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
If my ex is receiving some of
If my ex is receiving some of my Retirement from my will she receive any more when my Social Security convert to Social Security Retirement?
In reply to If my ex is receiving some of by Rodney J (not verified)
Hi Rodney,
Hi Rodney,
I do not believe so. She would be able to earn more from working in addition to receiving retirement benefits, but that is all.
In reply to Hi Rodney, by Deanna
My son was born legally blind
My son was born legally blind. He gets ssdi benefits. I doubt that he will have work credits. Will his ssdi benefits change when he turns 65?
In reply to My son was born legally blind by dayle hudson (not verified)
I am also a 'legally
I am also a 'legally blind' SIDI man under " the blindness rules".
The switch to Retirement Benefits is automatic are his Full Retirement Age. This is determined by the year he was born. ssa.gov has a chart with birth years & a FULL Retirement Age Chart, this will tell you if his switch is when between 65 to 67.
If he does work, he can then earn any amount with NO limits after full ret. age.
In reply to I am also a 'legally by Robert Greenwood (not verified)
Hi Robert,
Hi Robert,
Thank you for sharing!
In reply to My son was born legally blind by dayle hudson (not verified)
When I reach age 66; I will
When I reach age 66; I will begin to receive retirement benefits; I wanted too know if the amount I will receive from retirement will be added with the ssdi or do the ssdi stop & you only receive retirement benefits???
In reply to When I reach age 66; I will by Heidi M. Williams (not verified)
HI Heidi,
HI Heidi,
The SSDI benefits would cease and you would receive the same amount as retirement benefits.
In reply to HI Heidi, by Bryan
Please clarify: I receive
Please clarify: I receive $1200 a month now. when I am 65 (my age where SSI changes to regular social security is 67).
When I am 65, I will receive a $350 a month annuity from my old company; that is all. What will be my net take home per month will it be $1550 or will it be $1200 (b/c $850 will come from social security and $350 from the annuity.)
Also, when my SSI converts to regular Social security benefits at age 67 will then I be keeping my $1200 per month AND my $350. The annuity could vary in years from 15 to life (with varying amounts.)
Thank you
In reply to Please clarify: I receive by Heide (not verified)
Hi Heide,
Hi Heide,
SSI will NOT convert to retirement. SSDI will change, but if you begin receiving additional benefits, your SSI payments will likely decrease. The dollar amount you'll lose will not be as high as it would be for many because you're receiving unearned income. If you are receiving SSDI and SSI at the same time, when you receive your retirement benefits you'll likely lose the SSI but keep the SSDI (converted to retirement) and your annuity.
In reply to HI Heidi, by Bryan
I'm confused. When I
I'm confused. When I reach retirement age, my disability converts to retirement, but you're saying it stays the same amount ? I also get a long-term disability payment from my employer will that change ? Thanks so much I was totally unaware of any of this !
In reply to I'm confused. When I by Maryann (not verified)
Hi Maryann,
Hi Maryann,
Generally, your benefits amount would not change, however you may want to contact the company that administers your employer's long term disability policy about this as they'd have specific details about your policy.
In reply to Hi Maryann, by Bryan
Yes contact your disability
Yes contact your disability insurance My insurance benefit stops at 65 and all I have is SS
In reply to I'm confused. When I by Maryann (not verified)
I too am confused. I'm
I too am confused. I'm on disability so I get paid on the 3rd. If I understand the rules I have to go from 3rd of October to November 22. Please tell me I'm wrong
In reply to I too am confused. I'm by Sue (not verified)
Hi Sue, You may want to
Hi Sue, You may want to contact the SSA regarding this.
In reply to I'm confused. When I by Maryann (not verified)
Will my disability payments
Will my disability payments when changed to retirement remain the same?
In reply to Will my disability payments by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
It should remain the same once you retire.
In reply to I'm confused. When I by Maryann (not verified)
Hi Maryann,
Hi Maryann,
I, too, was on Long Term Disability through my company, who I'd actually physically worked for 12 years prior to being forced to stop working due to unbearable chronic pain. The company also kept me on ALL of my insurance plans that I'd been on prior to going on LTD (medical, dental, vision, life). However, I was made to apply for Soc Sec Disability and was eventually approved. So, I remained on BOTH for the next 9 years. My LTD payment was "adjusted" (went way down) according to what SSD was then paying me. When I turned full retirement age, ALL of my Long Term Disability Benefits ENDED, including the paycheck and all of the insurance plans. The "party" was OVER, so to speak! NO MORE LTD whatsoever once I turned 66. All of that information should have been in your Policy Book from your company in the fine print! At the same time, I was changed from SSD to regular Social Security (Retirement) and the amount of my SS check did NOT change.
In reply to HI Heidi, by Bryan
Nothing more than.what.I.am
Nothing more than.what.I.am receiving.now
In reply to When I reach age 66; I will by Heidi M. Williams (not verified)
I want to know if the amount
I want to know if the amount of my sad I will change to a smaller amount than the sad I I am getting
In reply to I want to know if the amount by Sheila Boger (not verified)
Hi Sheila,
Hi Sheila,
When your SSDI switches to retirement benefits, the amount should stay the same.
In reply to My son was born legally blind by dayle hudson (not verified)
Will he not draw off of your
Will he not draw off of your social security when you pass away?
In reply to Will he not draw off of your by Sister of a di… (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
Generally you can draw off a spouse's disability if you are over a certain age and they are deceased.
In reply to Hi there, by Bryan
My ex and I both disabled. He
My ex and I both disabled. He passed. At time, prior 36 mo to his ssdi he made more than me. I asked if I could receive difference, ss office said no.
In reply to My ex and I both disabled. He by Kat (not verified)
Hi Kat,
Hi Kat,
I'm sorry but that is indeed correct! You can receive benefits under his account if you're age 50+ or if you have a child under age 16, but you cannot receive additional benefits on top of your own.
In reply to If my ex is receiving some of by Rodney J (not verified)
Will the SSI disability
Will the SSI disability amount change when I turn retirement age 66?
In reply to Will the SSI disability by Annie S. (not verified)
Hi Annie,
Hi Annie,
If you are still eligible for SSI benefits, then it may change depending on what you would receive for SSA retirement benefits.
In reply to Will the SSI disability by Annie S. (not verified)
Will I receive more benefits
Will I receive more benefits than I do now through SSDI when I turn 62 yrs
In reply to Will I receive more benefits by George Lessa (not verified)
Hi George,
Hi George,
I really could not say as I do not have specific information about your case, however you would have a reduced benefit as you would be retiring early.
In reply to Hi George, by Bryan
Bryan if U get $800 a month
Bryan if U get $800 a month now on SSD and reach my full retirement age I understand I lose SSD and collect SS retire ment BUT can my check decrease in the amount I will receive?? God I hope not! Can't make it now!
In reply to Bryan if U get $800 a month by Shar Marti (not verified)
Hi Shar,
Hi Shar,
When your SSD changes to SS retirement, nothing changes.
In reply to Will I receive more benefits by George Lessa (not verified)
I get a decent amount for
I get a decent amount for SSDI benefits.. I was born in 1953 ... I am 63 years old ... Will my income go down if I switch to social security benefits?
In reply to I get a decent amount for by Michele A Fildes (not verified)
Hi Michele,
Hi Michele,
Your payment was "frozen" when approved for SSDI, so you are currently earning the highest payment you could.
In reply to Will I receive more benefits by George Lessa (not verified)
I would like to know when i
I would like to know when i turn 62 will my benefits increase on SSDI
In reply to I would like to know when i by Horace (not verified)
Hi Horace,
Hi Horace,
It may not change when you turn 62.
In reply to Will I receive more benefits by George Lessa (not verified)
will I receive more benefits
will I receive more benefits than my SSDI when I turn 62 years old
In reply to will I receive more benefits by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
your benefits amount may not change.
In reply to Will I receive more benefits by George Lessa (not verified)
If you were born in 1956 and
If you were born in 1956 and became permanently disabled at 49 and the award letter said that you will receive full SS at 62, has it now changed?
In reply to If you were born in 1956 and by Charisse Zaremba (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
You may want to speak with a SSA rep regarding that.
In reply to Will the SSI disability by Annie S. (not verified)
Will the SSD amount change
Will the SSD amount change when I'm at retirement age. If so how much does it go down
In reply to Will the SSD amount change by Rhonda (not verified)
HI Rhonda,
HI Rhonda,
Your benefits may not change if you convert to retirement benefits at full retirement age.
In reply to If my ex is receiving some of by Rodney J (not verified)
Does my benefit increase at
Does my benefit increase at 66 if i am receiving ssid now?
In reply to Does my benefit increase at by donald richardson (not verified)
Hi Donald,
Hi Donald,
Your SSDI will convert to retirement with no changes to the amount.
Will my monthly check drop
Will my monthly check drop
In reply to Will my monthly check drop by Gene (not verified)
Will my monthly disability
Will my monthly disability check change
In reply to Will my monthly disability by Susan Ketterer (not verified)
As stated in the article
As stated in the article above, no, it will not.
In reply to Will my monthly disability by Susan Ketterer (not verified)
I'm getting ssdi I will
I'm getting ssdi I will be 62 this July I received Medicare card in the mail what do I need to do will my benefits continue
In reply to I'm getting ssdi I will by marilyn (not verified)
Hi Marilyn,
Hi Marilyn,
Yes, your benefits will continue regardless of your age, so long as you still are disabled and aren't working.
In reply to Hi Marilyn, by Deanna
I received disability now
I received disability now when I get to 62 will my benefits change
In reply to I received disability now by Kenneth (not verified)
Hi Kenneth,
Hi Kenneth,
They may not change unless you choose to take early retirement.
In reply to I received disability now by Kenneth (not verified)
When I become eligible for
When I become eligible for social security will the amount of money I get now change
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