Can someone collect spousal social security payments before they become 62?

You already said he is collecting benefits. No one can collect a disability benefit and a retirement benefit at the same time. It's one or the other. A disability benefit is an unreduced benefit. If he is still entitled to disability benefits when he reaches age 66 then he will be converted to a retirement benefit with no change in payment rate. There is no such thing as a disability benefit once someone reaches full retirement age.

In order for him to collect a husband's benefit on YOUR account he would have to be 62 years old AND his benefit would have to be less than 50% of what your unreduced benefit would be at age 66 if you were to have waited until age 66 to file.

As for the adopted grandchildren - why hasn't he filed on their behalf if they are under age 18? I don't know if they would be entitled or not but you can research entitlement factors for adopted grandchildren online. I think they must have been adopted BEFORE your husband became disabled OR before his month of entitlement to benefits but I no longer remember. If so, you should call 1-800-772-1213 and make an appointment to file for benefits for them.

OK I just researched entitlement factors for adopted grandchildren. In order for them to collect on your husband's social security account your husband must have been providing them with half of their support for the 12 months before their claim is filed and they must have been living with him for the 12 months before their claim is filed.

If they are entitled YOU could possibly be entitled if they are under age 16 although the amount of your earnings might preclude any benefit being paid to you unless you are earning under $15,720 a year. However, every social security account has a maximum payout and two entitled children reach that maximum payout - so even if you were entitled as a young mother with children in her care the total amount of social security benefits paid to the family wouldn't be any greater than if you weren't entitled.

Don't pay any attention to Flower's answer - it is totally incorrect. He does NOT have to be receiving a retirement benefit for you to receive on his account but since you work I doubt you would be entitled to a wife's benefit anyway as your benefit would probably be higher on your own account than as a wife.

Source: I was a SS claims rep for 32 yrs.

Yes, if you are 60 years of age or disabled yourself. But not from your husband's disability payment, only if he is retired which means he must be 66. Yes, he can file for social security disability at any age but you dont get any of that. Maybe you should get a job.

You need to ask Social Security ... and seems , if you are in America you should be doing OK financially with your adopted grandchildren as well beings relateds get some $700. a month or more per child !!!