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 are there rules, regulations by calvin (not verified)
Hi Calvin,
Hi Calvin,
Once you reach full retirement age, you would not be eligible for SSDI benefits, but if you are under the income and financial resource limits, you may be eligible for SSI benefits.
I live in Alabama and receive
I live in Alabama and receive a social security disability check. I am 61 years of age. I just received a letter stating that I need to do paperwork on my pension plan concerning how I want it to be paid. Can I defer my pension check until I am 61 years and 6 months and it not affect my disability check amount or will they still reduce my monthly check the amount of my pension check?
In reply to I live in Alabama and receive by Jayne (not verified)
Hi Jayne,
Hi Jayne,
If you're receiving your disability benefits based on work history, then you would have no change in your disability benefits as they would not be income-based.
I have been receiving SSDI
I have been receiving SSDI for a few years. I will be 65 in Nov. Can I get my pension with out penalty or do I have to wait till I'm 66. Thankyoh
In reply to I have been receiving SSDI by Ralph (not verified)
Hi Ralph,
Hi Ralph,
You would need to contact the company that is administering your pension as they would have detailed information about your pension.
I will be 65 next September I
I will be 65 next September I now receive s disability will my checks stay the sam
In reply to I will be 65 next September I by Margaret cericola (not verified)
Hi Margaret,
Hi Margaret,
If you're receiving disability based on your work record, there should be no change in benefits.
If one spouse receives SSDI
If one spouse receives SSDI will it affect the other spouse receiving SSDI? Also, is SSDI based on income or is it based on the amount a person would get under full Social Security Retirement? My sister-in-law never worked but is now disabled.
In reply to If one spouse receives SSDI by Odessa (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
SSDI benefits are based on work record. One spouse receiving SSDI will not affect the other's SSDI benefits.
Does the check amout change
Does the check amout change when you move from disability to retirement? (Social Security)
In reply to Does the check amout change by Martha Johnson (not verified)
Hi Martha,
Hi Martha,
If you're receiving disability based on your work record, there should be no change in benefits.
My mom is 74 and her
My mom is 74 and her disability never changed to retirement why
In reply to My mom is 74 and her by Carmen (not verified)
HI Carmen,
HI Carmen,
You may want to contact the SSA, however disability benefits convert to retirement at full retirement age, and the amount that you would receive would stay the same in that case.
I have 2 questions can I earn
I have 2 questions can I earn any money while drawing ssdi . If so is it possible to have a small business of your own to help supplement ssdi ?
In reply to I have 2 questions can I earn by Jay morris (not verified)
Hi Jay,
Hi Jay,
You may be able to do so, but it's a good idea to contact the SSA for information specific to your case.
My husband passed away at age
My husband passed away at age 61. I started drawing social security survival until I became disabled. At that time the survival Benefits stopped because social security said you cannot receive more than one and you draw which ever is most. I will turn age 66 in October. Social security said I will not have to do anything, that my benefits will just automatically change back to survivers benefits. Will it change in October or November? My birthday is October. Also, I'm confused about the amount and if it changes from the third Weds of month or to the first in October or not till November?
In reply to My husband passed away at age by Terri (not verified)
Hi Terri,
Hi Terri,
I really could not say, however you may want to contact the SSA to confirm the details of this change in your benefits.
How can I increase my SSD
How can I increase my SSD income?
In reply to How can I increase my SSD by Dcan (not verified)
Hello,
Hello,
You may want to contact the SSA regarding that. In certain cases, you may be able to qualify for an increase in benefits.
Hi Shane, I was Married to my
Hi Shane, I was Married to my ex husband in 1975 - we were separated in 1992 and divorced 1994, In 1992 I had to work to supplement what he was giving me, I worked 2 jobs in 1999 do to accident at one of my jobs, I Had to have emergency Back Surgery, At that time due to my accident I received Workers Comp. I continued to work my second job, until 2005, when i had to have another surgery on my back due to the accident in 1999 I then applied for SSD and received it, cause I could no longer work, so each month I received to checks one from Workers Comp & SSD, When I turned 66 this years 2017 I am now on straight SS & I still receive a check from Workers Comp. When I went to SS to make sure everything was right, i asked them if I was able to collect from my ex husbands SS, They told me that I was not entitled to it, I never remarried, but he did, I am so confused ???? September 26. 2017
In reply to Hi Shane, I was Married to my by Rose Rizzo (not verified)
HI Rose,
HI Rose,
You may be ineligible for benefits based on his work record because you would receive more money based on your own record, the SSA will give you the larger benefit, but not both.
My husband was approved for
My husband was approved for SSDI in 2016. In 2017, he applied and was approved for early retirement at the age of 60. He receives retirement pay. Can he receive both or should the SSDI have been stopped?
In reply to My husband was approved for by Cynthia (not verified)
Hi Cynthia,
Hi Cynthia,
Your husband would not be eligible for both Social Security retirement benefits and SSDI. If your husband is receiving both, you may want to inform the SSA.
Husband started receiving
Husband started receiving SSDI last year. This year he retired from civil service and is receiving FERS retirement check. Can he collect both or should his SSDI have been or should be stopped?
In reply to Husband started receiving by Cynthia (not verified)
Hi Cynthia,
Hi Cynthia,
Your husband would be eligible to receive FERS and SSDI benefits, however there may be an offset in both to match what he would receive through FERS.
I will be retirement age 66
I will be retirement age 66 on Nov 12, 2017. I am now receiving SSDI. Today is Oct 4, 2017. What date should I call to "file and suspend"? can I wait until after Oct 12? Also, I will receive my Nov benefit of $1400, and also receive my December $1400, correct?
In reply to I will be retirement age 66 by Dave (not verified)
Hi Dave,
Hi Dave,
You may not be eligible for file and suspend as the SSA has made that program unavailable for those born after April 30th, 1950.
I'd like to thank the
I'd like to thank the author of this informative literature.I found it to be very resourceful and to the point.
Thanks..
In reply to I'd like to thank the by Daniel Ray (not verified)
Hi Daniel, Thank you so much!
Hi Daniel,
Thank you so much!
I have received a monthly SSA
I have received a monthly SSA disability check since 2011. I understand that when I turn 67 it will change to social security retirement check, is this in name only or will my check amount drop down to what I would normally receive if I weren’t disabled?
I’m just above poverty level now, I am 55 yrs old, single and have no other source of income except my disability income. The thought of living on less than I do now is very scary.
Thanks for any insight.
In reply to I have received a monthly SSA by Joyce Allen (not verified)
HI Joyce,
HI Joyce,
Generally, the amount does not change when your benefits convert.
Ssdi auto converts to reg soc
Ssdi auto converts to reg soc sec. I want to do a restricted form to get my husbands benefits instead of mine. Born 1952 and can still do this if I haven'the taken my benefits. Does dis count as having taken my full retirement benefits. So confused.
In reply to Ssdi auto converts to reg soc by donna (not verified)
Hi Donna,
Hi Donna,
You may be eligible to do so if your husband's benefit would be more than what you would get on your own work record from the SSA, but you would not be eligible to receive both at the same time.
I am currently on SSDI When I
I am currently on SSDI When I am eligble for regular retirement will SS restore my benefit as I am currently being penalized for not having health insurance years ago?
In reply to I am currently on SSDI When I by Candice (not verified)
Hi Candice,
Hi Candice,
You may want to contact the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare services regarding any penalty you may be paying, but generally you would receive the same amount as you are receiving for SSDI.
I'm confused. I receive
I'm confused. I receive SSD b/c of permanent short term memory loss. I was born Oct. 5, 1955 & my first marriage ended after 18 years. I remarried 2 yrs later & we have been married for 23 years. I worked until my accident at age 40 (I think that's how old I was, anyway) how much will I receive after SSD or how would I even begin to calculate the amount?
In reply to I'm confused. I receive by MimiK (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You may want to contact your local SSA office as they would be able to calculate an amount for your retirement benefits.
What is the highest amount of
What is the highest amount of SSI disability that can be awarded? And even if this amount is less than I would have received at age 66 from SS for full retirement, will I the amount remain the same as the SSI disability?
In reply to What is the highest amount of by Sharon (not verified)
Hi Sharon,
Hi Sharon,
SSI and retirement are two different programs, SSI is income-based and the maximum federal benefit rate is $735 for unmarried individuals. If you're receiving SSDI benefits, which are based on work record, your amount may not change, however for SSI you may have a change in benefits as your retirement would supplement any SSI benefits up to that $735 amount.
In reply to Hi Sharon, by Bryan
I am on SS Disability as of
I am on SS Disability as of age 61. I think I am receiving the highest amount possible as I have worked for 40 years and made an above average income for the last 20 years. My question is if I am at the highest level of the SS Disability award, is that the amount I will receive for SS retirement even if the normal retirement calculation would be higher?
I get VA disability and SSDI.
I get VA disability and SSDI. I am 66, born 1951. I did not retire from military. Will my SSDI change to SIS? Will it decrease
In reply to I get VA disability and SSDI. by Sherry j. (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
Generally your retirement benefits will be the same amount as your former SSDI benefits.
I’m on SSDI and get a drug
I’m on SSDI and get a drug benefit from my previous employer. When I change over to SSI and my drug benefit from my employer ends do I get a penalty for not having Part D during this period ?
In reply to I’m on SSDI and get a drug by Greg (not verified)
Hi Greg,
Hi Greg,
You may not as Medicare Part D is optional, while Parts A and B are not.
i turned 66 in june 2017 when
i turned 66 in june 2017 when should i expect my disability to be converted to retirement benefits
In reply to i turned 66 in june 2017 when by michael hall (not verified)
HI Michael,
HI Michael,
You may want to contact the SSA regarding this as they can give you detailed information about your benefits converting to retirement.
Can you recieve ssdi after
Can you recieve ssdi after start your ss benifits at age 62 if you become disabled?
In reply to Can you recieve ssdi after by Terry (not verified)
Hi Terry,
Hi Terry,
You would not be eligible for SSDI after retirement.
I am on ssdi, under 65 on
I am on ssdi, under 65 on Medicare and have mass health common. Will I still have mass health when it converts to retirement status?
In reply to I am on ssdi, under 65 on by Camille pietroforte (not verified)
HI Camille,
HI Camille,
I could not say, however if you are otherwise still eligible for mass health, then your coverage may not change.
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