Qualifying for Social Security benefits in retirement generally goes something like this: Work and pay taxes on your income. Accumulate at least 40 work credits in your lifetime. Sign up for benefits whenever you want starting at age 62.
But there's a bit more nuance than that. The reality is that while Social Security eligibility typically hinges on having an earnings history, it's possible to collect benefits in retirement without working a single day in your life. Here are a couple of ways you might pull that off.
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1. Spousal benefits
Social Security doesn't just take care of older Americans who paid into the system. It also takes care of their spouses, or ex-spouses.
If you're married to someone who's eligible for Social Security, or you used to be married to someone who can get benefits, you may be entitled to spousal benefits worth up to 50% of what your current or ex-spouse gets at their full retirement age. But there are some rules to follow.
First, if you're married, you can't collect spousal benefits before your spouse files for Social Security. Second, you can't delay a spousal benefit for a boost -- that's only an option for claiming benefits based on your own earnings record. And while you can sign up for spousal benefits as early as age 62, if you don't wait until your full retirement age, you'll see your spousal benefits reduced.
If you're divorced, you don't need to wait until your ex-spouse claims Social Security to get spousal benefits. But this assumes you've been divorced for at least two years.
2. Survivor benefits
If you have a spouse who's eligible for Social Security who passes away, you may be entitled to survivor benefits. Unlike spousal benefits, which max out at 50% of your spouse's benefit at their full retirement age, with survivor benefits, you could get 100% of your spouse's monthly payday.
That said, to get 100% of your spouse's benefits, you must wait until your full retirement age to claim Social Security survivor benefits. You can sign up for them as early as age 60, but then your payments will be reduced.
Also, it's not just married seniors who may be eligible for survivor benefits. If you're divorced, but you were married for at least 10 years, you may be eligible for survivor benefits from Social Security as well.
You might qualify for benefits even if you work very part-time
Clearly, you have options for claiming Social Security even if you don't have a work history. But if you have a modest employment history that consists of very part-time work, you may be entitled to a benefit of your own, too.
This year, it takes just $7,240 in earnings to qualify for the maximum four work credits you can collect in a given year. So even if you're only putting in a few hours a week, some amount of Social Security could end up coming your way in retirement.
Of course, a very small earnings history will likely result in a small monthly benefit to match. But it's helpful to know if you're entitled to Social Security on your own.
Remember, if you're married, you can't claim spousal benefits until your spouse signs up for Social Security. But if you're eligible for a small benefit of your own, what you could do is claim Social Security first, collect your money, and then get bumped up to a larger spousal benefit once your partner files. So it's a good idea to create an account on the Social Security Administration's website and see if you're entitled to a monthly payday of your own.
