I am currently receiving Social Security disability. I am turning 66 (11/9/1952) in November when I will begin receiving retirement benefits. I plan to voluntarily suspend my retirement benefits in order to earn delayed retirement credits. My wife is already receiving Social Security benefits and began taking them at FRA. Can I file a restricted application and receive a spousal benefit until I reach 70?

Hi,

Unfortunately, the answer is no. If you voluntarily suspend your retirement benefits, you can't receive benefits on another person's record while your own benefits are suspended.

Your disability benefits (SSDI) will automatically convert to regular Social Security retirement benefits at your full retirement age (FRA), and there's no way that you could opt to refuse the conversion short of withdrawing your SSDI claim and repaying all of the benefit you've received. That's a very unfair regulation in my opinion, since if you weren't receiving SSDI you would have the option of filing a restricted application for spousal benefits only at FRA while allowing your own benefits to grow until age 70. Here is a link to an article that Larry wrote about the change in position that Social Security made on this issue back in December 2014: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/social-securitys-christmas-present-b....

To be clear, though, you can voluntarily suspend your benefits starting at FRA in order to earn delayed retirement credits, you just won't be able to receive spousal benefits while your benefits are suspended.

Best, Jerry