My wife turns 66 on May 7th 2020. She doesn't qualify for benefits on her own since she was a stay at home mother. She has applied for spousal benefits to start in May of this year under my earnings record. I am already taking my benefit since I turned 66 in 2018. Social Security has denied her benefits stating that she doesn't have the needed work credits. We didn't apply on her work credits but instead applied for spousal benefits. Why was she denied? I think it is an error. We have been married for over 44 years. What do I need to do to correct the error? Or, is there something I don't understand? Thank you.

Hi,

I'd have to see the notice that your wife received from Social Security to know what she needs to do, if anything. If she received an actual disallowance notice, then she must have inadvertently filed for her own Social Security retirement benefits. It's possible that she filed for both retirement benefits and for spousal benefits, in which case she should receive a separate notice for her spousal claim, which would presumably be an allowance notice. If she did somehow just apply for retirement benefits only, though, then she'd still need to apply for spousal benefits.

Sometimes the verbiage used in Social Security notices can be confusing, and even a notice awarding spousal benefits can contain language explaining that the person does not have enough work credits to qualify for benefits on their own record. If that's what you're referring to then it's possible that no action is necessary. I would suggest contacting Social Security to have them explain the notice that your wife received, and to clarify whether or not she still needs to apply for spousal benefits.

Best, Jerry