Social Security Eligibility: What Are The Requirements For A Homemaker To Qualify For Social Security?



When Social Security was first established, most families only had one bread-earner, and only the working spouse qualified for retirement benefits. This caused financial problems for the spouse who didn't work (and so didn't qualify for Social Security) if the working spouse died first. Thankfully the Social Security Administration recognized this hardship and amended the law to let wives to collect benefits based on their husband's earnings.

The family dynamic has changed a lot since Social Security was established back in 1935, but there are still many families where one spouse does not work, and therefore does not qualify for retirement benefits based on their personal earnings.

There are several requirements in order to meet the criteria for Social Security retirement benefits, like:

- Age: In order to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, you should be at least age 62. Other benefits, such as survivor benefits or disability benefits may be collected at an earlier age, but the Social Security eligibility rules require you to be age 62 before you can apply for retirement benefits.

- Work Credits: You should work in a Social Security supported job (i.e., where you contribute to Social Security by payroll tax deductions) for at least 40 credits to be eligible for retirement benefits. You can get up to four credits per year; so essentially, you must work for 10 years to be eligible for Social Security.

- Citizenship or Residency Status: Many people will be surprised to learn that you do not have to be a U.S. citizen to avail Social Security retirement benefits. People who pay into the Social Security system may qualify for benefits even if they are not U.S. nationals, however they must be living in the U.S. to actually collect benefits.

So... do spouses qualify for Social Security? Given the Social Security eligibility requirements mentioned above, most full-time housewives will not qualify for retirement benefits per se, unless they worked for 10 years (40 credits) before they became a homemaker.

But, homemakers may be eligible for benefits based on their spouse's earnings. Social Security spousal benefits allow husbands and wives to collect retirement benefits based on their spouse's earnings if they result in a greater benefit than their own. To be more explicit, a spouse who has not worked or who has substantially lower earnings than their husband or wife can receive up to as much as half of their spouse's total retirement benefit.

Along with spousal benefits, homemakers may also qualify for Social Security survivor benefits. Widows and widowers can start collecting Social Security benefits based on their deceased spouse's earnings beginning at age 60 (age 50 if they are disabled). Children of deceased people who are less than age 18 (19 if they are still in high school) could also qualify for survivor benefits. This is very helpful for families with small children when the main bread earner passes away at an early age.

While full-time homemakers who have never worked or who have worked for less than 10 years generally won't qualify for Social Security retirement benefits on their own, as you can see, they may be eligible for benefits according to their husband's earnings. Note: while this write-up has assumed that the homemaker is lady, Social Security is gender neutral, so men who choose to stay home to bring up the kids can also qualify for spousal and survivor benefits.

Present Condition Regarding Social Security Spouse And Survivor Benefits
When Social Security was established most women did not work. Lower or no earnings combined with a longer life span meant poverty for many women when their husbands passed away. Social Security recognized these challenges and have implemented several changes to the system to help women avoid poverty.

Questions To Ask When Choosing A Financial Planner
Many people hire financial planners to help them meet their financial goals. Whether you are a beginner investor with very little experience or whether you have a good knowledge and understanding of financial planning topics, a financial planner can be a valuable asset when planning for your financial goals.

Social Security Survivor Benefits - What Happens To Your Social Security Benefits When A Spouse Dies
When Social Security was first established, it only paid retirement income to workers who qualified. It was later amended to include benefits for spouses and survivors, which made it more of a family or insurance plan, instead of just a retirement plan.

3 Key Reasons To Use A Fee-Only Financial Experts
There are three different types of financial advisors: the commission broker who sells a product for a commission, the fee-based advisor who provides investment management for a percentage of the assets invested, and the fee only financial planner who provides a comprehensive financial plan for an hourly fee.

Submitting Your Social Security Application: When And How
As you get closer to retirement one of your top questions is probably when and how to submit your Social Security application. Should you apply at age 62 or 66? What are the steps to applying for Social Security once you've decided to start collecting retirement benefits?

So How Exactly Does Pay Day Loans Help.
Have you ever found yourself in an emergency situation? Do you require a substantial amount of money fast but don't know where to get it? Payday loans may be just the thing you need.

How Are Social Security Benefits Calculated? Some Specifics And Factors Affecting The Benefits
One of the most popular Social Security questions that I hear from baby boomers getting ready to retire is "how are Social Security benefits calculated?" This is an important question because it could affect how long you need to work, whether you should continue to work during your retirement years

Find Out How To Apply For Social Security
If you areapproaching retirement, you are probably already looking into how to apply for Social Security benefits. Generally, you can apply once you are within 120 days of your 62nd birthday. There are several things you should know to make the application process as smooth as possible.

New Rules Mean A Lot More Individuals Doing Roth IRA Conversions In 2010
As we near the end of 2010, countless people have already done Roth IRA conversions, and many others are questioning if a Roth IRA conversion in 2010 is the right move for them.

Associated Articles

     



Partner Sites

       



Carpet Cleaners Houston

Upholstery Cleaning Houston

Houston Carpet Cleaning

Carpet Cleaners in Houston

Carpet Cleaner Houston

Bookmark this page
Delicious Digg Diigo Facebook Google Bookmarks Reddit Stumbleupon Technorati

Disclaimer Privacy Policy Contact

Copyright 2010 @

www.carpetcleanershouston.org

 Carpet Cleaners Houston