Ask Larry

What Will Happen When I Apply For My Social Security?

Hi. I am 57 yrs old. I have not worked since 2008. My disability was approved in 2011.

My husband is still working and for the past severely years my disability check keeps going down. They say my husband makes too much money. I’m not sure I understand that. I only receive $367 per month. What will happen when i apply for my social security ?

Hi,

It sounds like what you're receiving is Supplemental Security Income (SSI), since your husband's income would not affect your benefits if you were receiving Social Security disability benefits (SSDI). If you have enough work credits to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits but do not qualify for SSDI then you'll be required to file for your retirement benefits as soon as you're eligible at age 62. If you don't, your SSI would stop.

If and when you start receiving Social Security benefits, either on your own record or your husband's record, those benefits would essentially offset your SSI benefits dollar for dollar. In other words, you could basically only receive the higher of those two amounts (https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/index.htm).

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
May 8 2018 - 2:59pm
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