Can I stay on Child-in-Care benefits after turning 62 or must I apply for spousal Social Security?

The transition from Child-in-Care spousal benefits to regular spousal benefits is NOT automatic. You must file an application for reduced spousal benefits when you turn 62. CIC benefits will terminate at the end of the month before you turn 62, so you want to apply about 3 months before your birthday to avoid a gap in payments. Just be aware that by taking spousal benefits at 62, you'll receive a reduced amount compared to waiting until your Full Retirement Age.

my sister went thru the same thing last yr. she got a letter from SS about 2 months b4 her bday telling her the CIC was ending and she had to apply for regular spousal. the amount went down a little bit cause of taking it early. but she had no choice with the kids still at home.

I want to add some important information here that might affect your decision. When you apply for spousal benefits at 62, you'll receive approximately 70% of what you would get at your Full Retirement Age (FRA), which is a permanent reduction. If you've worked enough quarters to qualify for your own retirement benefit, you should check whether your own benefit might be higher than the reduced spousal benefit. Sometimes it makes financial sense to claim your own reduced retirement at 62 and then switch to spousal later. This gets complicated and depends on your specific earnings record, so I'd recommend speaking directly with an SSA representative to compare your options.

I actually went through this exact situation last year! You definitely need to apply for spousal benefits - it does NOT automatically convert. I made that mistake and had a 2-month gap with no income because I waited too long to apply. The most important thing is to apply 3 months before your birthday. I tried doing it online but the system was confusing for converting from CIC to spousal, so I ended up having to call. I spent DAYS trying to get through to someone.

one more thing nobody mentioned is that if ur kid gets SSI or SSDI too make sure that doesnt change when ur benefits change. my friends kid almost lost his benefits when she switched from CIC to spousal and they didnt tell her that would happen!!

I think everyone is making this more complicated than it needs to be. Just go to your local SS office with your ID and marriage certificate and tell them you want to apply for spousal. Took me like 45 minutes when I did it. No big deal.

To address your question about the benefit amount: Generally, your CIC spousal benefit is 50% of your husband's full retirement amount. When you switch to early spousal benefits at 62, you'll receive approximately 35% of your husband's full benefit amount (this is the 50% spousal benefit reduced by 30% for claiming at 62 instead of FRA). So yes, you should expect the monthly amount to decrease somewhat. This is why it's so important to evaluate whether your own retirement benefit might be higher, as you might be able to claim your own now and switch to spousal later when you reach FRA.

I went through this transition 2 years ago and want to share some practical tips that helped me navigate it smoothly. First, definitely apply 3 months before your 62nd birthday - this gives SSA time to process and prevents gaps. Second, when you call or visit, specifically ask them to run a benefit estimate comparing your reduced spousal benefit vs your own retirement benefit if you have work credits. In my case, my own benefit was actually slightly higher even though I hadn't worked full-time in years. Third, make sure to ask about "deemed filing" rules - at 62, you're generally required to file for both your own retirement and spousal benefits simultaneously, and you'll receive whichever is higher. Finally, get everything in writing! I requested a letter confirming my new benefit amount and start date. The transition can be stressful, but with proper timing and preparation, it doesn't have to be a nightmare.

As someone who works with families navigating Social Security benefits, I want to emphasize something crucial that hasn't been fully addressed: since you're caring for a special needs child, you may want to explore whether you qualify for disabled adult child benefits on your son's record once he turns 18, assuming his disability began before age 22. This could provide additional income streams for your family. Also, when you do apply for spousal benefits, make sure to mention your caregiving situation - sometimes there are additional protections or considerations for families with disabled dependents. The SSA representatives should walk you through all available options, not just the standard spousal benefit conversion. Don't let them rush you through the process without exploring every avenue that might benefit your specific family situation.

I'm currently in a similar situation - turning 62 in a few months and receiving CIC benefits for my disabled daughter. After reading through everyone's experiences, I'm realizing I need to start the application process NOW. One thing I learned from my caseworker that might help others: if you're worried about the income drop from CIC to reduced spousal benefits, ask SSA about any state supplemental programs in your area. Some states have additional support for families caring for disabled children that can help bridge the gap. Also, definitely keep detailed records of all your communications with SSA - dates, names, reference numbers. I've had to reference these multiple times when there were processing delays or conflicting information between representatives. The system is frustrating but being organized and persistent helps. Good luck to everyone navigating these transitions!