before full retirement age, but remember that your benefit amount will be permanently reduced. Upon reaching normal retirement age, you will receive what is known as “full wife’s benefit”; this is 50% of the amount which your husband is entitled to upon his normal retirement age.

You and your spouse will be entitled to Medicare hospital insurance at age 65 if he is eligible and both of you apply for it. You may receive Medicare benefits when you turn age 65 and your spouse is younger than you are if your husband is still working, is entitled to Medicare benefits at retirement, and is at least 62.

Always remember to report any name changes so that your record will show the correct name when you apply for benefits. Fill out “Application for a Social Security Number Card, Form SS-50. You will be required to show proof of identity both under your old name and your new name, and proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were born outside of the United States.