Confused about switching from SSDI to retirement benefits at 64 - plus spousal benefit questions

You're asking smart questions! Let me address each one: 1. Spousal benefits: Yes, you might qualify for a spousal "top-up" if 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is higher than your own SSDI benefit. This is called the "excess spousal benefit." 2. Conversion: Your SSDI will automatically convert to retirement benefits when you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA). You don't need to do anything. 3. Timing: Since you've been on SSDI for years, the conversion timing at FRA won't change your benefit amount. Your benefit is already calculated based on your earnings history before disability. 4. Waiting: Unlike regular retirement benefits, SSDI payments that convert to retirement don't increase if you wait beyond FRA. There's no advantage to "delaying" since the conversion is automatic. The spousal benefit is the only potential change to your situation that might increase your monthly amount.

Just want to add from personal experience that my sister was in a similar situation. She'd been on SSDI for 15 years and was so worried about what would happen at retirement age. The good news is it was totally seamless - her payment amount stayed exactly the same, and the only difference was the letter from SSA saying her benefit was now a retirement benefit instead of disability. She didn't have to do anything at all!

The spousal benefit is definitely what you want to look at in your situation. For the spousal top-up, you need to wait until your husband actually files for his retirement benefits. You can't get spousal benefits based on his record until he's receiving his own benefits. Also, the max spousal benefit you could receive is 50% of his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), and then they subtract your own benefit amount. So if your SSDI is already more than half of his PIA, you won't get any spousal top-up.

This is all really helpful but I'm still not sure how to figure out what his PIA is to know if I'd get the spousal top-up. Is there a way to calculate that? And if I do qualify, do I need to apply for it or is it automatic?

I went thru this EXACT situation last year!!! Been on SSDI for 12 yrs and husband made WAY more than me. I called SSA like 50 TIMES over 3 weeks and kept getting hung up on or disconnected after waiting forever. SO FRUSTRATING!!!!

just to clarify on SSDI to retirement...your benefit amount stays the same when you convert at FRA unless they made a calculation error in the past. the money just comes from a different "pot" in their system. and no u cant increase it by waiting like regular ss retirement

To be clear about one other thing - you mentioned you haven't worked in 20 years. Just so you know, when you're on SSDI, you get work credits as if you were still working. So even though you haven't physically been working and paying FICA taxes, Social Security has been giving you quarters of coverage during your disability period. These are called "disability freeze" provisions and they protect your benefit amount.

@original poster - My wife was in a similar situation and found that the SSA's calculator tools online weren't helpful for her specific case. When we finally got through to a rep, we discovered she was eligible for about $420 extra per month in spousal benefits because my income was significantly higher. Definitely worth pursuing!

Just to address the question about the "disability freeze" that was mentioned - yes, this is a real thing. It means that the years you're on disability don't count as zero-earning years when calculating your retirement benefit. Instead, SSA essentially ignores those years so they don't drag down your average lifetime earnings. This is why your benefit amount stays the same when SSDI converts to retirement.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'm going to try calling SSA again to ask specifically about the spousal benefit top-up. I'm also going to talk to my husband about checking his PIA so we can figure out if 50% of his would be more than my current SSDI payment. It sounds like there's nothing I need to do about the SSDI to retirement conversion which is a relief!