How Much Social Security Does a Stay-at-Home Parent Get?

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A stay-at-home parent can receive up to 50% of their working spouse’s full Social Security retirement benefit. For example, if your spouse’s benefit at full retirement age is $2,000 per month, you could receive $1,000 per month. The exact amount depends on when you claim and whether you meet requirements such as age, marriage length, and your spouse’s work history.

Do Stay-at-Parents Get Social Security?

Yes. Stay-at-home parents can qualify for Social Security benefits, even with little or no work history of their own. Eligibility comes through a working spouse’s record, as long as certain requirements are met:

• Your spouse must qualify. The working spouse needs at least 40 work credits (about 10 years of work) to be eligible for Social Security.
• You don’t need your own work history. A non-working spouse can receive benefits without earning credits themselves.
• Age requirement. You can claim spousal benefits starting at age 62, but your payment will be permanently reduced if you file before your full retirement age.

How Spousal Benefits Work

If you’re a stay-at-home parent, you may be able to claim Social Security through your spouse’s record. Here are the key rules:

• Benefit amount. You can receive up to 50% of your spouse’s full retirement benefit at their full retirement age (FRA).
• Age requirement. You must be at least 62 years old to claim, though filing before your own FRA will reduce your benefit.
• Spouse must file. Your working spouse must have filed for Social Security for you to qualify.
• Higher of the two benefits. If you qualify for benefits based on your own work record, you’ll receive whichever is higher — your own or the spousal amount.
• Part-time work counts. If you’ve worked part-time, you may qualify for your own benefit as well, but you can’t collect both at the same time.

How Much Social Security Can a Stay-at-Home Parent Get?

A stay-at-home parent’s Social Security benefits is based on their spouse’s earnings record. At full retirement age (FRA), you can receive up to 50% of your spouse’s monthly benefit.

For example, if your spouse is entitled to $2,000 per month at FRA, you would receive $1,000 per month. Keep in mind that if you claim before reaching your own FRA, your benefit will be permanently reduced.

Social Security Rules for Non-Working Spouses

To qualify for Social Security benefits as a stay-at-home or non-working spouse, these conditions must be met:

• Marriage requirement. You must have been married to your spouse for at least one continuous year.
• Age requirement. You must be at least 62 years old to claim spousal benefits. Filing before your full retirement age will permanently reduce your monthly amount.
• Work history requirement. You don’t need your own work history, but your spouse must have at least 10 years of work (40 credits) to qualify.
• Filing requirement. Your spouse must have filed for Social Security benefits for you to receive spousal benefits. (This rule is waived in the case of divorce if you meet divorce-related requirements.)

Advantages and Disadvantages of Spousal Benefits

There are advantages and disadvantages of receiving spousal benefits: 

Pros of Spousal Benefits

• A non-earning spouse doesn’t have to work. You don’t have to work to qualify for benefits. You can rely on your spouse’s work history. 
• You can receive lifetime income. Once you qualify for spousal benefits, you will receive a steady income stream for your entire lifetime. 
• If you receive a spousal benefit, it doesn’t impact your own benefit. You can still qualify for your worker’s benefit even if you receive funds from your spouse’s benefits. 

Cons of Spousal Benefits

• You receive a lower benefit. The maximum spousal benefit is capped at 50% of the working spouse’s full retirement age (FRA) benefit.
• Your amount is reduced if you claim it early. If you take your spousal benefit before your full retirement age, your amount is permanently reduced.
• If you divorce before 10 years, you don’t get a spousal benefit. To be eligible for benefits, you have to be married for at least 10 years. 

How Divorce or Widowhood Affects Social Security Benefits

You may still qualify for Social Security spousal benefits if you’re divorced or widowed, as long as you meet certain requirements:

• Divorced spouses: You must have been married for at least 10 years, be 62 or older, and currently unmarried. Your ex-spouse must also be at least 62 and eligible for Social Security. You don’t have to wait for them to file to begin receiving up to 50% of their full retirement age benefit.
• Widowed spouses: You must have been married for at least nine months before your spouse’s death. Survivor benefits can be as much as 100% of your late spouse’s benefit. If you remarry after age 60, your eligibility for survivor benefits is not affected.

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