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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
Will my benefit amount change
Will my benefit amount change when I change from disability to retirement
In reply to Will my benefit amount change by Jim D (not verified)
Hi Jim,
Hi Jim,
When your disability benefits switch to retirement the amount will not change.
Does the amount change ,,my
Does the amount change ,,my retirement age would be 67,,would my amount be same ad my ssdi is now,,,or does amount drop on ssi
In reply to Does the amount change ,,my by Jack (not verified)
Hi Jack,
Hi Jack,
When your SSDI switches to retirement, the amount will stay the same.
I was born in 1959 and my
I was born in 1959 and my social security disability benefits stopped May of last year, at age 57, because I started working. When I reach age 66 years and 10 months, does my social security retirement automatically go back to the same amount I would get for social security disability at that time, or would it be a higher amount? Also, if I worked until age 70 instead before retiring, how much more could I get from social security retirement? Thanks.
In reply to I was born in 1959 and my by Paul (not verified)
Hi Paul,
Hi Paul,
I think it would be based on whatever your salary/benefits package is at your employer. However, to be sure I would double check with the SSA to be safe.
I am collecting Social
I am collecting Social Security disability I turn 62 next month will my social security disability be switch to Social Security
In reply to I am collecting Social by Ron (not verified)
Hi Ron,
Hi Ron,
When it is time for your Disability to switch to Social Security retirement, it will automatically do so.
I am 65 and on Social
I am 65 and on Social Security Disability. I need clarity on working part time and would Social Security deduct 50% of earnings on my SS check? It is so confusing.
* I have read that a person can work but earnings + SS check can't go over 17K a year.
* I have also read that they will cancel you if you work more than a few months part time.
* I have also read that at full retirement age (for me it is 66, there will be no limit on my earnings.
I barely get by, so I have been trying to find answers to these questions.
Would appreciate your response
Cheryl
In reply to I am 65 and on Social by Cheryl (not verified)
Hi Cheryl,
Hi Cheryl,
You can work when receiving SSDI. If you make over $850 a month you enter the TWP. Each month that you work and make over that amount will count toward your TWP.
I am 65 and receive SSID.
I am 65 and receive SSID. When will I be able to change it to retirement. I will be 66 in January. Will my amount change that I receive now
In reply to I am 65 and receive SSID. by Bonnie (not verified)
Hi Bonnie,
Hi Bonnie,
When it's time to change to retirement, your benefits will automatically switch with no changes to the benefit.
I receive SSDI I am 53 will I
I receive SSDI I am 53 will I receive SS retirement I will my social security check change
I took an early retirement,
I took an early retirement, July 1, 2011. I was 54 years old and worked at the same place for 38 years. I was sick, but didn’t apply for SSD until March of 2012. I am still collecting SSD. I will be 62 in June 2019. Will my SSD convert to retirement SS at age 62 or 65?
I am presantly 63 with a
I am presantly 63 with a birthday in November will my social security benefits lesson when I turn 66 or will they stay the same
In reply to I am presantly 63 with a by Steve? (not verified)
Hi Steve,
Hi Steve,
When you turn 66, your SSDI benefits will convert into Social Security retirement benefits. Nothing will change.
I'm on SSDI, at just
I'm on SSDI, at just over 800.00 per mo. When I turn 66, and this changes to SS retirement, will I get an increase? Also, why do most women get far less on SSDI than men?
In reply to I'm on SSDI, at just by Joann (not verified)
Hi Joann,
Hi Joann,
No it will not increase, it will remain the same.
As for your other question, that isn't that case. Everyone's disability and situation is different, which is why some get paid more than others. It has nothing to do with someone's gender.
currently receiving ssdi and
currently receiving ssdi and would like to know when I turn 62 early ret. can I receive regular ss which is more than disability?
In reply to currently receiving ssdi and by craig (not verified)
Hi Craig,
Hi Craig,
Your SSDI benefits will convert to regular benefits and will not change.
When I stop receiving SSDI an
When I stop receiving SSDI an start social security will my pay be the same.
In reply to When I stop receiving SSDI an by Eddie (not verified)
Hi Eddie,
Hi Eddie,
Once you retire your SSDI benefits will convert to regular Social Security retirement benefits. The pay will be the same.
If ur sentanced to house
If ur sentanced to house arrest and not jail time because u have to pay weekly allowance will u still lose ssdi?
In reply to If ur sentanced to house by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
That's a unique situation. It shouldn't, but I would double check with the SSA just in case.
Will I be able to work and
Will I be able to work and earn more money, when my disability turns into retirement at age 66?
My children receive ssdi
My children receive ssdi through me. When they are 18, will i then receive their dollar amount in addition to my ssdi?
In reply to My children receive ssdi by Nancy (not verified)
Hi Nancy,
Hi Nancy,
The benefits they receive now are in addition to your own to help offset their own expenses. Because they are in addition to yours, you will not receive them once they turn 18. But, as your older children turn 18, then younger ones may see a bigger payment.
will my social security
will my social security increase when the SSDS comes off when I'm 65?
In reply to will my social security by D.Hopson (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
Your Social Security does not increase or decrease when you hit retirement age.
I am receiving disability
I am receiving disability Social Security benefits. When I reach retirement age, will my benefit be reduced?
Thank you...
In reply to I am receiving disability by Len G. (not verified)
Hi Len G.,
Hi Len G.,
Your benefits should remain the same! They will just switch over to retirement.
Question? .....I have been
Question? .....I have been on social security disability for about 8 years with ortho and PTSD. I was a licensed mortician for over 25 years ... I make around 1,600 per month I will convert to standard retirement when I’m 66 do to the fact I was born in 1954 I am pretty disabled but would like to try some small work at home making no more than say 300.00 per month I understand that social security will let you earn 720.00 per month without any problems ...I just don’t want to possibly lose my benefits or have them challenged with only about a year and a half to go? However could really help with a little extra income....any thought would be so helpful ? Sincerely
In reply to Question? .....I have been by JimmyLee (not verified)
Hi JimmyLee,
Hi JimmyLee,
If it's around $300 a month you should be fine! If you were to make around $880 a month, that is when you enter the ticket to work program.
I asked for a rep payee
I asked for a rep payee because I felt I needed one at the time. I will be retirement age next year and fel I don't need my rep payee anymore. How do I change no rep payee?
In reply to I asked for a rep payee by Miki (not verified)
Hi Miki,
Hi Miki,
You can do so at your local SSA office! I would make an appointment ahead of time.
In reply to Hi Miki, by rsg
Can they turn you down?
Can they turn you down?
In reply to Can they turn you down? by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
If you do not meet the qualifying criteria, don't have enough evidence to support your claim, etc. then your claim may be denied.
If i want retire 62 do i tell
If i want retire 62 do i tell them iam on disabilty. What happens
In reply to If i want retire 62 do i tell by Mark bottoni (not verified)
Hi Mark,
Hi Mark,
When you reach retirement, your benefits should automatically switch.
If I go to jail for three
If I go to jail for three months I am on SSI would I lose my benefits
I haven't worked since
I haven't worked since 2013 because I can't
In addition to that I have COPD
In reply to I haven't worked since by Dorothy Speight (not verified)
Hi Dorothy,
Hi Dorothy,
You can check the SSA's Blue Book to see you meet the medical listings to qualify for disability benefits.
Does the amount I receive
Does the amount I receive change when I reach retirement?
In reply to Does the amount I receive by Christine Pelletier (not verified)
Hi Christine,
Hi Christine,
It should just change over to retirement, but the amount should stay the same.
If am retirement benefits
If am retirement benefits
Do I still need a payee
In reply to If am retirement benefits by Jose (not verified)
Hi Jose,
Hi Jose,
That tends to be up to you. If you do not think you need a payee anymore, you can request you are your own.
Will my SSDI change if I get
Will my SSDI change if I get married.
In reply to Will my SSDI change if I get by Paul (not verified)
Hi Paul,
Hi Paul,
SSDI is based on your own work history and not household income. Therefore there should be no changes to your benefits.
I started drawing social
I started drawing social security benefits in September of 2010 which was one month before turning 65. Of course, since 2011 at age 66, the Social Security Administration states that I draw "regular" monthly social security benefits. I do not recall ever completing an application for SSDI though I have been disabled from the Army since 1988. How do I know that I received SSDI from Social Security prior to its becoming "regular" when turning 66? I would like to make sure that I am drawing social security based on disability, but I don't know..... Thanks for any advice!
In reply to I started drawing social by Henry Reed (not verified)
Hi Harvey,
Hi Harvey,
We're not affiliated with the SSA, so we can't give you an answer on if you are receiving Social Security disability or not. There's a couple of ways you can find out. You can create a MySSA account to get access to information on your benefits, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, or visit your local SSA office to find out information on your benefits specifically.
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