In our previous blog about Social Security Benefits, we discussed what age may be best to start collecting benefits. In Part 2, we will look at who, besides the wage earner, can collect the wage earner’s Social Security benefits.

The wage earner has retired. Who else might be entitled to Social Security benefits?

Spouse: If the wage earner’s spouse is at least 62 years old, OR caring for a child under 16, the spouse is entitled to a percentage of the wage earner’s benefit. (The percentage ranges depending on the age of the spouse.)

Parent: In very limited circumstances, a parent of a wage earner may be entitled to up to 82.5% of the retiree’s benefit. (Wage earner’s spouse must be under 62, and there must be a dependent child under age 16 who the wage earner’s parent lives with. There are also income limits for the parent.)

Divorced Spouse: A divorced spouse who was validly married to the wage earner for 10 years or more, and who has been divorced for at least 2 years, and is 62 or older (or disabled) is eligible for a percentage of the wage earners benefits. (The percentage ranges depending on the age of the spouse.)

Minor Child: An unmarried, dependent child of a wage earner who is either deceased or receiving Social Security Disability Insurance may be eligible for benefits equal to 50% of the wage earner’s benefits. (The child must be under 18, or under 19 if a full time student.)

Disabled Adult Child: An unmarried child, 18 or older, who is disabled is also eligible for benefits based on the wage earner, as long as the disability began before the child reached age 22.

Minor Step Child: The wage earner must have provided half of the step child’s support, and they must have lived together for at least a year. The step child is eligible for 50% of the step parent’s benefit.

Minor Grandchild: If the grandchild’s own parents are deceased or disabled, and the grandparent has provided at least half the support for the grandchild for at least a year, then the grandchild is entitled to 50% of the grandparent’s benefit level.

In Part 3 of our Social Security series we will examine who can claim benefits when a wage earner dies. Stay tuned!

We hope you found this information useful! As caring and knowledgeable elder law attorneys, helping you understand your options for what your future will look like is important to us. If we can be of assistance to you, please reach out. We are only a phone call or e-mail away.