I was born in Switzerland in 54, worked there 5 years and immigrated to the US. Got married in 81, disabled from MVA in 2009. Didn’t know about disability insurance till 2012, went to the Social Security office. They said my husband was 62 years old, could get early SS and I could get SSI. They didn’t explain anything about quarters from work earned. They paid me $330/mos, I was most of the time unable to walk and my husband cared for me 24/7. Shouldn’t I be getting my own Social Security by now? I read up on it lately and I have 55 quarters in the US and I have worked in Switzerland also. I finally applied for a higher SSI benefit but just added my quarters together and start to wonder, do I have to approach the Social Security office and ask for benefits or is this done automatically?
Confused me,
Sincerely,
Daniella

Hi Daniella. SSI is the abbreviation used for Supplemental Security Income. My answer assumes that what you're getting is Social Security, not Supplemental Security Income. SSI is a needs based benefit paid to people with relatively little income and resources.

Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits are based on a person's own Social Security covered earnings, and they're unreduced for age. Basically, drawing SSDI benefits are like drawing your unreduced Social Security retirement benefit earlier than full retirement age (FRA). People receiving SSDI have their benefits automatically converted to regular retirement benefits at FRA.

If you applied for benefits at age 58 then SSDI is probably the only Social Security benefit that you could have qualified for unless you actually are getting Supplemental Security Income. You can't collect spousal benefits prior to age 62 even if you're disabled, unless you have a minor or disabled child in your care who collects child benefits on your spouse's record.

Therefore, from your description it sounds like you're probably already drawing benefits based on your own earnings. However, you may be able to qualify for additional spousal benefits now that you're over age 62, but only if your primary insurance amount (PIA) is less than half as much as your husband's 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). I don't have enough information to be able to give you any reliable advice, though, so I would strongly suggest calling Social Security to discuss your options.

Best, Jerry