Hi,
My ex wife is 63 and has been collecting SSDI since she was 61 at 1670.00 per month. I will be 66 ( FRA) on 8/2018 and plan to apply for divorced spouse benefits in 5/18,
3 months before I turn 66. Our marriage lasted over 10 years.
My question is, will I be entitled to 1/2 of her SSDI benefit amount while allowing my own SS benefit to grow until age 70. If I can do this, my plan is provide my ex wife with my much larger age 70 benefit when i pass, provided she will then be entitled to 100% of my age 70 benefit. Is this a reasonable plan under SS's new rules.
Thank you for your help.

Hi,

Yes, assuming that you aren't currently married, it sounds like you would have the option of filing a restricted application for just divorced spousal benefits only effective with the month you turn age 66 and letting your own rate grow until age 70. You can still do this under the new law because you were born prior to January 2 1954. And yes, your divorced spousal rate would be equal to 50% of your ex's full SSDI rate (PIA).

You are also correct regarding your ex's potential survivor rate on your record. If you wait until age 70 to start drawing your own benefits, your ex would receive the higher of your age 70 rate or her own benefit rate should you die before her.

Best, Jerry