Securing disability benefits can be a lifeline for those who are unable to work due to a serious medical condition. But what if you’ve never worked? Can you still qualify for benefits despite a limited work history?.
In this blog, we’ll clarify the requirements for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Continue reading to find out more about eligibility criteria and if you can get disability without working.
Social Security serves as a financial safety net for millions of Americans, but what about people who haven’t worked or contributed to the system? The good news is that even if you’ve never held a job or paid into Social Security, there are several legitimate ways you might still qualify for benefits. Let’s break down these options in simple terms.
The Truth About Social Security for Non-Workers
Generally speaking, Social Security is an earned benefit. To collect standard retirement benefits, a worker typically needs to pay into the system for at least 10 years (though these years don’t need to be consecutive). However, there are specific situations where people who haven’t worked can still receive benefits.
The primary ways non-working individuals can collect Social Security include
- Spousal benefits
- Ex-spouse (divorced spouse) benefits
- Survivor benefits
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Let me explain each of these options in detail.
Spousal Benefits: Support for Non-Working Partners
If you are married to someone who is eligible for Social Security, you may be able to get up to 100% of their benefit amount. This is a lifeline for people who have spent their whole lives taking care of kids or running households instead of going to work.
Example Jane never worked outside the home, focusing instead on raising her children and managing household responsibilities. Her husband John worked for 40 years and qualifies for a monthly Social Security benefit of $2,000 at full retirement age. If Jane waits until her full retirement age to claim spousal benefits, she’ll receive $1,000 monthly (50% of John’s benefit). If she starts benefits earlier at age 62, her benefit amount will be reduced
To qualify for spousal benefits:
- You must be at least 62 years old
- Your spouse must be receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits
- Your benefit as a spouse must be higher than what you’d receive based on your own work record (if any)
Divorced Spouse Benefits: Protection After Marriage Ends
A lot of people don’t know this: getting divorced doesn’t always mean losing benefits based on your ex-spouse’s work history. If you were married for at least 10 years before the divorce, you may still be able to get benefits from your ex-spouse’s Social Security.
Requirements for divorced-spouse benefits:
- Your marriage lasted at least 10 years before divorcing
- You are currently unmarried
- You are at least 62 years old
- Your ex-spouse qualifies for Social Security retirement or disability benefits
- The benefit you’d receive on your own record (if any) is less than what you’d get from your ex’s record
If you meet these conditions, you can receive up to 50% of your ex-spouse’s full retirement benefit if you claim at your full retirement age. Filing earlier results in a reduced amount—around 32.5% if you claim at age 62.
The best part? Your claim doesn’t reduce or affect your ex-spouse’s benefits or those of their current spouse.
Survivor Benefits: Financial Support After Loss
If a spouse who worked dies, the spouse who never worked may be able to get survivor benefits. Because of these benefits, the surviving spouse can get up to 100% of what their deceased spouse would have received in monthly payments.
Survivor benefits work as follows:
- A surviving spouse can receive full benefits at their full retirement age
- Reduced benefits are available as early as age 60
- Disabled survivors may claim benefits as early as age 50
- If you’re caring for the deceased worker’s child who is under 16 or disabled, you may qualify at any age
Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Help for Those in Financial Need
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is another option for people who have never worked and don’t qualify for any of the above benefits. Unlike other Social Security programs, SSI doesn’t depend on work history to decide who can get it. Instead, it depends on how much money they need.
SSI is designed for:
- Elderly individuals (age 65+)
- Blind individuals
- Disabled people of any age
To qualify, you must have limited income and resources. As of 2019, individuals needed less than $2,000 in assets (with some exceptions) to qualify. The maximum monthly payment for SSI in 2019 was $771 per month, though this amount increases periodically with cost-of-living adjustments.
Important Considerations for Non-Working Individuals
If you’re considering applying for Social Security without a work history, keep these points in mind:
- Timing matters: Benefits amounts vary depending on when you claim them. Claiming earlier usually means smaller monthly payments.
- Marriage length is crucial: For divorced spouse benefits, the 10-year marriage requirement is strict with no exceptions.
- Your own work record takes precedence: If you did work some but not enough for full benefits, Social Security will pay you the greater amount—either your own benefit or the spousal/survivor benefit.
- Remarriage affects eligibility: For divorced spouse and some survivor benefits, remarrying can affect your eligibility.
Common Misconceptions About Social Security
Let’s clear up some misunderstandings about Social Security for non-workers:
Myth: Undocumented workers can collect benefits without contributing
Reality: While noncitizens who work legally in the U.S. can qualify for benefits under the same terms as citizens, undocumented immigrants cannot access benefits—even if they pay into the system through payroll taxes. In fact, undocumented workers contributed an estimated $25.7 billion to Social Security in 2022 that they cannot claim, according to a July 2024 report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
Myth: You can get benefits without any connection to a worker
Reality: Apart from SSI (which has strict financial need requirements), Social Security benefits for non-workers require a qualifying relationship to someone who paid into the system—typically a current spouse, ex-spouse, or deceased spouse.
How to Apply for Benefits as a Non-Worker
If you think you might qualify for Social Security benefits despite never having worked, here’s how to proceed:
- Determine which benefit type fits your situation
- Gather necessary documentation (marriage certificate, birth certificate, spouse’s Social Security number, etc.)
- Contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment
- Complete the application process either online, by phone, or at your local Social Security office
Remember, the Social Security Administration will determine which benefit amount is higher if you qualify for multiple types, and pay you the larger amount.
Final Thoughts
While Social Security was designed primarily as a system where benefits are earned through work and payroll contributions, the program recognizes various life circumstances where individuals may need support despite not having a work history. Through spousal benefits, divorced spouse benefits, survivor benefits, and SSI, the system provides several pathways for non-working individuals to receive financial assistance.
If you’re unsure about your eligibility, I recommend consulting with a Social Security specialist who can analyze your specific situation and help maximize your potential benefits. After all, navigating these complex rules can be tricky, and having expert guidance can make all the difference in securing the financial support you deserve.
Have you or someone you know received Social Security benefits without a work history? Share your experience in the comments below!
Can You Get SSDI if You Never Worked?
SSDI is for people who have worked throughout their lives and paid into Social Security. Therefore, you cannot get SSDI benefits without a work history. However, if someone in your family works, you may be able to get other types of disability benefits, such as
- Disabled Adult Child (DAC) Benefits: If you are an adult who became disabled before age 22 and your parent is retired, on SSDI, or has died, you may be able to get DAC benefits based on their work history.
- DWB stands for Disabled Widow(er)’s Benefits. If you are a widow or widower and were married to someone who was eligible for SSDI, you may be able to get benefits based on their earned income. Not able to work and between the ages of 50 and 60
The examples above are both types of Survivor benefits. Non-disabled children of a deceased Social Security beneficiary can also receive benefits if they are unmarried and 17 or younger, or between the ages of 18-19 and in school full time. Additionally, parents age 62 or older who depended on the deceased for at least half of their support may receive benefits.
Understanding Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI is a federal program for those who have a sufficient work history and have paid into the Social Security system. To be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must have a disability that prevents you from working. You also need substantial work credits (Social Security credits). The number required depends on your age and when you became disabled.
Can A Person Who Has Never Worked Collect Social Security? – CountyOffice.org
FAQ
Do housewives get social security?
Yes, housewives can get Social Security through spousal benefits even if they haven’t worked and paid into the system. This is as long as their spouse has enough work history. To qualify, the non-working spouse must be at least age 62 and the working spouse must have filed for their own Social Security benefits.
Do you get social security if you never worked?
Yes, you can receive Social Security-administered benefits even if you’ve never worked, but not typically Social Security retirement or disability benefits.
Who cannot receive social security typically?
You are not eligible for Social Security benefits if you haven’t earned enough work credits (approximately 10 years of work), work in certain government jobs not covered by Social Security (like some older federal, state, or railroad jobs), don’t have a qualifying disability for disability benefits, or are not a U. S. citizen or qualified alien.
Do stay at home moms get social security?
Yes, stay-at-home moms can receive Social Security benefits by qualifying for spousal benefits based on their spouse’s or ex-spouse’s work record, provided certain conditions are met, such as a minimum marriage length.
Do you qualify for Social Security if you never worked?
While retirement benefits are the most common form of Social Security, not everyone qualifies for these types of payments. In general, you’ll need to have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years to receive retirement benefits. If you’ve never worked, that limits the types of benefits you can receive.
Can you get Social Security if you have no work history?
In general, you’ll need to have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years to receive retirement benefits. If you’ve never worked, that limits the types of benefits you can receive. That said, there are still a few options that can provide you with some extra income even if you have little to no work history.
Can I claim Social Security benefits without ever working?
For many, the question of whether you can claim Social Security benefits without ever working is crucial. Generally, to qualify for your own retirement benefits, you need to have worked and paid Social Security taxes. However, there are circumstances where you can receive benefits without a direct work history.
Who can collect Social Security benefits without paying into social security?
The sole people who can legally collect benefits without paying into Social Security are family members of workers who have paid Social Security taxes. Based on a qualifying worker’s earnings record, parents, spouses, children, or ex-spouses who don’t work may be able to get spousal, survivor, or children’s benefits.
Can a non working spouse receive Social Security benefits?
Spousal Benefits: A Lifeline for Non-Working Spouses One primary way individuals who never worked can receive Social Security is through spousal benefits. If someone is married to someone who gets Social Security, they may be able to get up to 200% of their spouse’s benefit amount.
Do non-working people qualify for Social Security?
Financial advisors stress the importance of understanding Social Security options for non-working individuals. According to a retirement planning expert, “Many people assume that if they never worked, they won’t qualify for Social Security. However, spousal, survivor, and SSI benefits provide crucial support for those without work history.”