Will my SSDI increase when my husband files for Social Security with higher benefit amount?

Yes, you may be eligible for an additional spousal benefit, but it's not automatic and it doesn't exactly "increase" your SSDI. The way it works is through what SSA calls "dual entitlement." Basically, if your potential spousal benefit (which would be up to 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount) is higher than your own SSDI benefit, you can receive a combination of benefits that equals the higher amount. For example, if your spousal benefit would be $1,400 (50% of his PIA, which might be different from his actual benefit amount), but your SSDI is $1,650, you would not receive any additional amount because your own benefit is already higher. However, if your spousal benefit would be $1,800, then you would receive your $1,650 SSDI plus an additional $150 in spousal benefits to reach the higher amount. You'll need to apply for the spousal benefits - it's not automatic. I recommend contacting SSA directly once your husband has filed for his benefits.

The whole SSA system is DESIGNED to be confusing!!! I went through something similar with my wife's benefits and got 3 DIFFERENT ANSWERS from 3 different SSA people. They don't even know their own rules half the time! They kept telling me about "maximum family benefits" and "offsets" that nobody explains properly. I spent WEEKS trying to figure it out and in the end we got less than they initially told us we would. Don't trust what they say on the phone - get EVERYTHING in writing!!!!

The others are correct about dual entitlement, but I want to add some important details. The spousal benefit calculation is based on your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is his benefit amount at his full retirement age, NOT the increased amount he'll receive for delaying until 67. Also, since you're receiving disability, there's a special consideration: when you reach your own full retirement age, your SSDI will automatically convert to retirement benefits, but the amount stays the same. At that point, the dual entitlement rules would still apply. One more thing - make sure to file for the spousal benefits as soon as your husband begins receiving his retirement. Any additional amount you're eligible for isn't retroactive beyond 6 months, so you don't want to delay applying.

my mom had this exact situation last year. she was on disabilty and my dad retired. she thought shed get more money but she didnt get anything extra because her disabilty was already more than half of my dads amount. they told her she was "dually entitled" but it didnt mean any more $$$. kinda disappointed her bc we thought shed get a boost in income

If you're having trouble getting through to Social Security on the phone (those 3-hour waits are awful!), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. It's a service that connects you with a Social Security representative much faster. I used it last month when dealing with my own spousal benefit situation, and it saved me hours of waiting. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Regarding your actual question - others have given good advice about dual entitlement. In my experience, you definitely need to apply for the spousal benefit separately; it's not automatic even though you'd think SSA would just adjust it for you. When you do connect with SSA, ask specifically about the "excess spousal benefit" calculation to make sure they're looking at the right thing.

I thought once you get married your benefits combine together? My cousin said thats how it worked for her but maybe thats different.

what about medicare? does being married to someone on regular social security change anything about your medicare coverage if youre on SSDI?

Had something similar happen with my wife. If your SSDI is more than half of your husband's PIA you won't get extra. But definitely apply anyway! Sometimes SSA makes mistakes in their calculations and you might be entitled to more than you think. Remember that any additional spousal benefits would be based on his PIA not his actual benefit amount he gets for delaying.

Wait a minute - has anyone mentioned the impact on taxes here? When my wife started collecting her retirement on top of my SSDI, it pushed our combined income into a higher tax bracket and suddenly 85% of my SSDI became taxable! The extra benefit amount wasn't worth the tax hit. Make sure to consider the tax implications before you get excited about any potential increase!

Based on the numbers you shared, let's do a quick calculation: If your husband's benefit at his full retirement age (before any delayed retirement credits) is around $2,800, then 50% of that would be $1,400. Since your current SSDI is $1,650, which is higher than the $1,400 spousal benefit you might be eligible for, you likely won't receive any additional amount through dual entitlement. However, these are just estimates. Your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) might be different from his actual benefit if he's delaying past full retirement age. I'd still recommend applying for the spousal benefit once he files, just to make sure you don't miss out on any potential increase.