Am I eligible for any Social Security benefits at 54 with disabled husband (63) and minor children?

Unfortunately, you won't qualify for spousal benefits until you reach age 62 (the earliest eligibility age for spouse benefits). The fact that your husband is on disability rather than retirement doesn't change this rule. Your children qualify because they're under 18, but there's no provision for younger spouses unless you're caring for a child under 16 or disabled who receives benefits on your husband's record. Since your youngest is 14, you're not eligible under the "caring for a young child" provision either. When your husband transitions from SSDI to regular retirement at his Full Retirement Age (probably 66 and some months), nothing will change for your benefit eligibility - you'll still need to wait until you're 62.

my wife was in a similar situatin, she didnt qualify for anything until 62. its really annoying how they have these random age cutoffs when families need the money. i think its especially weird that the kids benefits contineu until 18 (or 19 if in school right?) but the caring parent benefit stops at 16. never made sense to me

I was in EXACTLY your situation a few years back!!! My husband was on disability since his early 50s and I was 55 wondering the same thing. Unfortunately I had to wait until 62 to get ANYTHING from Social Security. It's really unfair because I had to reduce my work hours to help care for him (his disability got worse over time) but apparently the SSA doesn't consider that important enough. The system is BROKEN when it comes to supporting caregiving spouses!!!

You've received good information about the age requirements for spousal benefits. I'd like to add a few things to consider for your future planning: 1. When you do reach 62, you can apply for spousal benefits, but they'll be permanently reduced if taken before your Full Retirement Age (which is 67 for people born in 1970 or later). 2. If you've worked and earned enough credits on your own record, you might qualify for higher benefits on your own work record rather than as a spouse. 3. When your children turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school), their auxiliary benefits will stop. 4. Your husband's transition from SSDI to retirement at his FRA won't change the benefit amount - it's the same check, just from a different program. You might want to create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to see your own earnings record and get estimates of future benefits based on your work history.

Anyone else spend HOURS trying to get someone on the phone at Social Security to ask these kinds of questions? I swear I tried calling for 3 days straight last month about my husband's disability review and never got through. So frustrating!

Thank you all for the helpful responses. It's disappointing that I'll have to wait until 62, but at least I know where I stand now. I'm going to check out my own Social Security record online and also look into those state-level caregiver programs that were suggested. Does anyone know if my husband's benefit amount will change when he converts from disability to retirement? He's worried it might decrease. Also, will my children's benefits continue exactly the same after that conversion happens?

Your husband's benefit amount will stay exactly the same when he converts from SSDI to retirement benefits. It's essentially just an administrative change on SSA's end - different pot of money, same benefit amount. And yes, your children's benefits will continue unchanged until they age out at 18 (or 19 if still in high school). One thing to consider: if you've been working part-time all these years, you might have built up a decent work record of your own. When you reach 62, you should compare what you'd get as a spouse (max 50% of his PIA if you wait until your FRA) versus what you'd get on your own record. You'll automatically get whichever is higher.

Just want to add that while you're waiting to reach age 62, it might be worth exploring if you qualify for the Medicare Savings Program if your family income is limited. This program can help pay Medicare premiums for your husband, which could free up some monthly income. Requirements vary by state, but it's worth checking into. Also, make sure your husband is receiving all the benefits he's entitled to. Sometimes people on SSDI don't realize they might also qualify for SSI if their SSDI payment is low enough and they meet the resource limits.

You're correct - at $1,850/month SSDI, your husband wouldn't qualify for SSI as that exceeds the federal benefit rate. However, definitely check out the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) options. Depending on your total family income and resources, you might qualify for one of the MSP levels that could pay his Part B premium ($174.70 in 2023), which would put that money back in your pocket each month. Also, when your children age out of their benefits, that will be a significant reduction in household income. Start planning for that transition now, especially if your 16-year-old will be heading to college.