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I am 57 years old and have been on SS disability for 12 years.  I receive $1500 a month.  My husband will be 67 in April and he filed for SS when he was eleigible at 65.8 years of age.  He continues to work full time and doesn't plan to retire until 70 -72 years of age.  He receives $1900 a month. If he re-applies to SS when he retires would that be financially advantageous for both of us?  I don't know what my SS would be when I get to be 62.  Does the fact that I receive SS disability reduces my future SS retirement benefits? My husband continues to pay SS taxes at work.  Do the current earnings count toward his SS  and are they added every year in the calculation of his benefits? Or since he is already receiving benefits what he gets its all he can get?

It would be financially beneficial for him to reapply because his benefits would be increased and if he dies before you do your survivor benefits would be increased.

As he continues to work his current work record is added to his earlier record and his benefit should be recalculated every year. The change will be likely be minor because each additional year only contributes to a total work record of 35 years. A high earnings year, however, would displace a low earnings year because your benefit is based on your BEST 35 years of earnings.

The hard part here will be to repay all those months of $1,900 in benefits. While the numbers show significant benefits few people take advantage of this option because few retirees actually have the money. A better option is to simply defer taking the benefits.

Scott