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 Hi Angela, by Bryan
I,m 66 and received a ss
I,m 66 and received a ss letter saying i,m now on ss. Can I work. I was on ssd.
In reply to I,m 66 and received a ss by Jenny Stegall (not verified)
Hi Jenny,
Hi Jenny,
If your benefits were converted to Retirement benefits, then you would be able to work without any restriction as retirement benefits do not have an earned income limit.
In reply to Will my monthly disability by Susan Ketterer (not verified)
Wanted to no if my ssdi
Wanted to no if my ssdi change when I turn 65
In reply to Wanted to no if my ssdi by mrs martha jan… (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
your SSDI benefits would convert to retirement benefits, however the amount would not change.
In reply to Will my monthly disability by Susan Ketterer (not verified)
Will my social security
Will my social security disability change at retirement age
In reply to Will my social security by Ronald p mañning (not verified)
Hi Ronald,
Hi Ronald,
Yes, it would change to regular retirement at the same amount you receive now.
In reply to Will my monthly disability by Susan Ketterer (not verified)
I am on as disability. Will
I am on as disability. Will my money drop when I hit retirement age? I get 1211.00 now. Will it drop to 600. I am disabled for life
In reply to I am on as disability. Will by debbie (not verified)
Hi Debbie,
Hi Debbie,
Your benefit amount may not change after retirement age.
In reply to Will my monthly disability by Susan Ketterer (not verified)
will my disability change to
will my disability change to social i just turn 65 and receive 1340
will social be higher?
In reply to will my disability change to by ronald (not verified)
Hi Ronald,
Hi Ronald,
Your benefit amount may not change when it converts to retirement benefits.
In reply to Will my monthly check drop by Gene (not verified)
Since am working part time
Since am working part time will my ssid increase Since am still paying into my ssid taxes
In reply to Since am working part time by Francinamitchell (not verified)
No it will not. If you were
No it will not. If you were working enough for your benefits to go up, you will become disqualified from SSDI benefits.
In reply to No it will not. If you were by Deanna
This answer is in correct, I
This answer is in correct, I have been on ssdi since 2004 and I worked from 2009-2013 until I had a tumor on the brain partially removed, I was earning around 700 a month part time and each year my ck increased some, and it was not because of the cola because some years there was no cola increase but I got one anyway.
In reply to This answer is in correct, I by Pamela (not verified)
Hi Pam,
Hi Pam,
That may be your state supplement if you also receive SSI benefits, that would increase your check.
In reply to Will my monthly check drop by Gene (not verified)
When my disability benefits
When my disability benefits switch to retirement benefits at age 66, what per centage of my check will i lose
In reply to When my disability benefits by Fran (not verified)
Hi Fran,
Hi Fran,
The amount will stay the same, the benefits will just change from SSDI benefits to retirement benefits.
In reply to When my disability benefits by Fran (not verified)
You do not lose any of your
You do not lose any of your benefits!
In reply to Will my monthly check drop by Gene (not verified)
Will the amount that I get
Will the amount that I get for my SSD be different then Mt retirement check
In reply to Will the amount that I get by Renee Rivers (not verified)
Hi Renee,
Hi Renee,
It may be the same, generally the amount doesn't change when disability benefits transfer to retirement benefits.
In reply to Will my monthly check drop by Gene (not verified)
Mine didn't change.
Mine didn't change.
In reply to Mine didn't change. by Dan Reiser (not verified)
Hi Dan,
Hi Dan,
Thank you for sharing your story!
In reply to Will my monthly check drop by Gene (not verified)
Will my benefits increase or
Will my benefits increase or decrease when I turn to retirement age
In reply to Will my benefits increase or by Ebb lakes (not verified)
Hi Ebb,
Hi Ebb,
They will stay exactly the same.
In reply to Will my monthly check drop by Gene (not verified)
will my social security drop
will my social security drop after age 70
In reply to will my social security drop by norman johnson (not verified)
HI Norman,
HI Norman,
If you are already receiving retirement benefits, they may not change.
how much can i expect to
how much can i expect to receive at retirement age 67 in 2034 with current ssdi gross16546.80 ?
what is the formula for that ? thank you
In reply to how much can i expect to by max (not verified)
Hi Max,
Hi Max,
We actually cannot calculate that. The SSA changes its formula slightly every year, so you won't know until your year of retirement.
I have an opportunity to
I have an opportunity to accept gainful employment and am currently receiving SSDI. I will be 65 in December and want to drop SSDI and begin receiving Social Security which will allow me to earn more than I legally can under SSDI. I know I will lose $1 for every $2 I earn over $15,700. My question is, can I do this and will I receive the same amount of Social Security I would have normally received if I had become age 66--less the penalty which I figure would be 7.3%?
In reply to I have an opportunity to by Billy white (not verified)
Hi Billy,
Hi Billy,
I believe your retirement percentage would be significantly lower if you have been receiving SSDI for a number of years. Wouldn't the SSA take your unearned income years as 0s towards your work history if you work enough to become disqualified from SSDI benefits and then just take full retirement benefits? Hopefully someone else knows a lot more about this than I do! I would personally advise waiting until you hit full retirement age and have your full SSDI benefits, plus the opportunity to work as much as you please.
In reply to Hi Billy, by Deanna
you can make up to 700.00
you can make up to 700.00 per month , and still be on Disability, with out it effecting your disability income. Just watch your earnings and don't go over 700.00 , there is a penalty if you go over , put I don't know how the penalty works. And of course there the Ticket to work program , if you work passed 9 months , it could cut your disability, it' s just a trial to see in you can hold down a full time job under pressure under a hi demanding supervisor. I have panic attacks when anyone rushes me and I become dis functional .plus about 6 other disorders
In reply to you can make up to 700.00 by srt (not verified)
Hi srt,
Hi srt,
It's true, you can work without losing benefits, though the amount you can earn really depends on if you're getting SSDI or SSI
In reply to you can make up to 700.00 by srt (not verified)
The amount is an average of
The amount is an average of $1,060.00/mo. of earned income before SSDI is reduced. Even after the trial work period of 9 months, you still are able to pay to stay on Medicare for 7 more years. Also, if you need to return to disability, all that is required is informing your local SS Office. It is an automatic thing and does not require a re-application until you have been working for 3 consecutive years. So, the reality is is that it is best to determine what you really can do physically and if it makes sense to earn just over the maximum each month to eliminate your benefits.
In reply to The amount is an average of by Richard Bredon (not verified)
Thanks for the info, Richard!
Thanks for the info, Richard!
In reply to you can make up to 700.00 by srt (not verified)
The ticket to work program is
The ticket to work program is not none comsecutive months and it has to be substantial gainfull employment and 700 a month is not SGE! I know because I did it and if it had been SGE that nine months can turn out to be years because it is not consecutive. I worked for four years part time eaning less than 720 a month and that amount increases periodically just keep ckeckng on it.
In reply to The ticket to work program is by Pamela (not verified)
Hi Pamela,
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for sharing!
In reply to Hi Pamela, by Bryan
I have a question. I am
I have a question. I am currently receiving disability payments monthly and have for the last five years. I will turn age 62 in November 2017. Will I be able to get on early retirement at 62 and get off of disability without decreasing the amount of retirement too much? Again, I will turn 62 in November 2017. Would that hurt me too much to wait until 66 years of age so that I can get off of disability and try to work some?
In reply to I have a question. I am by Karen V. (not verified)
Hi Karen,
Hi Karen,
I really could not say if it would reduce your benefits 'too much', however early retirement may reduce your benefits as much as 30%, and you may still be able to work ( with some restrictions) while receiving benefits. You can find out more here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/blog/trial-work-period-rules
In reply to I have an opportunity to by Billy white (not verified)
I believe that your SSDI
I believe that your SSDI turns into "retirement" Social Security automatically at your personal SSA retirement age (66years old) and the amount stays the same unless I am misunderstanding the question.
I was determined disabled in,
I was determined disabled in, I believe, 1995. I am told however that I'm receiving SSI even though I was born in 1950. This is confusing to me. Can someone explain to me why?
In reply to I was determined disabled in, by Sharon Tucker (not verified)
Hi Sharon,
Hi Sharon,
SSI is available for people of all ages. I do not believe your SSI benefits would convert if you hit full retirement age.
In reply to I was determined disabled in, by Sharon Tucker (not verified)
Hi, my understanding is that
Hi, my understanding is that people that receive SSI are these that haven't worker and paid into to Social Security taxes, these on SSDI are these that worker and paid in.
In reply to Hi, my understanding is that by Peggy (not verified)
Hi Peggy,
Hi Peggy,
that is true! However SSDI eligibility ends at retirement age, and SSI eligibility has no such restriction.
In reply to I was determined disabled in, by Sharon Tucker (not verified)
SSI is not social security it
SSI is not social security it is supplemental security income and you qualify if you did not earn enough to get full SSDI or earned enough to pay into SS, and the rules are different.
SSI is a needs based program an so every dollar you earn they reduce your SSI dollar for dollar, but you get medicaid with ssi even if you only get $1 a month.
You can also work & receive both ssdi and ssi but in order not to loose your medicaid keep it under $720 a month. That amount is for ssi rules its not considered SGE, but under ssdi rules program earning over $1000 or more is SGE, they will deduct for medicare premiums if you go over $720 a month if your on ssi. One of the benefits is ssi pays your Medicare premiums. The $720 also helps them recalculate your ssdi for little increases while reducing your ssi. I get $19 in ssi and they give me medicaid and pay my medicare premiums. It gets complicated if you are on both programs. I suggest reading their website its all their.
In reply to SSI is not social security it by Pam (not verified)
Hi Pam,
Hi Pam,
Thank you for sharing! We do have more information about concurrent SSDI and SSI, you can find that info here as well!
If someone has been receiving
If someone has been receiving social security benefits for 10 years and therefore only has 25 years of earnings at age 65, will the amount of retirement benefits he receives be lower than the amount of disability benefits he had been receiving?
In reply to If someone has been receiving by Lindsey Ripley (not verified)
Hi Lindsey,
Hi Lindsey,
They actually won't. When an applicant is approved for SSDI, his/her earnings statement goes through what's called a "disability freeze." This means that the amount of SSDI benefits earned monthly will remain the same, even throughout retirement after the recipient has not been working.
At 62 can I do a sit down job
At 62 can I do a sit down job or will I still loose everything including my medicare. Been disabled since age 56? Just got bills from drs pilling up and cancer
In reply to At 62 can I do a sit down job by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You can earn up to $1090 per month and still qualify for benefits. Hopefully that can help you make ends meet.
In reply to Hi there, by Deanna
I receive Medicare and ssdi
I receive Medicare and ssdi payments monthly I am forced financially to take part time work will i loose my payments and Medicare I am 60 will be 61 in April 2016
In reply to I receive Medicare and ssdi by Jackie (not verified)
Hi Jackie,
Hi Jackie,
It's possible to work while receiving SSDI, however if you earnings are too high you would lose your benefits.
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