My deceased husband drew SS disability When I reach full retirement age will I draw his disability amount that he was drawing at his death age 56. His is much more than off my record.

Hi,

Actually, you would probably get somewhat more than what your husband was receiving. Assuming that you meet the requirements for widow's benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook-0401.html) and you don't start drawing them until full retirement age (FRA), you'll be eligible for at least the full amount of your husband's Social Security disability (SSDI) benefit increased by any Social Security cost of living increases (COLA) that occurred after his death. You couldn't receive your full widow's rate plus your own benefit at the same time, though, just the higher of the two.

There is also an alternative method of computing widow's benefits called WINDEX, which could result in your being eligible for a widow's benefit rate that's even higher than the amount that your husband received plus subsequent COLAs. The WINDEX computational method can only be used in cases when the worker died prior to the year in which they would have reached age 62, as was apparently true with your husband. When you apply for your widow's benefits, Social Security will calculate your widow's rate using both calculation methods and will pay you based on the method that results in a higher rate.

You don't mention your current age, but it sounds like your best filing strategy would likely be one of the following;
1) File for reduced widow's benefits at age 60 or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then switch to your own record at age 70; or,
2) File for reduced retirement benefits on your own record at age 62 or as soon as your earnings will permit at least some benefits to be paid, then file for unreduced widow's benefits at full retirement age (FRA).

Normally, you would want to start out drawing the lower benefit first and then switch to the higher record when it reaches it's highest potential rate. Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) could sort all of this out for you and help you determine the optimal strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry