Stay-at-home parents can receive Social Security based on their own work history or as a spouse or ex-spouse

If you stayed home to raise children, you may still receive Social Security in several ways. The most common route is through credits you earned before staying home — Social Security counts any paid work you did, even if it was years ago. You can also receive benefits as a spouse or former spouse of someone who worked, or based on your children's may be able to access if you care for them under age 16.

The amount you receive depends on which path applies to you and when you claim. A spouse or ex-spouse benefit is typically 32 to 50 percent of the worker's benefit amount. If you have your own work history, your benefit is based on your highest 35 years of earnings — and zero-earning years (like years at home) count against you, which is why the total can be lower than you might expect.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn Social Security credits only when you work and pay payroll taxes, so years spent only at home do not add credits to your record.
  • If you worked before staying home, those credits remain on your record and can form the basis of your own benefit at retirement age.
  • You can receive a spouse benefit (up to 50 percent of your spouse's benefit) even if you never worked, as long as you are married at least one year and your spouse is 62 or older.
  • An ex-spouse benefit is available if you were married at least 10 years, are 62 or older, and unmarried — your ex does not need to have claimed yet.
  • If you care for your spouse's or ex-spouse's child under age 16, you can receive a benefit at any age, not just at 62.

How Social Security credits work for people with gaps in work history

Social Security measures your work record in credits, not years. You earn one credit for each $1,820 of wages you pay taxes on (this amount changes yearly). You can earn up to four credits per year, meaning you need about 10 years of work to earn the 40 credits required for retirement benefits.

If you worked for five years, left to raise children, then worked again for three years, you have eight years of work history but only the credits from those eight years count. The years at home are treated as zero-earning years and are included in the calculation of your average benefit — which lowers it. This is why many stay-at-home parents find their own benefit is smaller than they expected.

The good news is that your record does not disappear. If you worked even briefly before staying home, those credits stay with you. You can check your record anytime by creating an account at ssa.gov and viewing your Social Security Statement, which shows the credits you have earned and an estimate of your benefit at different ages.

Receiving benefits as a spouse or ex-spouse

If you are married and your spouse has worked and paid into Social Security, you can receive a spouse benefit even if you have never worked. You must be at least 62 years old, or any age if you are caring for your spouse's child who is under 16. The benefit is typically 32 percent of your spouse's benefit if you claim at 62, or up to 50 percent if you wait until your full retirement age (which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year).

An ex-spouse benefit works similarly but has different rules. You can receive it if you were married at least 10 years, are 62 or older, and are currently unmarried. Your ex does not have to have claimed benefits yet — you can claim on their record once they turn 62, even if they have not applied. The benefit amount is the same as a spouse benefit: up to 50 percent of their benefit at your full retirement age.

If you remarry before age 60, you lose the right to an ex-spouse benefit. If you remarry at 60 or later, you can still claim on your ex's record. These rules are strict, so if you are divorced and considering remarriage, it is worth understanding how it affects your Social Security before you decide.

The child-in-care benefit for parents under 62

One of the least-known Social Security benefits is the child-in-care benefit. If you are caring for your spouse's or ex-spouse's child who is under age 16, you can receive a benefit at any age — not just at 62. This benefit is typically 32 percent of the worker's benefit amount and can be claimed while you are still raising the child.

This benefit ends when the youngest child turns 16, even if you are still caring for other children. It does not restart when the next child is born unless that child is also the biological or legally adopted child of the worker whose record you are using. If you have your own work record and your own benefit would be higher, you can switch to your own benefit at 62.

How zero-earning years affect your benefit calculation

Social Security calculates your benefit using your highest 35 years of earnings. If you worked only 20 years, the remaining 15 years are counted as zero. This means your average earnings are spread across 35 years instead of 20, which significantly lowers your benefit amount.

For example, if you earned $40,000 per year for 20 years and then stayed home for 15 years, your average is calculated as ($40,000 × 20) ÷ 35 = $22,857 per year. This is why a stay-at-home parent's own benefit is often much smaller than a spouse benefit, even though they may have earned a decent income during their working years.

There is no way to remove zero-earning years from your record, but you can improve your benefit by returning to work. Each year you work replaces a zero-earning year (or a lower-earning year) in the calculation. Even part-time work in your 60s can raise your benefit slightly.

Timing your claim: how age affects your benefit amount

When you claim Social Security affects how much you receive, whether you are claiming on your own record or as a spouse. If you claim at 62, you receive a reduced benefit — typically 70 percent of your full retirement age benefit. If you wait until your full retirement age (66 to 67), you receive 100 percent. If you wait until 70, you receive 124 percent.

For a spouse benefit, the reduction is steeper. Claiming at 62 gives you about 32 percent of your spouse's benefit; waiting until full retirement age gives you 50 percent. You cannot delay a spouse benefit past full retirement age to earn the extra 8 percent per year that you would get on your own benefit.

If you have your own work record and a spouse benefit available, Social Security will pay your own benefit first (reduced if you claim before full retirement age), then add a spouse benefit on top if your spouse's benefit is higher. This is called a deemed claim, and it applies to anyone born after January 1, 1954. If you were born before that date, you may have other options — contact Social Security directly to understand your situation.

Checking your Social Security record and getting an estimate

The best first step is to view your own Social Security Statement. Go to ssa.gov, click "Create an account," and sign in. Your statement shows all the credits you have earned, your work history, and an estimate of your benefit at ages 62, full retirement age, and 70.

If you do not have a work record or a very small one, the statement will show that. If you are married or divorced, you can ask Social Security for an estimate of your spouse or ex-spouse benefit. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and speak with a representative, or visit your local Social Security office. Bring your Social Security number, birth certificate, and marriage certificate (or divorce decree if applicable).

Do not wait until you are ready to claim to check your record. Errors happen, and you have a limited time to correct them. If you spot a missing year of earnings or a name change that was not recorded, Social Security can usually fix it if you report it within a few years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Social Security if I never worked?

Yes, if you are married or were married for at least 10 years. A spouse benefit or ex-spouse benefit does not require your own work history. You must be at least 62, or any age if caring for a child under 16. If you have never worked and are not married, you cannot receive Social Security retirement benefits.

Does caring for children count as work for Social Security?

No. Only paid work that you paid taxes on counts toward Social Security credits. Raising children, volunteering, or caring for family members does not earn credits, even though this work has real value. This is why many stay-at-home parents have gaps in their work record.

What if I worked part-time before staying home?

Your part-time earnings still count. Each dollar you earned and paid taxes on adds to your record. If you earned enough to get four credits per year, those years are fully counted. If you earned less, you may have earned only one, two, or three credits that year, but they still count toward your 40-credit total.

Can I receive both my own benefit and a spouse benefit?

If you were born after January 1, 1954, Social Security pays your own benefit first, then adds a spouse benefit if your spouse's benefit is higher. If you were born before that date, you may have been able to claim a spouse benefit alone, but this option is no longer available to most people. Contact Social Security to learn what applies to your birth year.

What happens to my ex-spouse benefit if my ex remarries?

Your ex's remarriage does not affect your benefit. As long as you meet the requirements (married at least 10 years, age 62 or older, currently unmarried), you can claim on their record regardless of their marital status. Your benefit is based on their earnings, not their current family situation.