Many people wonder what happens to their Social Security Disability benefits when they reach retirement age. Do they stop receiving disability benefits? Do disability benefits continue? Are they converted to Social Security Retirement benefits? It can be confusing to understand how the process works and individuals who receive SSDI benefits want to ensure that they are not left without an income once they reach retirement age. If you are wondering what happens to your SSDI benefits once you reach age 65, the following information will help.
The Benefits Do Convert
The first thing you need to understand when receiving SSDI benefits is that the benefits do convert from Social Security Disability benefits to Social Security Retirement benefits once you reach retirement age. Nothing will change. You will continue to receive a monthly check and you do not need to do anything in order to receive your benefits. The SSA will simply change your disability benefit to a retirement benefit once you have reached full retirement age. When you reach that age, however, can vary depending on which year you were born in.
It’s Not Automatically 65
Many people think that their SSDI benefits will automatically change to retirement benefits when they reach age 65. Some of these people are correct, but only those who were born before 1937. Anyone born after 1937 does not reach full retirement age at exactly 65 years of age so their SSDI benefits will not change to retirement benefits as soon as they turn 65 years old. When will these benefits convert? It depends on the year you were born. The following outline will help you understand at what age your SSDI benefits will convert to retirement benefits:
- 1938 – 65 years and 2 months
- 1939 – 65 years and 4 months
- 1940 – 65 years and 6 months
- 1941 – 65 years and 8 months
- 1942 – 65 years and 10 months
- 1943 through 1954 – 66 years
- 1955 – 66 years and 2 months
- 1956 – 66 years and 4 months
- 1957 – 66 years and 6 months
- 1958 – 66 years and 8 months
- 1959 – 66 years and 10 months
- 1960 and later – 67 years
By reviewing the age breakdown above, you can see at what age your Social Security Disability benefits will convert to Social Security Retirement benefits. Once you begin receiving Social Security Retirement benefits, you will receive your benefits without any limit on your earnings. This means that you will begin receiving your monthly benefits regardless of your income, unlike when these benefits were simply SSDI benefits. When your SSDI benefits convert to retirement benefits, the SSDI rules no longer apply to the benefits as the benefits now fall under the retirement guidelines.
Blog comments
In reply to I have been on SSDI for by Tom J. (not verified)
Hi Tom,
Hi Tom,
I'm very sorry for your loss.
Yes, you may be eligible for benefits based on your spouse's work record.
How do some people recieve
How do some people recieve both?retirement and disability
In reply to How do some people recieve by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
some receive both because their retirement benefits are less than the Federal Benefit Limit of $733 a month. Because of that, they qualify for SSI benefits so that their benefits are at least $733 a month. Noone is able to receive SSDI benefits and retirement at the same time, however.
If a person is receiving SSI
If a person is receiving SSI and SSDI and he is now entitled to receive retirement benefits. Will he still receive SSI income?
In reply to If a person is receiving SSI by Service Coordinator (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
Yes, people receiving retirement income can be eligible for SSI benefits, if they are still otherwise eligible.
My husband is active duty
My husband is active duty military and we are getting orders to live overseas. His mom lives with us and is a military dependant and will be moving with us. Will she loose her SSI benefits and her health care?
In reply to My husband is active duty by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
Your mother in law may still be eligible for benefits as a dependent of military personnel. Here's some more info about that:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/faq/social-security-disability-…
I've been on SSD since
I've been on SSD since age 45. I will be 65 in November. I was misinformed when eligible for Medicare that I was on cobra & could wait. So, my information was false & I've been paying that 10% penalty. With no COLA last year, my monthly check went down. I was told 2 years ago that age 65 I will transfer to full retirement & be newly enrolled in Medicare & no more penalty. So, I've been ecstatically counting til no more penalty. But Now, I see I have to wait another YEAR! (Born 1951) How can they keep changing it & then lying to me? I'm devastated! I've been counting the days! Now, another year!
My question is even if I have to wait another year for full retirement, were they correct that my Medicare still begins anew at 65 with no more penalty?
Also, my husband is 72 & transferred from SSD to full retirement when he turned 65 in 2009. I read another comment if husband received more social security due to having earned more money, that the answer was that she can get more social security based on his earnings. If, so how does it work & how do I get this? What do I need to do? Thanks
In reply to I've been on SSD since by Diane (not verified)
Hi Diane,
Hi Diane,
I'm sorry to hear that!
You can find more information about auxiliary benefits here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/glossary/auxiliary-benefits
Forgot to ask, but when did
Forgot to ask, but when did they mess us up & change age for retirement?
My husband was born in 1944, & he transferred to full retirement in 2009 at age 65. They even contacted him and helped him enroll innMedicare part B began getting Medicare part B which he had not had while on SSD.
When did the millionaires in Congress who don't need social security change it for us poor folks? And, if no COLA increase this year, next year I'll get even less money if I can't transfer & the penalty increases, again.
In reply to Forgot to ask, but when did by Diane (not verified)
Hi Diane,
Hi Diane,
Thank you for sharing. It's true that Full Retirement age varies for people based on their birthdate.
I am on disability. I also
I am on disability. I also get a percentage of my Hubands disability when he passed. When will my income change if ever?
Thanks.
In reply to I am on disability. I also by Deb (not verified)
HI Deb,
HI Deb,
If you are receiving widow's benefits, then you may not have a change in those benefits.
My son is mentally handicap
My son is mentally handicap and was receiving SSI for years. Now that I am on Social Security my wife's Social Security has been reduced $112 a month so that my son can be put on Social Security. This was done deceptively, never saying that the amount he would get would be taking out of our amount. I'm not sure if his SSI has been stopped or not, and don't want to leave him with nothing, but at a time when your getting a small amount to begin with its hard to cope with taking a reduction. I don't know the system, but it seems he could have just stayed on SSI.
In reply to My son is mentally handicap by Brian (not verified)
HI Brian,
HI Brian,
I'm sorry to hear about that! If your wife became eligible for Medicare, then that $ 112 reduction may be because of that.
Is it a requirement that my
Is it a requirement that my disability benefits be automatically changed to retirement benefits when I'm 62,or can I request to be converted later at full retirement age? Will I still get my S.S.I benefits? Will I lose my Medicaid when I'm converted to retirement benefits?
In reply to Is it a requirement that my by Joan (not verified)
Hi Joan,
Hi Joan,
Because the amount does not change, there is no penalty for receiving retirement benefits at 62. If you are still considered eligible for Medicaid after your retirement (as it is a state run program, the criteria varies), you may still be covered. You would not lose them solely based on retirement.
I will be 62 next year &
I will be 62 next year & I'm thinking of retiring, my husband receives SSDI. He is 59. Once I retire will I be able to receive any part of his SSDI.
In reply to I will be 62 next year & by Charlene (not verified)
Hi Charlene,
Hi Charlene,
Unfortunately to be eligible for auxiliary benefits based on your spouse's SSDI, you need to be under the age of 62.
When I reach 65 I have been
When I reach 65 I have been disabled since I was 49 spine reconstruction basically bed bound will I get same amount I get on Ssdi when changed to ssi
In reply to When I reach 65 I have been by Bill (not verified)
Hi Bill,
Hi Bill,
Your SSDI will not change to SSI, it will change to Retirement benefits at full retirement age. The benefit amount will not change.
If I start drowning my social
If I start drowning my social security at 62 will it go up when I reach 66 and 10 mouths
In reply to If I start drowning my social by Michael (not verified)
Hi Michael,
Hi Michael,
It may not increase if you take early retirement.
I've been on SSI for
I've been on SSI for over 35 years & I never worked long enough to pay into SS on my own work record. I was married to my ex for over 10 years. When I turn 66 next month, will I move to SS benefits based on his work record or stay on SSI? If I change, will the amount I collect increase?
In reply to I've been on SSI for by Jeanne C. (not verified)
Hi Jeanne,
Hi Jeanne,
You may be eligible to collect benefits based off of your Ex's work record if he is receiving social security disability benefits or if he is receiving retirement benefits.
I am on disability since 2006
I am on disability since 2006. I have an outstanding NYS retirement loan....what happens when I am of retirement age? I'm afraid I won't have any income when it converts. What happens when I die to loan?Also my son is receiving a check since I am on SSD and hes 18in Dec what happens to his portion? Is it gone? Do I then receive the $? I need to make sure I can survive financially
In reply to I am on disability since 2006 by Cheryl (not verified)
Hi Cheryl,
Hi Cheryl,
I'm not really knowledgeable about finance, so I really could not give you advice about your retirement loan with any confidence. However, I do know that your child may stop receiving benefits once they are 18, however you would not receive that money yourself after that point.
I started receiving ssdi in
I started receiving ssdi in May of this year.My question is do I use my existing insurance or do I have to be on Medicare insurance? I'm also turning 65 in June 2017, do I need to sign up for Medicare then.
In reply to I started receiving ssdi in by Judy (not verified)
Hi Judy,
Hi Judy,
Generally you become eligible for Medicare two years after you become disabled. With Medicare after retirement, you do not have to enroll immediately, but you may face penalties for late enrollment.
I am eligible to receive a
I am eligible to receive a pension when I turn 60. How will this affect my social security disability benefits?
In reply to I am eligible to receive a by Lori (not verified)
Hi Lori,
Hi Lori,
If you are not receiving SSI benefits ( those are income based), then it may not affect your benefits at all.
If I recieved SSDI when can I
If I recieved SSDI when can I increase my award if I go on my husbands work record instead of mine? If not now can I increase it at 65 and will it affect his monies
In reply to If I recieved SSDI when can I by R James Leghey (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You can increase your benefits if you are eligible for benefits on your spouse's work record and you are not entitled to a larger amount of benefits under your own work record.
My husband is an amputee,
My husband is an amputee, been on ssdi for 5 years. I understand when he reaches retirement age that the check amount will not be affected, however, when I go to retire, can I draw half of his check amount at the ssdi benefit, or does it revert to half of his amount if he was not disabled?
In reply to My husband is an amputee, by Mary (not verified)
Hi Mary,
Hi Mary,
You would be eligible for auxiliary benefits on his account for about half of what he would be receiving at that time. His benefits may not change when they convert to retirement benefits.
I'm 61, trying to get
I'm 61, trying to get disability benefits. My husband will be 66 and get full retirement. If I get disability, will I still get my husbands SS benefits at 62 added to my disability. I was going to take early retirement at 62 anyway, and would of received it.
Thanks
In reply to I'm 61, trying to get by Patricia (not verified)
Hi Patricia,
Hi Patricia,
You may only be able to receive one or the other, it is generally the higher amount of the two.
This is an amazing resource
This is an amazing resource for help with a very frustrating benefit program! My question is this: My children's father was on SSI and SSDI until NH decided that I made enough on my SSDI, $788, to support him and our two minor children. Since my rent was more than that, I don't understand how I was supposed to be able to support the 4 of us with just the additional $238 he was still receiving from SSDI at that time. Anyways, he was sent a disability review, but we had moved so he didn't receive it. In 2014, his SSDI was stopped. I contacted the Concord NH SSA office and they told me what happened. When I asked what I could do, they said to complete the medical review information and bring it to the SSA office and file a reconsideration. At this time, we were in VT so I did what I was told there. This was in 2015. He still isn't receiving anything, but will be 62 in March of 2017. I do not know how to proceed with any of this. Do I file another reconsideration? Or do I just apply for his early retirement? Both? Neither? Obviously, I am clueless! By the way, my son's benefits on my record had been stopped because of a clerical error and it took over a year to get those reinstated! I have even more horror stories!
In reply to This is an amazing resource by Debbie S. (not verified)
Hi Debbie,
Hi Debbie,
While you may have filed the reconsideration in Vermont, SSI funds are handled by state (meaning that you may have to re-apply when you move to a new state), and so you may need to re-apply in Vermont for SSI benefits.
I'm on disability and I
I'm on disability and I see that it won't change over to retirement until I reach 66. So that means if I decide to work as a waitress two days a week, I'll have to report that income. If I wait until I'm 66 do I still have to report that extra income?
In reply to I'm on disability and I by Suzanna (not verified)
Hi Suzanna,
Hi Suzanna,
You may not have to report that income as there are not earnings limits for retirement benefits.
My ex is receiving SSDI
My ex is receiving SSDI benefits He was born in 1957. Is he going to be able to collect 50% of my soc sec benefits when he reaches retirement age and if so at what age will he be able to do this.
In reply to My ex is receiving SSDI by Ann (not verified)
Hi Ann,
Hi Ann,
He would not collect half of your benefits, he would collect an amount that would be about half of your benefits if he was eligible to do so. The amount of money that you would get from the SSA would not be affected by an ex collecting on your work record.
In reply to Hi Ann, by Bryan
thank you for your reply to
thank you for your reply to my question 9-30-2016 re; my ex receiving half of my soc sec. He is currently collecting SSDI. What is the criteria for him being eligible , and would the amount be based on my estimated amount at 62,66 or 70. I am not collecting soc sec at this time . I understand your answer I'm not clear on "if he was eligible". If I don't collect soc sec until 70 is his amt based on that or my first eligibility at 62.I am 66 at this time and he is 59
In reply to thank you for your reply to by Ann (not verified)
Hi Ann,
Hi Ann,
He would need to meet these criteria:
You were married to the person for over ten years;
You are at least 62 years old;
You are currently unmarried; and
You are not eligible for a larger Social Security payment on your own record.
In reply to Hi Ann, by Bryan
I don't understand what
I don't understand what" if I am not eligible for a larger soc sec payment on my own record" means.
In reply to I don't understand what by ann (not verified)
Hi Ann,
Hi Ann,
If you would get less money on your own work record than your spouse's work record and you are eligible for benefits on their account, you would get benefits based on their work record.
In reply to thank you for your reply to by Ann (not verified)
would my ex's amount be
would my ex's amount be based on my soc sec at age 62,66 or 70..I'm planning on collecting soc sec at 70
In reply to would my ex's amount be by ann (not verified)
Hi Ann,
Hi Ann,
Your ex's amount would be based on whatever your amount would be, not a specific number or age.
I have been on SSDI since
I have been on SSDI since 1996, receive long term disability that will stop at 65, will my Social Security increase due to losing long term from work?
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