Claiming Social Security at 63 while caring for disabled spouse - spousal benefits possible?

Hi there, I've been through something similar with my parents. You actually CAN claim spousal benefits based on your husband's record while he's on SSDI, but there are some important things to understand: - You can receive up to 50% of your husband's primary insurance amount (what he'd get at full retirement age), but since you're claiming early at 63, that amount will be reduced. - When your husband reaches full retirement age (which is 66 and 10 months if he was born in 1960), his SSDI will automatically convert to regular retirement benefits, usually at the same amount. - If your own retirement benefit is less than your spousal benefit, SSA will pay your retirement plus the difference to equal the spousal amount. In your shoes, I'd schedule an appointment with SSA to get a calculation of exactly what you'd receive both ways - on your own record and as a spouse. That way you can make an informed decision about when to file.

you should definitely file for both your own retirement and the spousal benefit at the same time. my sister tried to just file for her own and didnt know about the spousal option and missed out on 6 months of higher payments!!! the ssa doesnt automatically give you the best deal you have to ask for it specifically

I'm so angry with how SSA treats caregivers like you!!! You've spent DECADES caring for family members which saved the government MILLIONS in care costs, and now your benefit is only $850?? The system is RIGGED against caregivers, especially women. I went through this with my mom who was in your exact situation. When my dad got SSDI, they kept giving her wrong information about spousal benefits. She had to fight for MONTHS to get what she deserved. Make sure you DOCUMENT EVERYTHING when you talk to them!! And don't trust the first answer they give you - ask to speak to a supervisor or get a second opinion. The frontline people often don't know all the rules about SSDI to retirement conversions!

I just want to say hang in there! My wife and I went thru this last year. The spousal benefit really helped us make ends meet even though she claimed early. Better to have something now than wait when you really need it.

After spending hours trying to get through to SSA about a similar situation, I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real SSA agent in under 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It was worth it to actually talk to someone who could pull up my husband's record and calculate exactly what my spousal benefit would be versus my own retirement. The agent was able to run different scenarios about claiming now versus waiting. Turns out in my case, the spousal benefit was almost $400 more per month than my own retirement would have been!

im in almost the same boat as you. i took my ss at 62 and it was only 790$ but then i got the spousal benifit from my husbands dissability and now i get 1430$ total each month. you should defintley apply for both! but be careful they might try to say you dont qualify for spousal if you didnt work enough quarters or something. thats what they told me at first but it was wrong.

my neihgbor said be careful because if you take ss early it might effect your medicare costs later?? something about IRMAA or whatever its called. anyone know about this??

One important thing nobody has mentioned: if you're providing care for your disabled husband and elderly parents, you might want to look into whether your state offers any paid family caregiver programs through Medicaid. Many states have programs where family members can get paid (typically minimum wage) for providing care that would otherwise require a professional caregiver. This would give you some income now and help build up your Social Security credits for future benefits. Regarding your original questions: 1. Yes, you can claim spousal benefits on your husband's SSDI record 2. His SSDI will automatically convert to retirement benefits at his full retirement age 3. The amount typically stays the same during this conversion 4. Taking your own benefit early will reduce it permanently, but shouldn't affect spousal benefits you might be eligible for

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help. My aunt was in a very similar situation - caring for her disabled husband while having minimal work history herself. One thing that really helped her was requesting a "benefit estimate" from SSA before making any decisions. They can run calculations showing exactly what you'd receive under different scenarios: your own retirement benefit only, spousal benefit only, or the combination of both. This helped her see that even though her own benefit was small, the spousal benefit made a real difference. Also, since you mentioned struggling with expenses, don't forget to check if you qualify for any state assistance programs for caregivers or low-income seniors. Many states have property tax exemptions, utility assistance, or food programs that can help stretch your budget while you're waiting for benefits to start. The fact that you're caring for multiple family members shows incredible dedication. I hope you can find a path forward that gives you some financial relief soon.

I'm fairly new here but wanted to share what I learned from my own experience with this situation. I was in almost the exact same position - minimal work history due to caregiving responsibilities and a husband on SSDI. The key thing that helped me was understanding that you're essentially choosing between two strategies: maximize immediate income versus optimize long-term benefits. In your case, with real financial need right now, taking the spousal benefit at 63 probably makes sense even with the reduction. What really surprised me was learning that the spousal benefit calculation is based on your husband's "primary insurance amount" (what he would get at full retirement age), not necessarily what he's currently receiving on SSDI. Sometimes these amounts can be different, so it's worth having SSA explain the exact calculation. One practical tip: when you do apply, bring documentation of your caregiving situation. While it doesn't directly affect benefit calculations, SSA representatives sometimes have more patience and are more thorough when they understand you're dealing with multiple family care responsibilities. Also, don't let anyone tell you that claiming early is always the "wrong" choice. Every situation is unique, and having stable income now while you're actively caregiving can be more valuable than potentially higher benefits later when your circumstances might be completely different.