Do stay at home moms get Social Security?

Asked by: Nelda Roberts  |  Last update: October 3, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (37 votes)

Just because you don't bring home a paycheck doesn't mean you're not working. A stay-at-home parent can get a Social Security check just like any other worker.

How much Social Security will I get if I was a stay-at-home mom?

Can you still receive Social Security as a stay-at-home mom or dad? The good news is you can. If you are a married person with little to no earnings history, you can receive a benefit of up to half of your spouse's Social Security.

Does my wife get Social Security if she never worked?

Spousal Benefits for Retired Workers

A spouse who has never worked in paid jobs or has not worked to earn sufficient credits to be eligible for his/her own retired worker benefits can receive a spousal benefit that is 50 percent of the eligible worker's full benefit.

How much Social Security does a housewife get?

The maximum spousal benefit that you can receive is 50% of your spouse's benefit at their full retirement age. The precise amount you'll get and when you'll get it depend on several circumstances, including your spouse's age and past income, your age and past income, and more.

What benefits can I claim if I am a stay-at-home mom?

If you're a stay-at-home mom, you might be able to collect Social Security Disability benefits based on your work history. You may even qualify without a recent work history if you meet certain requirements. You might be able to receive these benefits even if you're divorced.

Social Security for Stay at Home Moms (SAHMs)

34 related questions found

Can my mom get Social Security if she never worked?

Even if you have never worked in a job covered by Social Security, as a parent, there are two ways that you may still be eligible for benefits. If you are a parent and take care of your child who receives Social Security benefits and is under age 18, you can get benefits until your child reaches age 16.

Can I get disability if I am a stay-at-home mom?

Income and Resources

In sum, stay-at-home parents can be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. If you meet the criteria for your disability and can provide sufficient evidence, help may be just around the corner.

Can my stay at home wife collect Social Security?

If you don't have enough Social Security credits to get benefits on your own work record or your own benefit is small, you may be able to receive benefits as a spouse. Your spouse must be receiving benefits for you to get benefits on their work record.

Can I get Medicare if I was a stay-at-home mom?

For example, stay-at-home-moms are eligible for Medicare even if they haven't worked and paid Medicare taxes. As long as their husbands have, they may enroll during their Initial Enrollment Period.

What happens if I don't get 40 credits for Social Security?

You currently have fewer than the 40 credits needed to become fully insured for retirement benefits. You can still earn credits and become fully insured if you work. We cannot pay you benefits if you don't have enough credits.

Can two wives collect Social Security from one husband?

Each survivor benefit can be up to 100% of your benefit. The amount may be reduced if the women start benefits before their own full retirement age, but they don't have to share — the amount isn't reduced because you've had more than one spouse.

What are the three ways you can lose your Social Security?

Indeed, here are three ways you can lose at least part of your Social Security benefit.
  • No. 1: Keep working while taking benefits early. ...
  • No. 2: Be a substantially lower-earning spouse. ...
  • No. 3: Be alive in 2034. ...
  • Social Security still provides an important foundation for retirement.

At what age do you get 100% of your Social Security?

For anyone born 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are payable at age 67.

Do stay-at-home moms not get Social Security?

A stay-at-home parent can get a Social Security check just like any other worker.

Can my wife get Social Security if she hasn't worked?

A wife with no work record or low benefit entitlement on her own work record is eligible for between one-third and one-half of her spouse's Social Security benefit.

Does my wife get Medicare if she never worked?

Medicare does not specifically cover spouses. However, some people qualify based on their spouse's or a former spouse's work record. Some people may qualify for Medicare by reaching age 65 years and having their own eligible work and tax records. Others, however, may not have worked for the required number of quarters.

Is a stay-at-home mom considered unemployed?

Final answer: Individuals are considered unemployed if they are searching for a job and are available for work. For instance, a stay-at-home mom and a student seeking summer work are classified as unemployed. In contrast, someone who is not looking for a job would be out of the labor force.

How to get benefits as a stay-at-home mom?

A stay-at-home mom or dad who has a work history may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). They must have accumulated sufficient work credits through contributions made to the Social Security system, a prerequisite for benefits.

Do you still get Social Security if you never worked?

Although many of the programs base benefit amounts and eligibility to work history, there are some instances where a person who has never worked can collect benefits. One program that provides benefits to people, not based on their work history, is Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Can a stay-at-home mom get disability?

Stay-at-home parents must ensure that their own income and assets are within the Social Security Administration's limits. In summary, stay-at-home parents can qualify for disability insurance. If they meet the criteria for their disability and provide enough evidence, help could be on the way.

Can stay at home moms get government assistance?

If you are low-income, there are financial assistance programs available, but you should contact your local government agency to apply. But if she is your dependent, they will be looking at your income as well.

Can a housewife get Social Security Disability?

Yes. If you are collecting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your spouse can draw a benefit on that basis if you have been married for at least one continuous year and he or she is either age 62 or older or any age and caring for a child of yours who is younger than 16 or disabled.

Can you get paid for being a homemaker?

As of Jan 16, 2025, the average hourly pay for a Homemaker in the United States is $15.11 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $19.47 and as low as $10.10, the majority of Homemaker wages currently range between $12.50 (25th percentile) to $16.83 (75th percentile) across the United States.