Spouse’s Benefits Based on Your SSDI Eligibility

If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, your spouse may be eligible to receive benefits as well. This is commonly known as spousal benefits. Here are the key points to understand:

Spousal Benefits Eligibility

• Marriage Requirements: Your spouse must be at least 62 years old to qualify for spousal benefits based on your disability, unless they are caring for a child who is under 16 or disabled.
• Age of Spouse: If your spouse is under 62, they cannot begin receiving spousal benefits unless they are caring for your dependent child (under age 16 or disabled).
• Marriage Duration: You must have been married for at least one year for your spouse to qualify for spousal SSDI benefits.

How Much Can My Spouse Receive?

• Your spouse can receive up to 50% of your SSDI benefits at full retirement age. If they begin receiving benefits before their full retirement age (as early as 62), the amount they receive will be reduced.
• Example: If your SSDI monthly benefit is $2,000, your spouse could receive $1,000 (50% of your SSDI payment) if they are at full retirement age. If they begin benefits before that, their monthly payment will be reduced based on how early they apply.

No Double Payments

• It’s important to note that your spouse cannot receive both their own Social Security benefits and your spousal SSDI benefits in full if they are higher than their own. The SSA will provide the higher of the two amounts but will not combine both payments. Essentially, they will receive their own benefit or your spousal benefit, whichever is greater.

How Does Disability Impact a Spouse Who Is Already Receiving Social Security Benefits?

If your spouse is already receiving Social Security Retirement Benefits, their benefit may be affected if you begin receiving SSDI benefits. Here’s how:

• If Your Spouse is Collecting Their Own Social Security: If your spouse is already receiving Social Security retirement benefits, your SSDI claim won’t change their benefits, but they could switch to receiving spousal benefits if they qualify. The SSA will review which benefit provides the higher amount.
• Spousal Benefit at Full Retirement Age: If your spouse is 62 or older, they can choose to receive a spousal benefit based on your disability payments, which may be higher than their own retirement benefit.

Can My Spouse Receive Benefits If They Are Divorced?

Yes, even if you are divorced, your ex-spouse may be eligible for spousal SSDI benefits if they meet the following requirements:

• The marriage lasted at least 10 years.
• Your ex-spouse is not remarried.
• They are at least 62 years old.
• They are not eligible for a higher SSDI benefit based on their own work record.

In this case, your ex-spouse can receive up to 50% of your disability benefit amount, just like a current spouse would.

Impact on Dependent Children’s Benefits

In addition to your spouse, your children may also be eligible to receive benefits based on your SSDI claim. Here’s what you need to know:

• Eligible Children: Children under the age of 18 (or up to 19 if they are still in high school) can receive child benefits based on your disability. Additionally, if your child has a disability, they may continue to receive benefits beyond age 18.
• Benefit Amount: Children can receive up to 50% of your SSDI benefit, though the total amount of benefits for your family (including your spouse) is capped. The total family benefit is typically 150-180% of your SSDI benefit, which means that the amount distributed between all eligible family members (you, your spouse, and children) cannot exceed that cap.