• You never know if you will be injured and forced to retire early as a result. Paying into Social Security while you are working generally helps you secure an income for the rest of your life if you are forced to stop working. Your spouse and children may also be entitled to receive benefits based on your record. Even your ex-wife may be able to cash in on your disability benefits if she meets certain qualifications.
  
  

Disability Benefits

• When you have a medical condition that is expected to last at least a year or that is expected to result in death, the Social Security Administration (SSA) pays you benefits. The amount of your benefits depend on how long you worked, and how much you paid into Social Security. Your family is also entitled to receive your Social Security benefits if they meet the qualifications. The amount of benefits your family receives is typically 50 to 80 percent of your benefits; the amounts vary on a case-by-case basis. No matter how many qualifying family members you have, or how much each member receives, your Social Security disability benefits do not reduce. The amount your family members receive does, however, depend on the amount of your benefits and how many members qualify for your record. Each family member must submit a Social Security card and birth certificate. Spouses must submit additional information such as proof and dates of marriage.
  
  

Spouse

• Your spouse is entitled to these benefits if she is at least 62 years old. If she is under the age of 62, the spousal benefit amount is reduced until she reaches full retirement age. However, if she is caring for your child under the age of 16 or your disabled child, she does not need to meet an age requirement.
  
  While you may have remarried, this doesn't leave out your ex-spouse entirely. She is entitled to the Social Security disability benefits if she is 62 years of age and was married to you for at least 10 years, according to the SSA. Social Security regulations prohibit her from being remarried if she receives your benefits.
  
  If your spouse or ex-spouse is eligible to receive her own Social Security benefits, the SSA will pay her the amount that is the higher of the two (between your amount and her amount).
  
  

Children

• Any of your unmarried children under the age of 18 qualify to receive your Social Security disability benefits. Your children ages 18 to 19 who are full-time students (not higher than grade 12) are also eligible. Children include your son, daughter or adoptive child. Step-children and grandchildren may qualify in some cases. If you have a disabled child who is unmarried and 18 years or older, she may receive your disability benefits as long as she became disabled before the age of 22, according to the SSA.