Can I receive child-in-care benefits for my disabled adult child without filing for my own Social Security at 62?

Unfortunately, this isn't going to work the way you're hoping. When you're divorced, you can only receive divorced spousal benefits (including child-in-care benefits) if you're unmarried AND your ex-spouse is entitled to benefits. However, you cannot restrict your application to just divorced spousal benefits anymore. Since 2016, when you file for any benefit, SSA automatically considers it filing for all benefits you're eligible for (called deemed filing). So if you file for child-in-care benefits now, you'll automatically be deemed to have filed for your retirement benefits too, which means you'll get the reduced amount permanently.

I think the first reply isnt totally right. My sister was in a kinda similar situation and she got something. Maybe check again?

I was EXACTLY in ur situation 2 yrs ago!!! So frustrating!! I talked to 3 diff SSA reps and got 3 diff answers. Waste of time. The system is rigged against caregivers, I swear. I ended up having to take early retirement at 62 even tho I didn't want to because I needed the money. Now I'm stuck with reduced benefits FOREVER. The whole deemed filing thing is just a way for them to save $$$$.

Have you considered just working part time? That's what I did. I took early retirement at 62 and then just cut back my hours so I still earned some money but could stay under the earnings limit. In 2025 you can earn up to like $22,700 before they start reducing your benefits. Might be a compromise option.

After weeks of trying to reach someone at Social Security to discuss a similar benefits issue, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing exactly how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Absolutely worth it for complex situations like yours where you need to talk to an actual agent who can look at your specific case details. They helped me get clear answers instead of the generic responses on the website.

To answer your follow-up question - there IS one potential option, but it depends on your ex-spouse's age. If your ex is already receiving disability benefits AND is at least at full retirement age (66-67 depending on birth year), AND you were married at least 10 years, you might qualify for divorced spousal benefits. However, since you're still working full-time, you would likely exceed the earnings limit ($22,680 for 2025 for those under FRA), which would reduce or eliminate any benefit payment anyway. Your best option might be to continue working until your FRA (67) and then file for unreduced retirement benefits at that time. If your ex-spouse passes away before then, you could potentially file for survivor benefits if those would be higher than your own retirement benefit.

my cousin gets benefits for taking care of her disabled son and shes divorced too. maybe the rules r different in different states??

Whatever you decide dont forget that Medicare doesn't start till 65 even if you take SS early! Made that mistake and had a gap in coverage. Just fyi

One additional consideration: If your disabled adult child is receiving benefits on your ex-husband's record, it's important to understand how any changes to your situation might affect those benefits. When your ex-husband passes away, your child will convert to survivor benefits on his record. If you file for your own benefits and later pass away, SSA will compare the benefit amounts and pay whichever is higher. Also, once you reach your FRA (67), the earnings test no longer applies, so you could claim benefits and continue working with no reduction. Many people find this to be the optimal strategy - work as long as possible and claim at FRA or even delay to age 70 if your health and employment situation allows.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and wanted to share what I've learned through my research and consultations. One thing that might be worth exploring is whether your disabled adult child could potentially qualify for benefits on YOUR work record instead of your ex-husband's, especially if your earnings history might result in a higher benefit amount. Also, I'd recommend documenting all the care you're providing - keep records of medical appointments, daily care activities, etc. While it won't change the Social Security rules, it could be helpful for other potential benefits or tax considerations (like claiming your adult child as a dependent if they meet the requirements). The earnings limit that others mentioned is really important to understand - it's not just about the annual amount ($22,680 for 2025), but also how they calculate the reduction. They reduce benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn over the limit, so even if you go over slightly, you might still receive some benefits. Have you looked into whether your state has any caregiver support programs? Some states offer respite care or other assistance that might help with your situation even if federal Social Security options are limited.

I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - you should also consider the impact on your own future benefits if you continue working until 67. Every year you work and pay into Social Security, your benefit calculation gets updated if that year's earnings are higher than one of the 35 years currently being used in your calculation. Since you're still working full-time, you're likely earning more now than you did earlier in your career (due to inflation and career progression). This means delaying your claim until 67 isn't just avoiding the early filing reduction - you're also potentially increasing your benefit amount through continued earnings. Also, I'd suggest getting a copy of your Social Security Statement online at ssa.gov to see your projected benefits at different claiming ages. This will help you run the numbers and see exactly how much you'd lose by claiming early versus waiting. One more thing - make sure you understand what happens to your child's benefits if you do eventually claim on your own record. Sometimes families assume the child will automatically get switched to the higher-earning parent's record, but that's not always automatic and may require a separate application.

I've been following this thread closely because I'm in a somewhat similar situation, and I wanted to add a few thoughts based on my own research and experience navigating SSA. First, regarding the conflicting information you've gotten from SSA representatives - this is unfortunately very common with complex scenarios like yours. The rules around divorced spousal benefits, child-in-care provisions, and deemed filing are intricate, and not all phone representatives are equally knowledgeable about these nuances. I'd strongly recommend requesting to speak with a supervisor or scheduling an in-person appointment at your local SSA office where you can bring documentation and get more detailed assistance. Second, while everyone's correctly pointed out the deemed filing issue, I want to emphasize something that might give you some hope: the earnings test is only temporary. If you did decide to file for benefits now (despite the reduction), once you reach full retirement age at 67, SSA will recalculate your benefits to remove the reduction caused by the earnings test (though not the early filing reduction). This is called the "adjustment of reduction factor." Finally, don't overlook the possibility of appealing or requesting reconsideration if you receive information from SSA that doesn't seem right. Given how many different answers you've gotten, it might be worth getting a formal written determination that you can review carefully or have an attorney look at. The system is complicated, but you're asking all the right questions. Keep advocating for yourself and your child!