Ask Larry

If I Stay Home To Help My Disabled Wife Would I Be Eligible For Any Additional Funds?

my wife is collecting social security disability needs some help at home. if i chose to stay home to help her and collect my social security is there any added funds to me for that action?? i am currently 64 , will be 65 December 6 and i am not currently receiving social security. please help

Hi. I'm sorry to hear about your wife's impairment. I can only answer your question with regard to Social Security benefits, in which case the answer is no. Your Social Security retirement benefit rate would be calculated in exactly the same manner regardless of the reason that you stop working.

Since you were born after January 2 1954, whenever you apply for Social Security benefits you could only be paid basically the higher of your own retirement benefit rate or your spousal benefit rate. In other words, you couldn't claim spousal benefits and delay filing for your own benefits. The only way that you'd qualify for spousal benefits is if your wife's primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as much as your own PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA). And, regardless of whether you collect retirement or spousal benefits, if you claim benefits prior to your full retirement age (FRA) your benefit rate will be reduced for age.

You may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze the options available to you in order to determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Aug 19 2021 - 11:51am
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.