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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So... do spouses qualify for Social Security? Considering Social Security eligibility requirements listed above, most full-time housewives will not qualify for retirement benefits on their own, unless they worked for 10 years (40 credits) before they became a homemaker.

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

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

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

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