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Do Social Security Disability Benefits Switch to Retirement Benefits When You Turn 65?

Submitted by Shane on

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. 

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Blog comments

Steve (not verified)

On a long term disability plan, it drops off at your retirement age. SSD and your long term split it 50/50. We were told SS WILL NEVER GO UP. SO I LOOSE 50% of my pay?

Wed, 10/25/2017 - 10:51 Permalink
Bryan

Hi Steve,
You may want to refer to your specific policy, but if your LTD benefits were offset by social security disability benefits, then that may happen.

Fri, 10/27/2017 - 15:12 Permalink
Char (not verified)

If I am currently receiving SSI benefits, when I reach retirement age, can I draw from my husband's Social Security, since half of that would be more than I currently draw?

Thu, 10/26/2017 - 17:24 Permalink
Bryan

HI Char,
You may be able to, however it would be based on the amount you would receive in retirement on your own work record. SSI is an income-based benefit, rather than work-record based.

Tue, 10/31/2017 - 09:19 Permalink
Donna Gorman (not verified)

I've been collecting disability for 8 years. My husband has been working, but he will be retiring at the end of December, 2017. I think I should be eligible for spousal benefits, but I'm not sure whether it would be a different amount than what my disability payments are. I worked for many years, but he has worked longer and made much more money than I. Should I attempt to change to spousal benefits now? He'll be turning 65 in December but I'm still 63. Should I, can I, wait until I'm 66?

Fri, 10/27/2017 - 12:20 Permalink
Bryan

Hi Donna,
If you are eligible for benefits based on his work record, you may be able to receive benefits based off of it if your benefits would be less than his based on your own work record.

Tue, 10/31/2017 - 09:29 Permalink
James (not verified)

Im 62 years old Social security recently switched me from disability to retirement.Can I reapply for disability?

Mon, 10/30/2017 - 11:12 Permalink
Bryan

HI James,
You may not be able to do so as disability benefits are intended for people who are of working age and cannot work. You may be eligible for SSI benefits, however.

Wed, 11/01/2017 - 10:15 Permalink
Susan Cox (not verified)

It appears I will receive my Ss retirement when I am 66. I am about to turn 65 & my ssdi currently deducts for Medicare. Will that continue?

Mon, 10/30/2017 - 21:01 Permalink
Judy (not verified)

I am turning 66 this month Nov 19th. I am currently on disability and a judge ordered me to have a payee in the beginning of my payments. I have been seeing a Dr and taking medications and I feel I no longer need a payee. When I start receiving reg social security payments will it still be payable to my payee. If so what do I need to do to get the payment sent to me instead of my payee??

Sat, 11/04/2017 - 17:05 Permalink
Deanna

Hi Judy,
You can definitely ask to switch at your local SSA office, but just be aware that this will trigger a revaluation of your claim. You'll likely remain on benefits, but if your health has improved it's possible you'll lose them. You'll need to make an appointment with your local SSA office to file the paperwork to become the payee--you cannot do this online.

Mon, 11/06/2017 - 11:13 Permalink
George Pierce (not verified)

I get $2,300 a month on SSD and I'm 64. At age 65 will in have to change to SS and will my monthly income change to what ever SS pays a month. Thank you

Sat, 11/04/2017 - 18:50 Permalink
Deanna

Hi Debbie,
You shouldn't unless you're receiving Medicaid or Medicare. If you're on a state-run program (like MassHealth in Massachusetts) you'll be fine.

Mon, 11/06/2017 - 16:46 Permalink
Jim wildhart (not verified)

My disability converted to retirement benefits recently, I was also receiving workmans comp which recently stopped at age 66, will my social security retirement benefits go up after losing workmans comp

Wed, 11/08/2017 - 21:59 Permalink
Rhonda A (not verified)

I am on disability 63 years old. My ex-husband is also on disability he is 65. If we get remarried what would happen to our disability.

Sun, 11/12/2017 - 00:58 Permalink
Randy (not verified)

Hi,
I started receiving SS Disability Retirement in Oct 2016.
I just turned 62 and will remain disabled.
My SS Statement says if I became disabled today, my benefits would be approx $1800/Mo.
I am now receiving $1050/mo
Is there a reason for the huge difference?
My early retirement would give me around $1300/mo at current age of 62.
Does this sound right or should I contact SS office?

Sun, 11/12/2017 - 14:32 Permalink
Bryan

Hi Randy,
I really could not say, if you are receiving benefits based off of your income and resources, your monthly payment would be limited to the federal benefit rate of $735 in addition to any supplementary funds you would receive.

Wed, 11/15/2017 - 09:26 Permalink
Norman (not verified)

If you are on disibility does your SSRB continue to mature or do you automatically have to convert from SSDI TO SSRB AT 62 and lock in to lessor monthly payment?

Mon, 11/13/2017 - 08:33 Permalink
Linda (not verified)

I'm on disability now and will be eligible for SS when 66. I plan on waiting until then. Husband has already retired, will I be eligible for any spousal benifits when I retire?

Mon, 11/13/2017 - 09:23 Permalink
Bryan

Hi Linda,
You may be eligible if your benefit amount would be less on your account than based off of spousal benefits on his.

Wed, 11/15/2017 - 09:30 Permalink
Warren (not verified)

I currently receive SSDI benefits ,when I reach the age of 66 ( my retirement age ) will the amount I'm receiving now change ?

Tue, 11/14/2017 - 11:58 Permalink
Maddy (not verified)

My dad has been getting SSDI since the age of 46 when he had a stroke. He will be 62 this month. He will start getting a small pension from the job he had before he had the stroke. Does his SSDI convert to regular SS when he gets this pension? or does it change at age 66 and 7 months? Will SS be the same amount as SSDI?

Tue, 11/14/2017 - 17:26 Permalink
Kar (not verified)

Hi, I am currently on SSDI on my own work record. I reach FRA at 66 and 10 mos. I understand that SSDI turns into regular SS at the same rate. I meet all the requirements to draw from my ex-husband's SS. Does this have to be done at FRA or can i collect mine then convert to his at age 70? If I have to convert at FRA, how soon should i start working on letting SSA know I want to do this? Thank you!

Wed, 11/15/2017 - 14:01 Permalink
Warren Rambo (not verified)

I currently receive SSDI,when I reach my retirement age of 661/2 will my benefit amount decrease or stay the same?

Thu, 11/16/2017 - 03:27 Permalink
Sam Carson (not verified)

When I turned 66 my disability check that became retirement did not change. My question is, over 400 of my check was SSI. Did that amount remain the same. Thank you.

Fri, 11/17/2017 - 14:47 Permalink
Bryan

Hi Sam,
I cannot say as we are not affiliated with the SSA or the federal government and as such we have no information about your benefits specifically.

Mon, 11/20/2017 - 09:45 Permalink
Scott smith (not verified)

I turn 66 next April and my ssdi benefits will convert to ss.
What happens to the medical part of my ssdi benefits....do they stay in place? I'm receiving both part A and B at no cost...and my only income is and will be as payment.

Sun, 11/19/2017 - 15:12 Permalink
David Winters (not verified)

I am currently disabled and receive SSDI. I am also retired from the military and receive a monthly retirement check. I also receive 100% disability check from the military. When my SSDI converts to retirement benifits will my payment be less?

Mon, 11/20/2017 - 08:52 Permalink

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