119. Social Security Benefits Payable

119.1 Are you eligible for monthly Social Security benefits?

You may be eligible for monthly Social Security benefits if you are any of the following:

1. A disabled insured worker who has not reached full retirement age;

2. A retired insured worker age 62 or over;

3. The spouse of a retired or disabled worker entitled to benefits who:

   1. Is age 62 or over; or

   2. Has in care a child who is either under age 16, or over age 16 and disabled, who is entitled to benefits on the worker's Social Security record.

4. The divorced spouse of a retired or disabled worker entitled to benefits if you are at least 62 and married to the worker for at least 10 years;

5. The divorced spouse of a fully insured worker (see §203) who:

   1. Has not yet filed a claim for benefits if both you and your ex-spouse are at least 62;

   2. Was married for at least 10 years; and

   3. Has been finally divorced for at least two years in a row.

6. The dependent, who is an unmarried child of a wage earner who is retired, disabled, or a deceased insured worker is entitled to benefits if he or she is:

   1. Under age 18;

   2. Under age 19 and a full-time elementary or secondary school student; or

   3. Age 18 or older but under a disability which began before age 22.

7. The surviving spouse (including a surviving divorced spouse) of a deceased insured worker if you are age 60 or older;

8. The disabled surviving spouse (including a surviving divorced spouse in some cases) of a deceased insured worker if you are age 50-59 and become disabled within the period specified in §513;

9. The surviving spouse (including a surviving divorced spouse) of a deceased insured worker, regardless of age, if you are caring for an entitled child of the deceased who is either under age 16 or disabled before age 22; or

10. The dependent parents of a deceased insured worker age 62 or over.

Note: In addition to monthly survivors benefits, a lump-sum death payment is payable upon the death of an insured worker. (See §§428-433.)

Last Revised: Apr. 18, 2006