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
Say, you are on social
Say, you are on social security disability prior to age 65 yr. Now you are ready to retire, does this lower your income amount when you do retire?
In reply to Say, you are on social by Bernie (not verified)
Hi Bernie,
Hi Bernie,
Generally, the amount would not change from what you would receive with SSDI benefits.
I am 65 and currently
I am 65 and currently receiving SSDI.
Is there such a thing as "withdrawing" my retirement benefit before I reach age 66 and postponing it till I reach age 70?
If so, would I receive a higher monthly benefit than I currently receive now?
I realize you have no idea of what I receive now, but I can't seem to locate this info on my SSA online acct.
Can you help?
Thanks for any info on this
In reply to I am 65 and currently by Bill (not verified)
Hi Bill,
Hi Bill,
Your benefit amount may stay the same, even after full retirement age.
I will be 64 this April I
I will be 64 this April I have been on social security disability since I was 34 years of age Do I still have to wait until I'M 66 to collect full retirement without losing my money that I get from social security disability please reply thank you
In reply to I will be 64 this April I by Jim (not verified)
Hi Jim,
Hi Jim,
You may receive the same benefit amount when your benefits convert to retirement benefits.
Have a question regarding my
Have a question regarding my fiance'es disability. She had been getting SSI since 2014, last april she turned 62 and received a letter from Social Security aski9ng her to apply for Social Security under her ex husbands name which she did. She had also started getting retirement income from her first husband which she reported to Social Security when she started getting it. After they approved har SSD she received a letter that her SSI would be$0. She contacted Social Security and they told her she had been overpayed around $16,000.00 and her monthly amount of SSI is 0$ and she didn't receive a payment for last month until she talked to them on the phone and they forced a paymentt. On Line it shows she gets a paqyment next month. Its hard for us to figure out whats going on with here account, she has no Idea wether or not she will be getting her payments. I know this is a long comment but we do not know what at this point to do. Her income right now is less than $500 per month without her SSD.
In reply to Have a question regarding my by Ron Larsen (not verified)
Hi Ron
Hi Ron
SSI is an income-based benefit, so if your spouse is receiving another type of benefit ( like ex-spouse benefits from SSDI or retirement benefits from an ex-spouse), that would affect her SSI benefit amount.
I recieve ssdi, when my ex
I recieve ssdi, when my ex spouse retires will i get half of his ssi in place of my ssdi? Or will i get both at the same time due to my disability?
In reply to I recieve ssdi, when my ex by Klynn (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You may not be eligible for benefits based off of his work record as those are not offered for SSI benefits.
An attorney told me I could
An attorney told me I could make up to $800 gross without it affectin my Social Security Disability Benefit. Is that accurate?
In reply to An attorney told me I could by Lorie (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
Your attorney may have been referring to the rules regarding the trial work period for SSDI beneficiaries, you can find it here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/blog/trial-work-period-rules
I currently receive SSDI. My
I currently receive SSDI. My husband will reach retirement age four years before me. Will he be entitled to receive the amount of my SSDI/SSA instead of his lower amount?
In reply to I currently receive SSDI. My by Shara (not verified)
Hi Shara,
Hi Shara,
He may be eligible to receive those benefits.
I'm getting Social
I'm getting Social Security disability. After I turn 66 years can I draw off my spouse? My spouse started drawing at age 62. Or can I draw off my ex spouse after 66 years. If so how does this work. I'm 64 now.
In reply to I'm getting Social by Linda cone (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You may be eligible to draw off of your spouse if you would receive a larger benefit amount based on your spouse's work record.
i will be 62 on 4/6/17 my
i will be 62 on 4/6/17 my spouse in on ssdi already since 2014 can i draw my ss at 62 and still work full time to keep insurance on my self and will her amount increase or stay the same until she reaches 65
In reply to i will be 62 on 4/6/17 my by taylor (not verified)
Hi Taylor,
Hi Taylor,
You may be able to work after retirement, and your spouse's benefits would not change if she on SSDI benefits as those are based on work record rather than income or financial resources.
I'm 62 years old and I
I'm 62 years old and I have been on Social Security disability for years because of my back and my heart and I have Parkinson's and I would like to try to go back to work to make some extra money and I was wondering if this would affect my social security disability
In reply to I'm 62 years old and I by Anonymous (not verified)
Hello,
Hello,
The only way it would affect your SSDI if the money you earn from your job exceeds the 2017 Monthly SGA amount, which is $1,170/Month.
Best,
Eric
I'm disabled and 53
I'm disabled and 53 years old now, drawing on my social security, my husband of 40 passed away, so now I get a check for survivorship too, will any of those incomes change?
In reply to I'm disabled and 53 by Tamara (not verified)
Hi Tamara,
Hi Tamara,
I'm sorry to hear that! You may want to speak with your local social security office regarding this to make sure that nothing will change, you may want to contact them at 1-800-772-1213
I've been receiving ssdi
I've been receiving ssdi from my father. I myself have a disability myself I recently saw that my ssdi changed as of this year to ssi. Is this normal and with this change would this effect me getting married to another disabled adult who gets ssdi? We both have disabilities and we are both concerned because of this change.
In reply to I've been receiving ssdi by Alison (not verified)
Hi Allison,
Hi Allison,
Getting married does not affect SSDI benefits.
-Eric
Hello.I'm confused..I am
Hello.I'm confused..I am on disability and have been for a couple years.I am 62years old, will my $$$ amount change and be less once I turn full retirement age?
In reply to Hello.I'm confused..I am by Karen (not verified)
Hi Karen,
Hi Karen,
If you are on SSDI benefits, when you retire nothing will change.
Best Wishes,
Eric
Currently 65 and receiving
Currently 65 and receiving ssd since 2009. Born 1952 and will reach ss age at 66. Will I receive as at a lower rate than my current ssd.
In reply to Currently 65 and receiving by Louis (not verified)
Hi Louis,
Hi Louis,
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.
Best Wishes,
Eric
Hi. My daughter (26) was born
Hi. My daughter (26) was born with spina bifida and is permanently disabled. She currently gets SSI/Medicaid and works part time at a minimum wage job. It's my understanding that when I retire next year, she'll go on to SSDI/Medicare, based on my work record. Should she stop working while the app for SSDI goes thru? How long does it usually take for approval? I expect no issues with her disability for eligibility purposes, but I wonder about the optics of her working. Thoughts? Thanx!
In reply to Hi. My daughter (26) was born by Tim (not verified)
Hi Tim,
Hi Tim,
As long as your daughter is not earning what the SSA would consider "Substantial Gainful Activity", which is $1170 a month in 2017, it may not affect her application. In addition, if she incurs expenses to work, that may also alter what the SSA would consider her monthly income as well.
In reply to Hi Tim, by Bryan
Thanx, Bryan! Also, if she
Thanx, Bryan! Also, if she earns over the SGA amount (after trials and whatnot), is her SSDI reduced incrementally like SSI? Or is it like a light switch that just turns it to off? Any estimate for the time it takes to get approved?
In reply to Thanx, Bryan! Also, if she by Tim (not verified)
Hi Tim,
Hi Tim,
SSDI benefit amounts would not change with income under the SGA amount, so that may not be an issue. As far as time of approval, I really could not say, however she may still be able to receive SSI during the application process.
In reply to Hi Tim, by Bryan
Mucho appreciated, Bryan!
Mucho appreciated, Bryan!
In reply to Mucho appreciated, Bryan! by Tim (not verified)
And perhaps one more....my
And perhaps one more....my daughter has a significant but not huge special needs trust. The assets are shielded from SSI limits, but are there any asset limits with SSDI? In know there's no problem with unearned income, but when she begins SSDI, are those assets going to create any problems? Thanx!
In reply to And perhaps one more....my by Tim (not verified)
Hi Tim,
Hi Tim,
That's a great question!
Those would not be a problem for SSDI as they would be counted as unearned income as well.
I am the personal
I am the personal representative for my sister on disability ss. Once she reaches retirement age do I have to continue as her personal representative which was required at the time she received her disability.
In reply to I am the personal by ROBIN (not verified)
Hi Robin,
Hi Robin,
You may need to do so, the SSA may appoint representative payees for people receiving SSA Retirement Benefits.
If on Social Security
If on Social Security Disability with a representative, at what age does it convert to regular Social Security without a reprentative?
In reply to If on Social Security by Linda (not verified)
Hi Linda,
Hi Linda,
he 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
Best Wishes,
Eric
I can't draw from ex
I can't draw from ex husband because we were not married a full ten years. Remarried and again not for ten years. Together we were married abot seventeen tears.so I can't
Hello
Hello
I took early retirement benefits at age 63 due to cancer...then became eligible for longterm disability and my benefit amount increased and switched to full retirement amount. I have no medical review date on my award letter. Since I took early retirement before the disability award..will they switch my monthly amount back to the early retirement amount when I turn full retirement age?
In reply to Hello by Betty (not verified)
Hi Betty,
Hi Betty,
If you're on disability benefits based off of your work record now, then your benefits amount would not change once you reach full retirement age.
SSA Publication No. 05-10153
SSA Publication No. 05-10153 ICN 480165 entitled “What You Need to Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits” states on page 7: “When you reach full retirement age, if you’re receiving Social Security disability benefits, your disability benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits, but the amount remains the same.”
Im 59 now n recieving ssdi
Im 59 now n recieving ssdi will i get my ssdi convert over at early age of 62 or i have wait for full retirment of 66 ???
In reply to Im 59 now n recieving ssdi by Mbh (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
There may be no change in benefits if you take early retirement, however it may be best to contact the SSA regarding this, you can contact them at 1-800-772-1213
I started receiving social
I started receiving social security benefits at age 62, at age 65 I became permanently disabled, can I receive an increase in my benefits
In reply to I started receiving social by Gladys (not verified)
Hi Gladys,
Hi Gladys,
I'm not sure that you would be able to, you may want to contact your local SSA office. You can find a listing of them here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/content/social-security-disabil…
If I'm getting
If I'm getting disability and die 62 or older and my wife is younger than me and haven't reached retirement age will she get any of it per month since it's disability & not retirement? If so what percentage rate of that will she get? Thanks
In reply to If I'm getting by Normam (not verified)
Hello,
Hello,
She might be able to under Survivor's benefits. As for the percentage, I cannot say since every case is different.
Best of Luck,
Eric
As I had coverage through my
As I had coverage through my husband's employer, I did not take Medicare when I was first disabled. I have been paying the penalty ever since I opted to accept the benefit. Several years ago, I checked with Social Security and was told that the penalty would vaporize when I turn 65. As I am now on the cusp of that birthday, I am double checking the accuracy of that detail. Many thanks!
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