I'm 56 and worked all my life now I need to be home for my son that needs me to be home to be supportive with him he needs me to be home for him for his home schooling and to make sure he stays focused on his schooling and to not get miss focused on things that peers may infoultace his behaviors I want to be there for my son that means the world to me I would not be a good dad if I'm not there to guide him he is 14 will be 15 in April he's getting trouble in school and the way schools are these days I want to home school him and be the dad I want to be can I draw anything at my age I'm 56 will be 57 in October I feel my body is wearing down can u help me with some answers please and thank you

Hi,

My only expertise is Social Security benefits, so I advise you about any other possible types of assistance. You can't get Social Security retirement benefits until age 62 at the earliest, so the only way that you could draw Social Security benefits based on your own work record before then is if you qualify for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI). In order to qualify for SSDI, you would need to apply for benefits and be found disabled based on Social Security's standards (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10029.pdf).

The only other way that you'd potentially qualify for Social Security now is if your son is drawing Social Security surviving child's benefits on the record of a spouse or ex-spouse of yours who's now deceased. In that event you might be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits based on having an entitled child in your care (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook-0415.html).

Best, Jerry