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 am 55 on ssi will I receive by Renee D (not verified)
Hi Renee,
Hi Renee,
If you are on income-based benefits, your benefit amount may increase.
Will the amount change when
Will the amount change when I convert to retirement
In reply to Will the amount change when by Scott white (not verified)
Hi Scott,
Hi Scott,
It may not change when your benefits convert to retirement.
I AM RECIEVING SSA DIAABILITY
I AM RECIEVING SSA DIAABILITY.I WILL BE 62 IN APRIL WILL I BE ABLE TO DRAW MY SOCIAL SECURITY EARLY ARE SO I HAVE TO KEEP DRAWING THIS CHECK. I NO YOU CAN GET EARLY SOCIAL SECURITY IN ALABAMA.I LIVE IN ALABAMA
In reply to I AM RECIEVING SSA DIAABILITY by GLORIA BURTON (not verified)
Hi Gloria,
Hi Gloria,
Yes, you may be able to retire early, and your benefit amount may not change.
I had been receiving SSDI
I had been receiving SSDI benefits for several years. I tried going back to do some work and slowly started earning more than the amount allowed while collecting SSDI so they stopped my SSDI payments about 6 months prior to my reaching my Full Retirement Age. If it had not been stopped then the payments would have automatically turned into SS retirement benefits when I reached my FRA in a few months.
Since I was collecting SSDI benefits will my SS retirement benefits automatically restart when I reach FRA or do I now have to reapply for it ?
In reply to I had been receiving SSDI by Ryan (not verified)
Hi Ryan,
Hi Ryan,
You may need to contact the SSA before you start receiving those benefits again.
I am now receiving 1763 in
I am now receiving 1763 in SSDI now. When I reach 66 And start receiving SSA
Retirement benefits will My monthly benefits increase due to a cost of living raise?
In reply to I am now receiving 1763 in by Dianne Jackson (not verified)
Hi Dianne,
Hi Dianne,
Your benefits may not increase due to them coverting to retirement benefits, and the SSA will announce any cost of living increases that they may be planning.
Will my ssdi be increased
Will my ssdi be increased when I reach retirement age of 66
In reply to Will my ssdi be increased by John l decosta (not verified)
Hi John,
Hi John,
No, it will stay exactly the same.
If I switch from SSDI TO
If I switch from SSDI TO early retirement what happens. Is the amount less?
In reply to If I switch from SSDI TO by Teresa (not verified)
Hi Teresa,
Hi Teresa,
I do not believe you can switch to retirement at 62, but even if you could, I would not recommend it! You will be taking a reduced payment, about 75% of what you're earning now.
My husband is on disability.
My husband is on disability. Can he change to social security at 62 ?
In reply to My husband is on disability. by Mary (not verified)
Hi Mary,
Hi Mary,
He might be able to, but he'd only earn about 75% of his current SSDI payments.
I am currently applying for
I am currently applying for SSDI I am already on SSI, I am 63 yrs old however, If this goes through, my normal SSI is 744/mo, my SSDI would be 953, would it drop back down to 744/mo at my normal retirement age 66 yrs old.? Or will it stay at 953/mo???? also can I get Medicare sooner than 29 month and or Medicaid, ???
In reply to I am currently applying for by ML in iowa (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
You would have no change in retirement benefits if you convert from SSDI benefits to Social Security Retirement Benefits.
I am 57 years old and have
I am 57 years old and have been collecting SSDI for 6 years, I am divorced after 20 years of marriage, Ive been divorced for 8 years. My ex-wife is 64 years old, she is 7 years older than me. Can I collect any of her Social Security now or do I have to wait until she starts collecting or do I have to wait until I am of actual retirement age, even though I am permanantly disabled. Neither of us have remarried either. Thank you
Jim
In reply to I am 57 years old and have by Jim M. (not verified)
Hi Jim,
Hi Jim,
If you are entitled to benefits based off of your ex-wife's accounts, you may be able to collect benefits from that regardless of retirement age. You can find some more information here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/blog/divorce-ssdi
I currently receive SS
I currently receive SS Disability-I'm 65 & I know it won't switch to regular until I'm 66. My question is can I receive Disability on my husband's work history which is higher than mine or do I have to wait until I'm 66? Is there anyway to compare the 2 now to see what the difference in $ would be?
In reply to I currently receive SS by Deb J. (not verified)
Hi Deb,
Hi Deb,
You may need to wait until you are either divorced or 65 to receive benefits based on his account, you can find some more information here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/blog/divorce-ssdi
When my husband was working,
When my husband was working, his retirement was $2500/month. He started getting SSDI in 2010 which is $1850/month. Why, when he reached retirement age, did it not convert to the original retirement amount?
In reply to When my husband was working, by Tana Hager (not verified)
Hi Tana,
Hi Tana,
That may not include any pensions he received from work, additionally he may have miscalculated the amount of his Social Security Retirement Benefits.
In reply to When my husband was working, by Tana Hager (not verified)
Hi Tana,
Hi Tana,
That may not include any pensions he received from work, additionally he may have miscalculated the amount of his Social Security Retirement Benefits.
In reply to When my husband was working, by Tana Hager (not verified)
Hi Tana,
Hi Tana,
That may not include any pensions he received from work, additionally he may have miscalculated the amount of his Social Security Retirement Benefits.
My wife went on SS disability
My wife went on SS disability when she was 59 in 2010 and I believe started receiving payments equal to that if she was at full retirement age (66). Next June she will be at full retirement age and I was wondering if she has the choice of either receiving her full benefit or 1/2 of mine which is higher?
In reply to My wife went on SS disability by Mike Horrocks (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
Your wife would be eligible for whichever benefit would be higher, so if that is auxiliary benefits based on your work record, she may receive that instead of benefits based on her work record.
Is there anyway to get an
Is there anyway to get an increase of your ssdi check. Do they base the amount that you get on your check on your working your years amount.
In reply to Is there anyway to get an by Wilson (not verified)
Hi Wilson,
Hi Wilson,
Yes, they base that amount on your past earnings.
I recieved a leter from ss
I recieved a leter from ss saying my ssdi benafits would be recalculated when i reach fssr age will this happen automatic will it go up??
In reply to I recieved a leter from ss by john (not verified)
Hi John,
Hi John,
Generally, benefits do not change when they convert to retirement.
I am on social security
I am on social security disability. I was hurt on the job . I have been on this since 2012. I was given a lump sum for workersm comp. does this affect how much money I get. I know fellow workers that made and average of $45000 to $55000 a year like me that get about $1800 when I only get $1600. Can I have my benefits recalculated? This system of payment doesn't seem fair. I have lost my means of income .
In reply to I am on social security by Bonita (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
Your worker's comp settlement may not have affected your payment, however your average lifetime earnings do have an effect on your benefit amount.
1. I am 64 and on SSDI and
1. I am 64 and on SSDI and get $2090.00. Can I convert over to SSR at 65 instead of waiting for 66?
2. Will I get the same amount of money,less the 7 2/3%, for claiming it 1 year early of my FRA?
In reply to 1. I am 64 and on SSDI and by Ric (not verified)
Hi Ric,
Hi Ric,
If you convert to retirement benefits, then you may not have the penalty for early retirement as you are already receiving disability benefits.
In reply to Hi Ric, by Bryan
I noticed you use the word
I noticed you use the word "may" a lot in your comments as opposed to"will".Which leaves room for speculation.I'm tired of meeting the SSDI benefit requirements (doctor visits and meds).I just want to covert to SSR. at 65 and live out my life.What your saying is I will be getting my $2090 SSDI benefit no more no less
In reply to I noticed you use the word by Ric (not verified)
Hi Ric,
Hi Ric,
We use 'may' rather than will because we really don't have all the details about your case, we are an independent organization with no affiliation with the SSA or the federal government. However, SSDI recipients who convert to retirement benefits do not have a penalty if they retire early.
Hello... I have been on SSDI
Hello... I have been on SSDI since my injury in 2002, but I am only receiving a little over $700.00. When I reach the age for SSI at 66, how does one survive on this small amount, if my SSI does not change?
Very concerned. =(
In reply to Hello... I have been on SSDI by NormaF (not verified)
Hi Norma,
Hi Norma,
SSI and SS Retirement benefits are different programs, you may be entitled to more that $700 on SS retirement benefits.
I have been told about
I have been told about spousal benefits.
Could you give me information please.
In reply to I have been told about by Lynn Stevenson (not verified)
Hi Lynn,
Hi Lynn,
Sure thing! You can find some info about spousal benefits here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/blog/marriage-social-security-d…
My husband's social
My husband's social security disability benefits are being transitioned to retirement because he is 65. They are going to withhold January's check because of this and he will not receive his social security benefits until Feb 2017. Can they do this?
In reply to My husband's social by Biancia Tate (not verified)
Hi Bianca,
Hi Bianca,
You may want to contact your local SSA office, they can give you detailed information about your husband's claim. You can find a listing of them here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/social-security-disability-loca…
I turn 65 in 3/2017.
I turn 65 in 3/2017. Currently on DDI, only source of income. If I can begin drawing retirement benefits (monthly annuity) from past employer in June 2017, how will this affect my DDI? If I convert my DDI to regular Social Security benefits in June, 2017, I won't yet be 66. So, will my monthly DDI benefits be reduced?
In reply to I turn 65 in 3/2017. by Bonnie (not verified)
Hi Bonnie,
Hi Bonnie,
If you're receiving benefits based off of your work record, then your benefit amount may not change once it converts to retirement benefits. Additionally, Retirement benefits do not have an income limit, so you would be able to collect that annuity and also receive your retirement benefits without issue.
Can I collect spousal
Can I collect spousal benefits on my wife's account if she is not yet retirement age? How would this affect her benefit when she claims? How would it affect mine if I convert to my own account?
In reply to Can I collect spousal by Randy (not verified)
Hi Randy,
Hi Randy,
SSDI benefits do not allow people to collect off their partner's benefits if their partner is not disabled, and they are not of retirement age.
So when I get regular
So when I get regular retirement age my SSDI benefit amount won't go down. But my Midicare amount may raise as much as 200.00 a month? Is that even if I have a supplement through my former employer such as Kaiser?
In reply to So when I get regular by Kathy (not verified)
Hi Kathy,
Hi Kathy,
I'm not aware of any raises in the price of Medicare after retiring, however having a supplemental plan would not affect any Medicare premiums you would be subject to.
I currently draw Disability
I currently draw Disability benefits. When I reach full retirement age would I be able to draw regular SS benefits from my husband since he is still working and paying SSA. I didn't know if I might be able to draw at a higher monthly rate. Thanks
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