As people get closer to their retirement age, they try to coordinate their benefits for maximum effect. This is a common practice for married couples trying to make the most out of their retirement. However, when Social Security Disability benefits become a part of these considerations, things can get complicated. But don’t worry, the Tulsa disability attorneys here at Troutman & Troutman can clarify a few things.
How Will Claiming SSDI Affect Your Spouses Benefits?
The first thing you need to realize is that claiming Social Security Disability insurance (SSDI) won’t affect your Social Security retirement benefits. When you reach retirement age, your SSDI benefits will be replaced by your retirement benefits, and since both benefits are based on your work credits, those benefits will be the same.
The next thing you should know is that your spouse can also claim disability benefits based on your work records, but there are a few requirements that must be met:
- If your spouse is over the age of 62, they can claim benefits based off your work record.
- If your spouse takes care of your child—who is younger than 16 or has a disability—then they can claim benefits based off your work record at any age.
Your unmarried children under the age of 18(19 if they are still in high school) can also claim benefits based off your record. Your children can also claim benefits on your record if they acquired a permanent disabling condition before the age of 22, even if they are adopted. Divorced spouses can also claim certain benefits as well if they are unmarried and at least 62 years old.
These benefits won’t affect your own benefits, but they will be affected by your working record.
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