We
all know that one of the main purposes of social security benefits is to offer
economical support to people who face financial hardship. This economical
struggle may begin with a person’s retired life, when he/she doesn’t have a
regular income source anymore that he/she used to have. Or maybe someone has
become physically disabled and that disability is limiting his/her working
ability, resulting a reduction in his/her income. Situation may arise, when a
spouse may also need badly a financial support although he/she may not be
disabled or retired or even hasn’t worked under the social security. What will
happen then? Does the social security system cover the spousal needs too?
The
answer in general is yes! This is called the social security spousal benefits.
Let us try to know a little bit more about this.
Spousal
benefits:
As a
spouse- you may receive social security benefits under following circumstances-
·
If
your better half files for his/her own retirement benefit.
·
If
your spouse becomes medically disabled
·
If
your spouse passes away
Please
note- you don’t necessarily have to work under social security in order to
become eligible for spousal benefits.
How
Retirement Spousal Benefit Works?
By
the term spousal benefit, generally the retirement spousal benefit is meant.
Calculation of this benefit is very complex and could be different in amount
under different conditions. However, the amount may vary depending on the
following factors-
·
When
are you claiming for the benefits?
·
Are
you eligible for your own benefit etc.?
How can
you collect disability and social security spousal benefit for that?
If one can
prove himself/ herself as legitimately disabled, then his/her spouse may also
become eligible of receiving benefit under certain conditions. The main conditions
and requirements may include-
·
The potential receiver of the spousal benefit
should be the spouse of a medically disabled person- whose working potential is
limited due to that disability
·
Age of the potential receiver is equal or above
62
·
The potential receiver may be of any age when
he/she is looking after a disabled child of the applicant or a child who is
younger than 16 etc.
How the
Survivors benefit works?
The survivors
benefit may applicable to a person whose spouse has died and as a result the
family is facing financial difficulty. The amount of this benefit depends on
the fact that how much did a person earn in his/her lifetime. If his/her
average earning is high, then the spouse may receive a higher amount; if the
earning is low, then the spouse would get a lower amount too.
The spouse may
receive his/her survivors benefit-
·
At his/her full retirement age. If he/she
receives it earlier, he/she would get an reduced amount
·
At any age when the spouse is looking after a
disabled child of the applicant or a child who is younger than 16 etc.
Social security application for spousal benefit:
In order to
apply for social security spousal benefits, you may choose one of the following
options:
·
Online application
·
By
telephone
·
Via
email
·
Submitting
your application in person to a field office etc.
For
survivors benefit- you may apply by telephone or in person.
If
you need help with applying for social security disability spousal,
survivors or retirement spousal benefit, you may visit www.ssa.gov for more detailed
information and guidance.
Good
luck!
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