Hi:
I have been on SSDI for the last 15 years due to accident at work and will reach FRA on January 2018. at that time my wife will be 64. My question is can she start collecting on her own benefits on January 2018 and when she reaches FRA switch to my spousal benefits which supposedly will be much higher? Your input will be much appreciated and THANKS!!!

Hi,

No, she can't. Since you are already receiving benefits on your account, if your wife files for retirement benefits prior to full retirement age (FRA), or even at FRA or later if she was born after January 1 1954 (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/deemedfaq.html), she'll be deemed to have also applied for spousal benefits on your record.

Assuming that 50% of your SSDI rate is higher than her own full retirement age benefit amount (PIA), she would be eligible for her own benefit plus an excess spousal benefit from your record. The unreduced excess spousal benefit would be equal to the difference between 50% of your SSDI rate and her own PIA. However, if she starts drawing prior to FRA, both her own benefit rate and the excess spousal benefit rate will be permanently reduced.

Best, Jerry