Can I claim spousal SSDI benefits while separated but not divorced? We're both on disability

Yes, you can potentially collect spousal benefits even while separated, as long as you're still legally married. The general rule is that you could receive up to 50% of your husband's primary insurance amount (PIA), but your own SSDI would be paid first. If your spousal benefit would be higher than your own benefit, SSA would pay a combination of benefits equaling the higher amount. Since you're already collecting your own SSDI, you would need to file for the spousal benefit. Contact SSA directly to see if it would increase your total benefit.

my mom was in the same boat kinda. she got like an extra $200 from my dads record even tho they hadnt lived together for like 10 yrs!! they were still married tho. you should definitely check into it but i think u have to be at least 62 to get spousal?? not sure about that part tho

You should absolutely look into this!! I was in a similar situation last year and found out I was leaving money on the table! BUT be prepared for the SSA runaround. I called SEVENTEEN times and kept getting different answers or disconnected. The website is absolutely USELESS for complex situations like ours. When I finally got through to someone who knew what they were talking about, it turned out I was eligible for an additional amount each month.

When I had trouble reaching someone at Social Security about my disability review last month, I tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to an actual SSA agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. It really saved me so much frustration, especially with your complicated situation where you need specific answers about separated spousal benefits. Might be worth checking out!

Just wanted to say good luck with figuring this out! I got divorced after 25 years and the whole SS benefit situation was confusing. Hope you get some extra $ from this.

I work with disability claimants, and I want to clarify some key points: 1. Since you're receiving SSDI, the usual age requirements for spousal benefits don't apply to you 2. You're entitled to the higher of either your own benefit or up to 50% of your husband's benefit 3. If 50% of his benefit is higher than your current SSDI, you'll receive your benefit plus the difference 4. The length of separation doesn't matter as long as you're legally married 5. No separation documentation is needed, but you will need your marriage certificate One important thing to note: If you do decide to divorce in the future, you can still collect on his record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. I recommend making an appointment at your local field office rather than just calling. These situations require detailed examination of both records.

Be careful about this!!! My cousin tried to claim on her husband's record while separated and it caused all kinds of problems with her own SSDI. Make sure you understand exactly how it will affect your current benefits before you do anything!!

Oh and one more thing - when I FINALLY got through to SSA, they said my increased benefit was retroactive only for 6 months!!! So if you've been eligible for years, you WON'T get all that back pay. They limit it to 6 months which is RIDICULOUS and unfair since they make it impossible to even find out you're eligible in the first place!!! 😡

i forgot to ask but does your husband know ur applying for this? my moms ex found out when she did this and he got really mad about it for some reason even tho it didnt affect his check at all lol

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - I want to emphasize that claiming spousal benefits will NOT reduce your husband's benefit amount in any way. This is a common misconception. His benefit remains exactly the same regardless of whether you claim on his record or not. This is important to understand, especially if there's any tension in your relationship.

I'm in a very similar situation! I've been separated from my husband for about 3 years but we're still legally married. I'm 55 and on SSDI, and he's 61 and also on disability. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea I might be eligible for spousal benefits too! I'm definitely going to look into this now. It's frustrating how hard it is to find clear information about these situations on the SSA website. Thanks for asking this question, Keith - you've probably helped more people than just yourself!