Can a Wife Receive Social Security Benefits Based on Her Husband's Work History?

Social Security expects you to have 40 work credits before it lets you enjoy retirement benefits. In 2012, the agency gave a work credit for $1,130 in earnings, while work credits maxed out at four a year. When you're eligible for Social Security, these numbers will turn up on your record. It's set up so some of the numbers carry over to your spouse. Social Security will pay up to half of the benefit due to the wife based on the husband's work record.

Spouse benefits are also impacted by the year your wife starts taking them. That can be as early as age 62, but that's considered "early retirement." If you take early retirement, the agency reduces benefits by 25 percent -- permanently. The reduction amount gets thinner as you get closer you get to "full retirement" age, which varies from 65 to 67 depending on your birth year. There are exceptions for widows, who can get a full benefit as early as age 60, and disabled women can get it at age 50.

Your wife can fill out an application for her share of the benefits at any Social Security office. She'll need to bring a birth certificate, W-2s or self-employment income information, and a marriage certificate. They'll also accept applications at the website ssa.gov.

Your wife can also draw spouse benefits at any age if she's caring for a disabled child. These stop when the child turns 16 unless the spouse is at least 62 years old. Social Security does, however, enforce a "family maximum." That's the highest amount all members of the family can draw from the system. The family maximum depends on several factors, including the number of family members who qualify for Social Security benefits.