Early disability vs waiting for SS retirement at 62 - which is better for higher-earning spouse?

If you genuinely can't work due to your medical condition, SSDI is almost always better than taking early retirement. Here's why: 1) SSDI payments are calculated as if you reached your full retirement age, so no reduction for claiming early 2) When you reach FRA, your disability automatically converts to retirement benefits with no reduction 3) Your spouse could potentially qualify for auxiliary benefits based on your record.Just be prepared - the SSDI application process can take 1-2 years with appeals, and approval rates are under 40% initially. You'll need strong medical documentation showing you cannot perform any substantial gainful activity.

Thank you! I had no idea SSDI calculated benefits at the full amount - that's a huge difference. Do you know if my wife would be able to claim spousal benefits on my record while I'm on SSDI, or would she have to wait until I convert to retirement?

Dont wait wait for to apply it takes forever! My husband waited 2 months after he couldnt work anymore and the whole process took 19 months and we almost lost everything. Apply as soon as your doctor says you cant work and get your medical records in order!

That's terrifying. Did your husband have to hire a lawyer to help with the application? I'm worried about making mistakes on all the paperwork.

Yes lawyer took 25% of backpay but WORTH IT!!! We got denied twice before approval. start gathering all your medical records NOW even if your still working.

your wife CAN get spousal if she's 62 when youre on SSDI. but she'll only get like 70% of her full spousal amount if she takes it that early. also if she has her own work record she gets her own benefit OR the spousal, whichever is higher, not both.

Actually that's not quite right. Spousal benefits on SSDI work differently than regular spousal retirement. If the original poster goes on SSDI, his spouse can potentially get benefits at ANY age if she's caring for their child who is under 16. If no minor children, then she'd need to wait until 62 like you said.

From what you've described, SSDI would likely be much more beneficial for your situation than early retirement if you truly cannot work. SSDI provides:- Your full Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) rather than a reduced benefit- Medicare coverage after 24 months of SSDI regardless of age- Protection of your retirement benefit amount when you reach full retirement ageRegarding your spouse's situation, when she reaches 62, she could potentially claim on her own record or up to 50% of your PIA (reduced for early claiming) as a spousal benefit, whichever is higher. The fact that you're on SSDI rather than retirement wouldn't change this calculation.However, be prepared for a potentially lengthy application process. Many applicants are initially denied and require reconsideration or hearings. Comprehensive medical documentation detailing your limitations is absolutely essential.

The Medicare part is huge - I hadn't even considered that. That would be a 5-year head start on Medicare compared to waiting until 65. So if I understand correctly, when I reach 68, my SSDI would automatically convert to retirement benefits, but the amount wouldn't decrease? And then my wife could claim spousal benefits on my record if that gives her more than her own benefit?

The SSDI process is ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL. I just got approved after 26 MONTHS!! I got denied twice and had to go in front of a judge. The whole system is designed to make you give up. My advice:1. GET A LAWYER FROM DAY ONE! Don't try to do this yourself.2. See your doctors regularly and make sure EVERYTHING is documented3. Keep a daily journal of your symptoms and limitations4. Be prepared to live on savings or family help for 1-2+ yearsI've heard the backlog is even worse now in 2025 than when I applied. The SSA is completely overwhelmed.

That sounds absolutely awful! Did you have any income during those 26 months? I'm not sure we could make it that long without my salary.

My wife worked and we burned through most of our savings. Some states have short-term disability programs but they don't last long. It was the hardest time of our lives financially. When I finally got approved I got a backpay lump sum from when I first applied, but by then we had credit card debt from just trying to survive.

I tried calling the Social Security office for MONTHS about my disability application status and could never get through. Busy signals, disconnects, hours on hold... I finally discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual SSA representative in less than 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Totally saved my sanity during the application process - now I recommend it to everyone dealing with SSA phone issues.

Thanks for the tip! I tried calling the local office once with a basic question and gave up after 45 minutes on hold. Bookmarking that site for when I need it.

One important point that hasn't been mentioned yet: If you're approved for SSDI, there's a 5-month waiting period before benefits begin. So if you apply at age 60, you wouldn't receive your first payment until you're at least 60½ assuming immediate approval (which rarely happens). Also, Medicare eligibility begins 24 months after your SSDI eligibility date, not your approval date. So plan accordingly for health insurance coverage during the gap period.

Thank you for mentioning this. I'm on my employer's health insurance now. So there would be a significant gap between losing that coverage and getting Medicare even with SSDI. That's definitely something we need to plan for.

my neighbor got ssdi for back problems and they still make him get checked every 3 years to see if hes still disabled even tho its obviously permanent. whole systems a joke.

YES!! I have permanent nerve damage that will NEVER improve and they're still reviewing my case every 2 years. Complete waste of everyone's time and causes so much anxiety wondering if they'll suddenly decide I'm

You mentioned your spouse may not work past 62 due to back issues. If her condition is severe enough to prevent substantial work, she should also consider SSDI rather than early retirement. The same advantages would apply - full benefit calculation and Medicare after 24 months.One other consideration: if you both end up on SSDI and then transition to retirement, be aware of the potential impact of Government Pension Offset (GPO) or Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) if either of you ever worked in jobs not covered by Social Security (some government or education positions).

That's a good point about my wife potentially qualifying for SSDI too. Her back problems are degenerative and getting worse each year. Neither of us had government jobs, so I don't think GPO/WEP would apply. Thanks for mentioning that though - I wouldn't have thought to check.

you should check out ABLE accounts if you get disability!! we set one up for my husband and it lets you save money without losing benefits. theres income limits for SSI but not SSDI but the ABLE account is still helpful for planning