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!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm a newcomer to this community but have been dealing with SSDI for a few years now. I had no idea that spousal benefits could apply to people on disability who are under 62 - I always thought you had to wait until full retirement age for any spousal benefits. The information about separation not affecting eligibility is really valuable too. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Being legally married is what matters, not living together, 2) You get the higher of your own benefit or the spousal amount, 3) It doesn't reduce your spouse's benefits, and 4) You should apply ASAP due to the 6-month retroactive limit. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of real-world knowledge is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the SSA website!

As someone who's been navigating SSDI for several years now, I wanted to add my perspective on this. What really stands out to me from reading through everyone's responses is how many people are in similar situations but had no idea about these potential benefits. I think this highlights a real problem with how Social Security communicates eligibility requirements - especially for complex situations involving disability and marriage status. Keith, based on what everyone has shared here, it definitely sounds like you should pursue this. The fact that you've been potentially eligible for years but only finding out now because of a community discussion is exactly the kind of situation that makes the 6-month retroactive limit feel particularly unfair. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar boat - it seems like the main lesson is don't assume you know all your benefits just because you're already receiving SSDI. There could be additional amounts you're entitled to that aren't automatically applied. And definitely don't let the difficulty of getting through to SSA discourage you from pursuing what you're owed. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's been really educational for all of us!

This whole discussion has been eye-opening! I'm new to this community but have been on SSDI for about 18 months now. My situation is a bit different - I'm divorced but was married for 12 years - and reading through all these responses made me realize I should probably look into whether I'm eligible for any benefits based on my ex-husband's record. I had no idea that disability benefits could potentially interact with spousal/divorced spousal benefits in these ways. It's honestly shocking how little guidance there is about these scenarios when you're first approved for SSDI. They tell you about your monthly benefit amount but nothing about other potential benefits you might qualify for down the road. Thank you Keith for asking this question and everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world information that's impossible to find elsewhere!

I'm new to this community and have been reading through this incredibly helpful discussion with great interest. I'm currently 54 and have been on SSDI for about 2 years now. My husband and I aren't separated, but he's 59 and recently had to file for SSDI himself due to a back injury. Reading through everyone's experiences here made me realize that once his claim is approved, I should probably look into whether I might be eligible for spousal benefits if his amount ends up being higher than mine. What really strikes me about this whole thread is how much valuable information you all have shared that I've never seen anywhere on official SSA materials. The clarification about how spousal benefits work with SSDI (no age 62 requirement when you're already disabled), the 6-month retroactive limit, and especially the fact that it doesn't reduce the spouse's benefits - these are all crucial details that should be much more widely known. Keith, I hope you're able to get this sorted out and start receiving the additional benefits you're entitled to. And thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you've probably helped way more people than you realize. This is exactly why communities like this are so valuable!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I've been on SSDI for about 3 years now and had absolutely no idea about any of these spousal benefit possibilities. My husband isn't on disability, but he's approaching retirement age and I'm realizing I should probably start educating myself about how our benefits might interact in the future. What really amazes me is how many people in this thread discovered they might be missing out on benefits they're entitled to. It seems like there's a real gap between what SSA tells you when you're first approved for SSDI and what you actually need to know about ongoing benefit optimization. The fact that so many experienced community members are learning new things from this discussion just shows how complex and poorly communicated these rules really are. Keith, I really hope you're able to get the additional benefits you deserve, and thank you for asking the question that started such an informative conversation. To everyone who shared their experiences - you've created an incredibly valuable resource here that I'm sure will help many people beyond just this thread. This is exactly the kind of peer knowledge sharing that makes communities like this so essential!

I'm new to this community and this discussion has been absolutely invaluable! I've been on SSDI for about 8 months now and honestly had no clue about any of these spousal benefit interactions. My wife and I are both in our early 50s, and while she's not on disability, reading through all these experiences makes me realize there's so much about the Social Security system that they just don't explain when you're first approved. What really stands out to me is how many different scenarios people have shared - separated spouses, divorced spouses, both partners on SSDI - and how each situation has its own nuances that aren't clearly documented anywhere official. The consistent theme seems to be that you have to be your own advocate and actively seek out information about potential benefits rather than expecting SSA to proactively inform you. Keith, thank you for starting this conversation - you've clearly helped way more people than just yourself! And to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise, this thread should honestly be required reading for anyone on SSDI. The practical knowledge shared here is worth its weight in gold. I'm definitely going to bookmark this discussion and share it with others who might benefit from it. This is exactly why peer support communities are so crucial for navigating complex government programs!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to add my voice to thank Keith for asking this question! I've been on SSDI for about 6 months now, and honestly, reading through this entire thread has been like getting a masterclass in Social Security benefits that I never knew I needed. I'm currently 49 and my husband is 52 - he's not on disability but has been having some health issues that make me think about our future benefit scenarios. What really strikes me about all the responses here is how much critical information exists that's just not communicated clearly (or at all) by SSA during the initial SSDI approval process. The fact that so many experienced SSDI recipients in this thread are discovering potential benefits they didn't know about is both helpful and frustrating. It really highlights how much self-education and advocacy is required to make sure you're getting everything you're entitled to. The details about separated vs divorced spousal benefits, the 6-month retroactive limit, and especially the clarification that claiming spousal benefits doesn't reduce your spouse's amount - these are all things that should be standard information provided to every SSDI recipient. Keith, I really hope you're able to get this sorted out and start receiving the additional benefits you deserve. And to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise - you've created an incredible resource here that I'm sure will help many people beyond just this discussion. This is exactly why communities like this are so valuable for navigating these complex systems!

As someone new to this community, I'm incredibly grateful that Keith asked this question! I've been on SSDI for about a year now and had no idea about any of these spousal benefit possibilities. My situation is different - I'm 51 and my husband is 58, we're not separated but he's been dealing with chronic health issues that may eventually lead to his own disability claim. What really amazes me about this entire thread is how much essential information exists that SSA just doesn't share proactively. The fact that experienced SSDI recipients are discovering potential benefits they've been missing for years is both eye-opening and frustrating. It really drives home how much self-advocacy is required in this system. The key points I'm taking away are: 1) Legal marriage status matters more than living arrangements, 2) SSDI recipients can claim spousal benefits without the usual age 62 requirement, 3) You get the higher amount between your own benefit and spousal benefit, 4) It doesn't affect your spouse's benefits at all, and 5) The 6-month retroactive limit makes timing crucial. Keith, I hope you're able to get the additional benefits you deserve! And thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you've created an invaluable resource that should honestly be part of SSA's official guidance. This discussion perfectly illustrates why peer support communities are so essential for navigating these complex government programs.