Hi Larry, I am 66 and currently drawing my social security. My wife is 62 and self employed cleaning an office, however with back issues involving shots and surgery she still cannot perform her work, She is considering claiming disability and my question is will her benefit convert to 50% of mine when she reaches 67?
Thank you,
Bill

Hi Bill. Not exactly. Your wife's Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits would never automatically convert to spousal benefits. Instead, when your wife reaches full retirement age (FRA) her SSDI benefits would automatically convert to regular Social Security retirement benefits at the same rate as her SSDI amount. Your wife would need to file a separate application for spousal benefits whenever she wants to start drawing those benefits.

For example, let's say your wife starts out drawing SSDI benefits at age 62 and then applies for spousal benefits when she reaches FRA. Her unreduced spousal rate would then be calculated by subtracting her primary insurance amount (PIA) from 50% of your PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA), or their full SSDI benefit amount. Assuming that your PIA is more than twice as much as your wife's PIA, she could then be paid her own benefit plus a partial spousal benefit that would add up to 50% of your PIA.

Your wife may want to consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully compare and analyze all of her various options so that she can determine her best strategy for maximizing benefits.

Best, Jerry