Dear Jerry, Thank you very much for responding to my recent "Ask Larry" question regarding my interpretation of Larry's Dec. 23, 2015 article on PBS.org entitled "Social Security’s Christmas present: Benefit cuts for millions of disabled workers". I discovered it while reading a post on this forum dated Sept. 20, 2016 entitled "Can My Wife File For Spousal Benefits Only At Full Retirement Age?". The situation described in that post (to which your reply referenced Larry's PBS article) seemed very similar to my wife's and my own, and raised considerable concern. Your Oct. 4 reply to me -- which you titled, "Can My Wife File For Spousal Benefits When She Reaches Age 66?" -- assured me that "You must have misinterpreted the applicability of that previous answer to your situation." Great news indeed! Although it does make me question exactly who and what the SSA policy change in Larry's article did, in fact, affect. But, that aside, I have one remaining question: When my wife does, per your recommendation, apply for spousal benefits at her FRA of 66 (just to remind you, we are both disabled and currently receive SSDI) will her "profile" within the SSA show that a portion of her overall new benefit amount is being derived from her own work history/record and will my "profile" within the SSA reflect that only the balance (perhaps that's the part that is actually referred to as the "excess spousal benefit"?} is being paid to her from my record? Many thanks again. By the way... I am certainly subscribing to your software!
Hi,
To clarify for other readers, you previously reported that both you and your wife are receiving Social Security disability benefits, and that your wife's monthly rate is $411 and your monthly rate is $2450. You also stated that your wife will reach age 66 in February 2017, and you will reach age 66 in September 2018.
When your wife reaches age 66 and applies for spousal benefits, she will be eligible for an excess spousal benefit equal to the difference between one half of your full disability benefit amount and her own full disability amount, which will convert to a retirement benefit at age 66. Hence, her excess spousal benefit will be approximately $814 (i.e. $2450/2 - $411). Social Security records will show that she is receiving $411 from her own record and $814 from your record, but they will eventually combine the amounts into one payment. They may continue to pay these amounts separately until you reach full retirement age, however, because technically the $411 will be paid from the retirement trust fund while the $814 spousal benefit will be paid from the disability trust fund. That is, until your disability benefit converts to a retirement benefit when you reach age 66. Thereafter, all of your benefits will come from the retirement trust fund.
When your wife files for spousal benefits, she will be listed as an eligible spouse on your account. And yes, it will show the amount that she is being paid from your record. Of course, her entitlement to spousal benefits will have no adverse affect on your own benefits.
Best, Jerry
