Can I still get spousal benefits from my husband's Social Security after receiving SSDI?

Yes, you might be eligible for additional benefits as a spouse even while on SSDI, but it works differently than you might think. When your husband files for his retirement benefits, you can potentially receive a spousal benefit that would bring your total benefit up to 50% of his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) if that amount is higher than your current SSDI. Since your SSDI is $1,650 and his benefit at FRA is around $3,200, you could potentially receive additional money to bring your total to $1,600 (50% of his PIA). However, since your current SSDI is already higher than 50% of his benefit, you likely won't receive any additional spousal benefits while he's alive. As for survivor benefits - if your husband passes away, you would be eligible to receive his full benefit amount as a widow (assuming you're at least 60 years old when claiming widow benefits). So in that case, your benefit would increase from your current $1,650 to his $3,200. This is one reason some people consider having the higher-earning spouse delay claiming as long as possible - it increases the survivor benefit for the remaining spouse.

my sister was in almost exactly your situation!! she got SSDI and her husband worked longer than her. when he started his ss at 66 she thought she'd get extra $$ but nope, SSA told her since her SSDI was more than half his benefit she didnt get anything extra. but when he died 3 yrs later she DID get his full amount which helped her alot.

You should also think about what happens if your husband waits until 70 to file instead of his FRA. His benefit would increase by 8% per year, so instead of $3,200, he could get around $4,000 per month. That means if he passes before you, you'd get $4,000 instead of $3,200 as a survivor. Might be worth considering given his health issues and the age difference between you two.

Hi there! I wanted to reach out because I was in almost exactly your situation last year. My husband is 8 years older than me, and I've been on SSDI for about 5 years now. We spent MONTHS trying to get through to Social Security to figure out our options, and it was absolutely maddening. Constant busy signals, disconnections, or being told to call back later. Finally, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual SSA agent in under 20 minutes after weeks of trying on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I actually got to speak with someone, they explained everything about how my SSDI would interact with spousal benefits and eventually survivor benefits. It was such a relief to have our questions answered by an actual SSA employee instead of guessing or relying on what friends told us. Just thought I'd share since I know how frustrating it can be to get accurate information!

Just to add some important information about your SSDI question - your disability benefit will automatically convert to retirement benefits when you reach Full Retirement Age, but the amount will stay exactly the same. It's just an internal administrative change at SSA, nothing you need to do, and you won't see any difference in your payments. Regarding your husband's claiming strategy, given his health issues and your significant age difference, you might want to consider having him file a restricted application for spousal benefits only (if he's eligible) while letting his own retirement benefit continue to grow until age 70. This could provide some income now while maximizing the eventual survivor benefit you would receive. However, this option is only available to people born before January 2, 1954, so it depends on his exact birthdate. Lastly, make sure both of you are enrolled in Medicare on time to avoid late enrollment penalties. For most people on SSDI, Medicare enrollment is automatic after 24 months of disability benefits.

I dont understand why everyone is making this so complicated!! Just take the money as soon as you can!! The system is designed to pay out the same amount no matter when you claim - if you wait longer you get bigger checks but for fewer years. With health problems you never know how long you have. My uncle waited til 70 to maximize his benefit and then died 3 months later. All that money he could have had for 8 years GONE!! Just my 2 cents.

I work with retirees on their financial planning, and based on what you've shared, here's what you should know: 1. Your SSDI benefit ($1,650) is already higher than what you'd get as a spouse (50% of his $3,200 = $1,600), so you won't get additional spousal benefits. 2. If your husband passes away, you would be eligible for his full benefit amount as a survivor. This is why many couples in your situation consider having the higher earner delay benefits - each year he delays past FRA increases his benefit by 8%, which directly increases your potential survivor benefit. 3. Given the 5-year age difference and his health concerns, you might want to consider a strategy where he claims at his FRA or slightly later to balance current income needs with protecting your future survivor benefits. 4. When you reach your FRA, your SSDI will convert to retirement benefits, but the amount stays the same. One thing to note: if he decides to work while collecting benefits before his FRA, he'll be subject to the earnings test which could reduce his benefits temporarily if he earns above certain thresholds.

Has anyone else noticed how the rules for Social Security are DELIBERATELY complicated?? I swear they make it confusing on purpose so people don't claim everything they're entitled to. My neighbor worked for SSA for 30 years and even she says most of their own employees don't understand all the rules. The whole system needs to be simplified!