Bottom line: Spouses taking care of a qualified or disabled child at age 62 can receive full-retirement age (FRA) spousal benefits.
Eligibility: When a worker files for retirement benefits, the worker’s spouse may be eligible for a benefit based on the worker’s earnings. Another requirement is that the spouse must be at least age 62 or have a qualifying child in her/his care. By a qualifying child, the Social Security Administration (SSA) means a child who is under age 16 or who receives Social Security disability benefits.
Benefits: According to the SSA spousal benefits can be as much as half of the worker’s benefit amount depending on the worker’s age at retirement. If the spouse begins receiving benefits before FRA the spouse will receive a reduced benefit. If a spouse is caring for a qualifying child, the spousal benefit is NOT reduced.
However, if a spouse is eligible for a retirement benefit based on his or her own earnings, and if that benefit is higher than the spousal benefit, then the SSA will pay the retirement benefit. Otherwise the SSA will pay the spousal benefit. For more information see http://www.ssa.gov/oact/quickcalc/spouse.html
