How Social Security benefits work when a spouse is disabled

Q: My friend's wife is on Social Security disability. She is 60, and he is 61. Can he claim spousal benefit on her disability? — Bob Mangrum, Las Vegas

A: You may be able to get your spouse’s retirement benefits if you are at least 62 years of age and your spouse is receiving Social Security disability benefits, says William “BJ” Jarrett, a public affairs specialist with the Social Security Administration in Baltimore.

According to Jarrett, you can receive the spouse's benefit, regardless of age, if you are caring for his or her child who is under age 16 or disabled and also receiving benefits.

If you are eligible for retirement benefits on your own record, Jarrett says Social Security will always pay that amount first. But if the spouse benefit is a higher amount, you will get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount, he says.

Robert Powell is editor of Retirement Weekly, contributes regularly to Paste BN, The Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch. Got questions about money? Email rpowell@allthingsretirement.com .