8 Social Security Benefits You May Be Overlooking

It’s common to think of Social Security as your retirement income, but the program is actually much broader. Through the Social Security Administration, the government provides payments to spouses, children and those with disabilities, among others.

Here’s a closer look at some Social Security benefits you may have missed.

1. Marital benefits for current spouse

Of all the additional benefits that Social Security provides, spousal benefits may be the most well-known. Spouses can receive up to half of their husband’s or wives’ monthly income. Even stay-at-home spouses with no work history of their own can claim benefits in this way.

You can start claiming spousal benefits at age 62, although benefits are reduced if payments begin before your full retirement age.

People can also receive spousal benefits at any age if they are caring for a child who is disabled or under 16 and is receiving benefits on the spouse’s record.

If you are entitled to your own benefits and spousal benefits, you will receive an amount equal to any maximum benefit level.

2. Spousal benefits for ex-spouse

Even if you are divorced, you may be entitled to spousal benefits. To receive these benefits, all of the following must apply to your situation:

• Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security benefits.
• You have been married for at least 10 years to your ex-spouse.
• You are single now.
• He is at least 62 years old.
• The benefit you are entitled to receive based on your employment is less than the benefit you would receive based on the employment of your ex-spouse.

Claiming spousal benefits as a divorcee does not affect the amount of your ex-husband’s or ex-wife’s benefit. It also does not affect any benefits that their spouses may receive if they remarry.

3. Survivors’ benefits for widows and widowers

If your husband or wife dies, you can still get up to 100% of their Social Security retirement benefits.

Many widows and widowers can start claiming survivor benefits at age 60. Those who become disabled and become disabled before or within seven years of their spouse’s death can start benefits at age 50.

In addition, widows and widowers of any age can receive survivor benefits if they are caring for a deceased employee’s child who is under 16 or disabled.

Note that if you remarry before age 60 – or age 50 if you’re disabled – you can’t get these survivor benefits. As with spousal benefits, if you receive survivor benefits and start your own retirement benefits, you will receive any higher amount.

4. Survivors’ benefits for divorced spouses

Divorced surviving spouses may be able to receive survivor benefits based on the deceased ex-spouse’s benefit record if they have been married to that person for at least 10 years.

As with widows and widowers, the surviving separated spouse must be at least 60 to start claiming survivor benefits, or at least 50 if disabled.

The only exception is if you are caring for your child who is under 16 and is a natural or legally adopted child of an ex-spouse. In that case, the 10-year marriage length rule or minimum age requirement does not apply.

5. Child survivor benefits

Spouses are not the only ones entitled to survivor benefits. Children can receive payments from a deceased parent’s records.

Survivors’ benefits are available for children up to the age of 18, or 19 for those still in primary or secondary school full time. Benefits can go beyond that if the child becomes disabled and remains disabled before age 22.

Depending on the circumstances, grandchildren and stepchildren may be eligible for these benefits.

6. Survivors’ benefits for dependent parents

A parent who relies on a child for financial assistance may be eligible to receive benefits from Social Security if that child dies.

To be eligible to receive Social Security parental benefits, you must meet several criteria, including the following:

• A deceased employee must have sufficient employment credits to qualify for Social Security benefits.
• You must be at least 62 years old and, in most cases, you cannot marry after the death of the employee.
• You must have received at least one portion of your support from a deceased employee at some point.
• You were a natural parent or a legal adoptive or stepparent before the employee turned 16 years old.
• You are not eligible to receive a retirement benefit from Social Security that exceeds the parent’s benefit.

7. Disability benefits

More than 8 million people receive monthly benefits through the Social Disability Insurance program. To receive benefits, people must have a work history that qualifies them for Social Security and be unable to work now because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least a year or end in death.

The application process for Social Security Disability benefits may require applicants to submit a significant number of documents. For those denied benefits initially, there is an appeals process.

8. Additional Security Income

While the Social Security Administration administers the Supplemental Security Income program, these benefits are not subject to Social Security taxes. Instead, the program uses regular tax dollars to provide benefits to people age 65 or older, who are blind or disabled, and who have little or no income.

This program, commonly called SSI, is intended to provide financial assistance for basic needs such as food, clothing and housing. Since the program is funded by regular taxes, there is no need for a work history to receive these benefits.