Can I get Social Security spousal benefits at 48 while caring for our 9-year-old? Husband collecting early retirement

Yes, you can likely qualify for mother's/father's benefits since you're caring for a child under 16 who receives benefits on your husband's record. This benefit is available regardless of your age, and the living arrangement doesn't matter as long as you're still legally married. You'd need to apply through SSA directly.The benefit amount would be up to 50% of your husband's full retirement amount (not what he's currently receiving at 62), but there's a family maximum that limits the total benefits paid on one person's record. Since your daughter is already receiving benefits, you'd need to check how close you are to that maximum.Also be aware that if you earn over $22,320 in 2025, your benefits would be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. This is the earnings test for anyone collecting benefits before their full retirement age.

Thank you so much for this information! I had no idea these benefits existed regardless of my age. I work part-time and make about $19,000 a year, so it sounds like I might be under that earnings limit.Do you know if these benefits would automatically stop when my daughter turns 16? And what paperwork would I need to apply? I'm trying to prepare before attempting to call SSA again.

my sister was in ur EXACT situation!! she got benefits for taking care of her son even tho she was only 46!!! they call it \

That's incorrect - it's not about the

I was in a similar situation and tried for MONTHS to reach Social Security by phone. Always disconnected or on hold for hours. I finally used Claimyr.com to get through - they call SSA and hold your place in line, then call you when an agent is on the line. Totally worth it for me! They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works. Way better than waiting on hold all day or trying to get an appointment at the local office (mine had a 3-month wait!).

I used this too after trying for 2 weeks to get thru on my own!! SO MUCH BETTER than wasting hours on hold.

Thank you for suggesting this. I'll check out that video. At this point I'm willing to try anything to avoid spending another hour on hold just to get disconnected!

To add some important details to what others have said:1) The benefit you're eligible for is officially called \

This is incredibly helpful! I had no idea there was a formal name for this benefit. Do you happen to know approximately what percentage of my husband's benefit I might receive? I understand there's a family maximum, but just trying to figure out if this is worth pursuing given the hassle of dealing with SSA.

You'd be eligible for up to 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - that's what he would receive at his full retirement age, not his reduced amount at 62. But the family maximum typically ranges from 150% to 180% of the worker's PIA. Since your daughter is already receiving benefits (likely 50% of PIA), you might get less than the full 50% due to the family maximum. The only way to know exactly is to apply and have SSA calculate it based on your specific situation.

DONT WASTE YOUR TIME!!! The SSA will make you jump through 100 hoops and then probably deny you anyway. My cousin tried to get these benefits and they kept asking for more and more paperwork. Complete nightmare. And even if you get approved the benefits are a JOKE compared to what they take in taxes!!

This is misleading. While the application process can be frustrating, Mother's/Father's benefits are well-established and regularly approved when eligibility criteria are met. The documentation requirements are standard: proof of marriage, child's birth certificate, and proof of custody/care. The benefit amount depends on the worker's earnings history and can be substantial - potentially up to 50% of the worker's PIA.

Wait im confused. I thought u had to be retirement age (like 62) to get any kind of spousal benefits?? How can she get benefits at 48??

There are different types of spousal benefits. You're thinking of regular spousal benefits, which do require you to be at least 62.What the original poster qualifies for are called Mother's/Father's Benefits (sometimes called \

Update: I finally got through to SSA yesterday! The rep confirmed I am eligible for mother's benefits since I'm caring for our 9-year-old who's receiving benefits on my husband's record. My living arrangement doesn't matter since we're still legally married.The rep said I'll likely get around $750/month based on my husband's record and the family maximum. They're sending me paperwork to complete, and I need to provide our marriage certificate, my daughter's birth certificate, and proof that she lives with me.Thank you all for your help! I never would have known about this benefit if I hadn't asked here.

That's great news! Just be prepared that the actual benefit amount might be different once they do the final calculations. Also remember that these benefits will automatically stop when your daughter turns 16, and if your income increases above the annual limit ($22,320 for 2025), your benefits could be reduced. Make sure to report any significant income changes to avoid overpayments that you'd have to pay back later.

congrats!!! that extra $$ will def help with a 9yo (they get expensive lol). glad u got thru to someone who knew what they were talking about!

Congratulations on getting through and getting approved! That's a significant monthly benefit that will definitely help with raising your daughter. Just wanted to add a couple of things others haven't mentioned: 1) If your situation changes and you and your husband legally separate or divorce, you may still be eligible for divorced spouse benefits later when you turn 62 (as long as your marriage lasted at least 10 years, which yours has). 2) Keep good records of all the paperwork you submit to SSA. Sometimes documents get lost in their system and having copies can save you time if you need to resubmit anything. 3) The benefits should be retroactive to when you first became eligible (likely when your daughter started receiving benefits), so you might get a lump sum back payment. It's really encouraging to see someone navigate the SSA system successfully and get the help they're entitled to. Your story will definitely help other parents in similar situations!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in a somewhat similar situation - my ex-husband is collecting disability benefits and our 12-year-old receives benefits on his record. I'm 45 and have primary custody. I had no idea I might be eligible for mother's benefits too. The information about it not mattering that we're divorced (as long as I'm caring for the child) is news to me. Gabriel, thank you for asking this question and sharing your successful outcome - it's given me hope that I can navigate this process too. The tip about Claimyr.com might be a lifesaver since I've also had terrible luck getting through to SSA by phone. Going to look into applying for these benefits this week!