Do Stay at Home Moms Get Social Security?

Social Security is a federal program in the United States designed to provide financial security through retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Eligibility for these benefits is primarily determined by earning “credits” through covered employment over a person’s working life. While individuals typically accrue these credits by paying Social Security taxes on their earnings, stay-at-home mothers generally do not earn their own Social Security benefits solely for their caregiving roles. However, they can often qualify for benefits through other pathways, such as based on a spouse’s work record or through their own past or future employment.

Social Security Benefits Through a Spouse’s Record

Many stay-at-home mothers can qualify for Social Security benefits based on their living spouse’s work record. To be eligible, the marriage must have lasted at least one year, and the spouse must be receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits. The stay-at-home mother must also be at least 62 years old to claim these spousal benefits.

The benefit amount for a spouse can be up to 50% of the working spouse’s full retirement age (FRA) benefit, also known as the primary insurance amount (PIA). Claiming benefits before reaching one’s own full retirement age will result in a permanent reduction of the benefit.

Even after a divorce, a former spouse may be eligible for benefits on their ex-spouse’s record. This requires the marriage to have lasted for at least 10 years, and the divorced individual must be unmarried and at least 62 years old. The ex-spouse must be eligible for Social Security benefits. The benefit received would be the higher of the individual’s own benefit or the spousal benefit, up to 50% of the ex-spouse’s FRA benefit.

Social Security Benefits as a Survivor

A stay-at-home mother may also qualify for Social Security benefits if her working spouse or ex-spouse passes away. The deceased individual must have accumulated enough Social Security credits for their survivors to be eligible.

Survivor benefits for a widow or widower can begin as early as age 60, or age 50 if they are disabled. The amount received can be up to 100% of the deceased worker’s basic Social Security benefit if the survivor claims at their own full retirement age. Claiming benefits earlier than full retirement age will result in a reduced amount.

Remarriage can affect survivor benefits. Divorced widows or widowers may also be eligible for survivor benefits under similar conditions, provided the marriage lasted at least 10 years and they meet other criteria.

Social Security for Caregivers

Social Security provides a specific benefit for caregivers, often referred to as the “child-in-care” benefit. This benefit allows a spouse or qualifying divorced spouse to receive payments at any age, even before age 62, if they are caring for a child who is under age 16 or is disabled and entitled to benefits on the primary earner’s record.

This benefit supports caregivers who are out of the paid workforce. The benefit amount is a percentage of the worker’s full benefit. Unlike other spousal benefits claimed early, the child-in-care benefit is not reduced due to the caregiver’s age. These benefits generally cease when the youngest child turns 16, unless the child has a qualifying disability.

Earning Your Own Social Security Credits

While many stay-at-home mothers qualify for benefits through a spouse, some may also be eligible based on their own work history. Individuals earn Social Security “credits” by working and paying Social Security taxes. Credits are earned for covered earnings, up to a maximum of four credits per year.

Most individuals need 40 credits, which equates to 10 years of work, to qualify for retirement benefits. These credits do not need to be earned consecutively, meaning periods out of the workforce, such as for caregiving, do not erase previously earned credits. If a stay-at-home mother later returns to employment, she can begin earning additional credits.

If a person is eligible for Social Security benefits based on their own earnings record and also for spousal or survivor benefits, the Social Security Administration will pay the higher of the two amounts. Benefits are not combined; the individual receives only the larger of the two eligible amounts.