SSDI conversion to retirement benefits at FRA - Will spousal benefits be calculated at 50%?

Good news - you're correct in your understanding! When SSDI converts to retirement benefits at your FRA, it's treated as though you're filing for retirement benefits at that moment, not before. This means you'll be eligible for the full 50% spousal benefit (if that amount is higher than your own benefit) once your husband files for his benefits. The early filing reduction doesn't apply in your situation because SSDI is not considered early retirement. The conversion at FRA is considered your official filing date for retirement benefits, regardless of how long you've been receiving SSDI.

my sister got ssdi for 12 yrs and then it switched to regular ss at her retirement age. she got spousal benefits later no problem, full amount. ssa doesnt count disability as early filing!

Your understanding is correct. SSDI conversion to retirement benefits at FRA is considered your first official filing for retirement purposes. This is important for several reasons: 1. You are considered to be filing at your FRA, not before, so no reduction applies 2. You will be eligible for the full 50% spousal benefit (the difference between your benefit and 50% of your husband's PIA) when he files 3. This also matters for other potential benefits like survivor benefits later The SSA publication that clarifies this is in their Program Operations Manual System (POMS) under DI 10115.001. Your SSDI benefit amount doesn't change at conversion - it just gets paid from a different trust fund.

I went through this same thing last year! My SSDI switched over to regular retirement and everything stayed the same payment-wise. When my husband filed 4 months later I got a nice boost with the spousal benefit. You'll be fine!

The previous responders are correct, but I wanted to add one clarification - your benefit amount will actually be slightly different after conversion. The SSDI benefit includes annual COLAs (cost of living adjustments). When it converts to retirement, your benefit will be calculated as if you had filed at FRA, with all COLAs applied from your initial entitlement date through FRA. Also, if you're confused about spousal benefits, you're not alone. I had to call the SSA multiple times to get clear answers. I finally found success using Claimyr.com to reach an agent quickly instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works. I was skeptical but it connected me to an SSA agent in minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. The agent I reached was able to walk me through exactly how my benefit conversion would work and what to expect with spousal benefits.

WRONG INFO being shared here!!! I was on SSDI and when I hit full retirement they DID reduce my spousal benefit because they said I took "early benefits"!!! Had to fight with them for months to fix it!! The rules changed in 2019!!!

One thing nobody's mentioned - make sure your husband understands how his filing age affects both his benefit AND your potential spousal benefit. If he files at 62 instead of his FRA, not only is his benefit reduced, but the spousal benefit you'd be eligible for would be based on that reduced amount. Since you mentioned he's retiring in 3 years, if that's before his FRA, you might want to run the numbers carefully. Also, do you have any work history of your own prior to disability? That can impact the final calculation too.

wait does this mean someone can double-dip on SSDI and social security??

I'm curious - did your SSDI lawyer ever explain any of this to you? When I went through the SSDI process, my attorney never mentioned anything about how it would affect future retirement benefits. Seems like something they should cover.

As someone who's been through a similar situation, I can confirm what others have said - the SSDI to retirement conversion at FRA does NOT penalize you for spousal benefits. You'll be treated as filing for retirement at your FRA, not earlier. One tip I'd add: when your husband does file in 3 years and you apply for the spousal benefit, make sure to ask the SSA representative to explain exactly how they calculated your spousal amount. Given that your current benefit is $1,850 and his projected benefit is $3,400, you should be eligible for about $1,700 - $1,850 = $850 additional per month (50% of $3,400 = $1,700, minus your own benefit). Also, keep good records of your SSDI start date and FRA conversion. Some representatives aren't familiar with disability conversions and might initially make errors. Having your documentation ready can save you headaches later.

Just wanted to add another data point - I'm currently going through this exact situation! My SSDI converts to retirement benefits this coming July at my FRA, and I've been researching this extensively. Everything everyone has said is correct based on my conversations with SSA. One thing I learned that might be helpful: if you want to verify your projected spousal benefit amount ahead of time, you can create a my Social Security account online and use their benefit calculators. It will show you estimates for both your own retirement benefit and potential spousal benefits based on different scenarios. Also, since you mentioned the local office gave you confusing information - I've found that calling the national 1-800 number sometimes gets you representatives who are more knowledgeable about disability conversions than the local field offices. The conversion from SSDI to retirement is automatic and fairly routine, but not all local staff deal with it frequently enough to give clear explanations. Good luck with your planning! It sounds like you'll be in a much better financial position once your husband files.

I wanted to share my experience since I went through this exact conversion about 18 months ago. The good news is that everyone here is right - your SSDI conversion to retirement benefits at FRA won't penalize your future spousal benefits at all. One thing I wish I had known beforehand: make sure to keep a copy of your original SSDI award letter and any annual COLA notices you've received. When I applied for spousal benefits after my husband filed, the SSA representative initially had trouble accessing my full disability history in their system. Having those documents made the process much smoother. Also, don't be surprised if your monthly payment date changes slightly when the conversion happens. Mine shifted by a few days because retirement benefits follow a different payment schedule than SSDI (based on birth date rather than when you first became entitled to disability). It's a minor thing but good to know for budgeting purposes. The automatic conversion really is seamless - you'll get a notice in the mail explaining the change, but your benefit amount stays exactly the same. Then when your husband files and you apply for spousal benefits, you should get that nice boost everyone mentioned. Best of luck with your planning!