T
The Daily Insight

What age does wife receive Social Security?

Author

Henry Morales

Published Mar 23, 2026

62 years of age
Benefits For Your Spouse Even if they have never worked under Social Security, your spouse may be eligible for benefits if they are at least 62 years of age and you are receiving retirement or disability benefits.

Why would a child get Social Security benefits?

Social Security incorporates children into its benefit structure to help retirees with younger children provide for their families and as a form of insurance when a parent dies or can’t work because of disability.

age 62
/ (You must be at least age 62 to begin receiving benefits.) A spouse can choose to retire as early as age 62, but doing so may result in a benefit as little as 32.5 percent of the worker’s primary insurance amount.

How much of a parent’s social security can a child receive?

A child may receive a Social Security benefit equal to 50% of the parent’s full retirement benefit or disability benefit. If the parent is deceased, the child is eligible to receive up to 75% of …

What happens when you apply for Social Security as a spouse?

If you do have enough credits to qualify for your own Social Security benefits and you apply for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit.

How does social security work if your child is disabled?

If your child is disabled, the Social Security Administration offers a Disability Starter Kit that can help you navigate the process of applying for benefits. If you are taking care of a child and are receiving Social Security benefits for that reason, their benefits may stop at a different time from your own.

How old do you have to be to get Social Security benefits for an unmarried child?

Your unmarried child can get benefits if they’re: • Younger than age 18; • 18-19 years old and a full-time student (no higher than grade 12); or • 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22.