My wife is 63 years old as of 5/2/1954 and is receiving disability benefits due to cancer (approximately $1,600 per month). I am 62 years old as of 1/20/1955 and do not plan to file for social security benefits until at least full retirement age. At full retirement age, I am forecasted to receive about double what she is receiving now. My question is, can I receive a disability spousal benefit now without it affecting/reducing my own future social security benefits when I file at full retirement age? In addition, would doing so impact any potential disability or social security widowers benefit?

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis.

Unless you have a qualifying child in your care, you can't file for spousal benefits without also being deemed to file for benefits on your own record (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/claiming.html?intcmp=AE-RET-PLRT-REL...). And, if you start drawing before full retirement age (FRA), your benefit rate will be reduced for age (https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/quickcalc/earlyretire.html).

Filing for reduced retirement or spousal benefits does not necessarily result in a reduced widow(er)'s benefit, but it sounds like even your reduced retirement rate would be higher than any potential widower's rate you could receive. Therefore, once you file for your own benefits you would likely not be able to subsequently receive any widowers benefits.

You may want to consider using the maximization software available on this website in order to explore all of your filing options and determine your best strategy.

Best, Jerry