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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.
Back to topThe 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.
Back to topIt’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
On a long term disability
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?
In reply to On a long term disability by Steve (not verified)
Hi Steve,
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.
If I am currently receiving
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?
In reply to If I am currently receiving by Char (not verified)
HI Char,
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.
I've been collecting
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?
In reply to I've been collecting by Donna Gorman (not verified)
Hi Donna,
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.
I am 65 but my retirement age
I am 65 but my retirement age is 66 so why did my SSDI turned over to ssi
In reply to I am 65 but my retirement age by Deborah Taylor (not verified)
HI Deborah,
HI Deborah,
I really could not say, you may want to contact the SSA regarding this.
Im 62 years old Social
Im 62 years old Social security recently switched me from disability to retirement.Can I reapply for disability?
In reply to Im 62 years old Social by James (not verified)
Hi James,
Hi James,
You may not be able to do so.
In reply to Hi James, by Bryan
Not even under certain
Not even under certain conditions?
In reply to Not even under certain by James (not verified)
HI James,
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.
In reply to HI James, by Bryan
Can I receive ssi while
Can I receive ssi while receiving retirement?
In reply to Can I receive ssi while by James (not verified)
Hi James,
Hi James,
Your SSI will transfer to just your retirement benefits.
In reply to Hi James, by Eric
I know a few people who&#039
I know a few people who's receiving ssi and ssdi, how are they able to do that? And they're in their 60's.
In reply to I know a few people who' by James (not verified)
Hi James,
Hi James,
It's possible if their SSDI payments are lower than the SSI maximum of $735 per month.
It appears I will receive my
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?
In reply to It appears I will receive my by Susan Cox (not verified)
Hi Susan,
Hi Susan,
You may still have a Medicare premium deducted every month after your benefits convert.
I am turning 66 this month
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??
In reply to I am turning 66 this month by Judy (not verified)
Hi Judy,
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.
i got a of 350.00 in my ss
i got a of 350.00 in my ss when i retired is that normal and no back money
In reply to i got a of 350.00 in my ss by gloria (not verified)
Hi Gloria,
Hi Gloria,
It's a little lower than the average but not unheard of.
I get $2,300 a month on SSD
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
In reply to I get $2,300 a month on SSD by George Pierce (not verified)
Hi George,
Hi George,
Your monthly income will not change--it'll convert automatically and you won't need to do anything.
I receive health benefits
I receive health benefits from my state. If I get ssdi do I loose my health benefits?
In reply to I receive health benefits by debbie (not verified)
Hi Debbie,
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.
My disability converted to
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
In reply to My disability converted to by Jim wildhart (not verified)
Hi Jim,
Hi Jim,
They may not if you're receiving disability benefits based off of your work record.
I am on disability 63 years
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.
In reply to I am on disability 63 years by Rhonda A (not verified)
Hi Rhonda,
Hi Rhonda,
If you're receiving disability benefits based on your income and financial resources, then your benefits may change.
Hi,
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?
In reply to Hi, by Randy (not verified)
Hi Randy,
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.
If you are on disibility does
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?
In reply to If you are on disibility does by Norman (not verified)
Hi Norman,
Hi Norman,
Generally, your benefit amount would stay the same when your SSDI benefits convert to retirement.
I'm on disability now
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?
In reply to I'm on disability now by Linda (not verified)
Hi Linda,
Hi Linda,
You may be eligible if your benefit amount would be less on your account than based off of spousal benefits on his.
I currently receive SSDI
I currently receive SSDI benefits ,when I reach the age of 66 ( my retirement age ) will the amount I'm receiving now change ?
In reply to I currently receive SSDI by Warren (not verified)
Hi Warren,
Hi Warren,
When your benefits convert the amount will likely not change
My dad has been getting SSDI
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?
In reply to My dad has been getting SSDI by Maddy (not verified)
Hi Maddy,
Hi Maddy,
Your father's benefit amount may stay the same after his benefits convert to retirement benefits.
Hi, I am currently on SSDI on
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!
Can I receive ssdi and
Can I receive ssdi and retirement benefits at the same time?
In reply to Can I receive ssdi and by James (not verified)
Hi James,
Hi James,
You cannot receive SSDI and SSA retirement benefits at the same time.
I currently receive SSDI
I currently receive SSDI,when I reach my retirement age of 661/2 will my benefit amount decrease or stay the same?
When I turned 66 my
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.
In reply to When I turned 66 my by Sam Carson (not verified)
Hi Sam,
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.
I turn 66 next April and my
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.
In reply to I turn 66 next April and my by Scott smith (not verified)
Hi Scott,
Hi Scott,
They would likely not change, however you may want to contact the SSA regarding this.
I am currently disabled and
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?
In reply to I am currently disabled and by David Winters (not verified)
Hi David,
Hi David,
Your benefits may not change when they convert to retirement benefits.
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