Social Security survivor benefits for early retirement and SSDI - which spouse gets what after death?

Yes, the survivor would receive whichever is higher - their own benefit or the deceased spouse's benefit. Since your husband is on SSDI, if he passes away, you would be eligible for his full SSDI amount as a survivor benefit (assuming it's higher than your reduced retirement). If you pass away first, he would continue getting his SSDI since it's likely higher than your reduced retirement benefit. The reduction from taking benefits early only affects YOUR retirement benefit - it doesn't impact what your husband would get as a survivor if you pass first.

To add to what was said, when your husband reaches Full Retirement Age (66+), his SSDI will automatically convert to regular retirement benefits, but the amount stays the same. The most important thing to know is that survivor benefits CAN be reduced if the surviving spouse claims them before their own Full Retirement Age. Also, you can't just automatically get the higher benefit. You must actually apply for survivor benefits when one spouse passes - SSA doesn't automatically switch you. I learned this the hard way when my wife passed.

the ssa is such a mess i called them 14 times about my husbands benefits when he passed and got a different answer each time!!! they kept telling me i was eligible then not eligible then eligible again. wasted 3 months of payments i could have been getting!!!

Here's the technical answer to your specific situation: 1. If your husband passes away first, you would be entitled to a survivor benefit equal to 100% of what he was receiving IF you are at your Full Retirement Age (FRA) when you claim it. Since you'll be at your FRA soon, timing would be important. If you claim survivor benefits before your FRA, they would be reduced. 2. If you pass away first, your husband would be entitled to a survivor benefit based on your earnings record. However, if your reduced retirement benefit is less than his SSDI payment (which is likely), there would be no increase to his benefit. The key thing to understand is that the early retirement reduction you took only affects YOUR benefit and any survivor benefit based on YOUR record. It doesn't impact survivor benefits YOU might receive based on your husband's record.

They make this so complicated!!! My husband was on SSDI too and when he passed away I had to wait until I was 64 to get the full survivor benefit. Something about the reduction factor and FRA. Have you gone to your local office to ask? They can run the calculations for your exact situation. I wouldn't trust what people say online (even me lol).

when my dad died mom got his ssi but they said she had to wait until she was old enough otherwise she'd get a reduced amount there's a whole chart on the website where they calculate the percent you get based on your age

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much. One last question - does anyone know if I need to do anything special when my husband's SSDI converts to retirement benefits next year? Will that change affect potential survivor benefits in any way?

THIS IS WHY I HATE THE SSA!!! Why is everything so confusing!? Why can't they just make it simple! My uncle lost out on thousands because no one told him he had to APPLY for survivor benefits when my aunt died! They should automatically give you the higher amount!