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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
In reply to I have been on SSDI since by Nancy (not verified)
Hi Nancy,
Hi Nancy,
Your benefit amount will stay the same as it was when you were on SSDI.
I currently rec Disability ck
I currently rec Disability ck every month. I received a letter from SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION RETIREMENT SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE saying I'm getting a lesser AMT each month. Is my current Disability ck going to stop?
In reply to I currently rec Disability ck by Kathy (not verified)
Hi Kathy,
Hi Kathy,
It's always best to check with the SSA regarding letter that they send you, but if they assessed a lesser amount, then you may get less on your next monthly benefit check.
Will I still be able to get
Will I still be able to get Medicare when I turn 65? I have been on disability since 1993 and have medicare now
In reply to Will I still be able to get by Debbie (not verified)
Hi Debbie,
Hi Debbie,
Yes, you may still be eligible for Medicare at 65.
If you take ssdi at like the
If you take ssdi at like the age of 40 will that effect your ssi when its time to retire? I have a friend who can't work because he has cancer and he was looking into ssdi for now to help with his finances.
In reply to If you take ssdi at like the by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
SSDI benefits may not change the amount of money that you get at retirement, instead your SSDI benefits would covert to retirement benefits at the same amount as SSDI.
If I'm collecting ssdi
If I'm collecting ssdi and got a job that I was able to do, how will this affect my monthly check. I can't make it on just my disability.
In reply to If I'm collecting ssdi by Sheila (not verified)
Hi Sheila,
Hi Sheila,
You may be able to do it if you do not make over the substantial gainful activity limit of 1,130 a month.
I currently get ssdi i turn
I currently get ssdi i turn 65 on 3/2017 and may start to receive a small pension,, will that change my amount of ssdi and then ss retirement amount at 66 years old.. thank you
In reply to I currently get ssdi i turn by phil (not verified)
Hi Phil,
Hi Phil,
SSDI benefits are based off of work record rather than income, so they may not change your benefits if you get a pension.
In reply to Hi Phil, by Bryan
thank you will the amount
thank you will the amount with the small pension stay the same 1 year later when i turn 66 and the ssdi changes to ss pension? thanks again
In reply to thank you will the amount by phil (not verified)
Hi Phil,
Hi Phil,
Your pension may not change anything about your SSDI or retirement benefits.
when my husband dies he has
when my husband dies he has stage 4 and with hospice care now.Will I get some of his ss and if so how much? I get disabity now on myself.
In reply to when my husband dies he has by wanda faulkner (not verified)
Hi Wanda,
Hi Wanda,
I'm very sorry to hear that.
You may be eligible for survivor's benefits based off of your huband's work record, you can find some more information about that here:
https://www.ssa.gov/planners/survivors/onyourown2.html
Hi Shane, I am going to turn
Hi Shane, I am going to turn 65 in a couple weeks. I was born in 1951 and have been on SSDI since 2008. I also get a survivor benefit from my deceased husband. I get one check (SSDI) the second Wed of the month and the other one the 3rd Wed of the month. I'm wondering if all this will change when I turn 65 or, according to your chart, will it remain the same until I'm 66? Either way, will the 2 checks turn into 1 check and how do they determine when I will receive them each month?
In reply to Hi Shane, I am going to turn by Midge (not verified)
Hi Midge,
Hi Midge,
You may still be eligible for survivor's benefits after retirement age, however they may be two checks rather than one. The amount will not change.
I am losing my LTD benefits
I am losing my LTD benefits through my previous employer when I turn 65. I know my ssdi will convert to ss retirement. Will my ss increase since I'm losing my LTD?
In reply to I am losing my LTD benefits by Michelle (not verified)
hi Michelle,
hi Michelle,
If you are getting SSDI benefits, then they will not change.
I am 56 and my ex husband is
I am 56 and my ex husband is 60 I am divorced and he is remarried. I have been told by family members that I should be eligible for his social security at this time. But I am not really sure if this is true. Can you tell me if this is true or are they wrong about this?
In reply to I am 56 and my ex husband is by Cindy (not verified)
Hi Cindy
Hi Cindy
If you are disabled, you may be eligible for benefits under his work record. If yo are not disabled, you may not be eligible for benefits.
I started collecting Social
I started collecting Social Security at age 62. I was approved for Disability at age 63. My full retirement age is 66. When I reach age 66, will I receive what I'm currently receiving from Disability, or will it go back to the previous Social Security amount?
In reply to I started collecting Social by DebbieM (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
Your benefit amount may not change when your benefits convert from disability to retirement.
I am a quadriplegic and
I am a quadriplegic and retired in 1999 after having rotator cuff surgery. I have been receiving disability pension checks but received notification in the mail that in November when I turn 65, it will stop. Will I still get a pension check?
In reply to I am a quadriplegic and by William Steenbeke (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
I really could not say as I do not have much experience with private disability pensions. You may want to contact whomever administers your disability pension.
what is f r a ?
what is f r a ?
In reply to what is f r a ? by william r cox (not verified)
Hi William,
Hi William,
FRA is Full Retirement Age, the SSA's term for when you would qualify for your full retirement benefit.
I applied for SSDI.
I applied for SSDI.
Im allowed to make $1130 a month.
If I go over one time will my disability claim be denied?
In reply to I applied for SSDI. by Mark (not verified)
Hi Mark,
Hi Mark,
you may not be denied due to that, but it's a good idea to get in touch with a disability advocate or attorney, they can help you with questions like that and also can help fight for you in the event that you need to appeal your case.
Can I now work without fear
Can I now work without fear of losing my benefits?
In reply to Can I now work without fear by Dan Reiser (not verified)
HI Dan,
HI Dan,
If you're receiving retirement benefits, then you may be able to work without losing your benefits as there are no income limits for recipients of retirement benefits.
Why won't SSDI convert
Why won't SSDI convert at age 62 yo, since one can take early retirement at 62?
In reply to Why won't SSDI convert by Leanne (not verified)
Hi Leanne,
Hi Leanne,
It would not convert because retirement eligibility at age 62 is optional.
just received ss letter
just received ss letter stating since i am turning 66 in november i am converted to normal ss from ss disability. however it said will get my november payment in december. i will miss a month of income...normally what would be deposited in nov. 3rd week for disability. Why do i have to skip a month?
In reply to just received ss letter by Joyce (not verified)
Hi Joyce,
Hi Joyce,
You may not lose a month of income, you may still be able to receive SSDI benefits for the month of November and they are sending those in lieu of retirement benefits.
This has been a concern of
This has been a concern of mine as on SSDI I'm unable to meet basic needs.
If it drops WAY down to regular SS at age 65+ I'll be homeless.
It's a CONSTANT worry as I've had to drain my once nice IRA and EVERYTHING just to pay obligations.
Does one have to go on welfare and food stamps, etc., just because they got older if they've been on SSDI for 30 years?!
In reply to This has been a concern of by Kayleen (not verified)
Hi Kayleen,
Hi Kayleen,
Hopefully it may be helpful to know that if you're receiving SSDI benefits, then your benefit amount will not change when it becomes retirement benefits.
I CANNOT work. My disability
I CANNOT work. My disability changed to social security on the first of this month, as I am turning 65 later this month. I will be earning $220 LESS per month AND I have to pay $121. per month premium for Part B. I take 11 prescriptions. Right now I have NO insurance because I was told that i would be on disability (and Medicaid for doctors and prescriptions) for life. I cannot afford to take less money - or even the same money and pay the $121. a month premium. If this is true I will just end my life - that or I will be forced to the street.
In reply to I CANNOT work. My disability by Jody (not verified)
Hi Jody,
Hi Jody,
I'm sorry to hear about this! You may be able to qualify for SSI benefits, and it may be a good idea to contact the office in your state that handles state aid as well.
Hi. If someone has been
Hi. If someone has been receiving SSDI for years and then reach the retirement age, I understand that the monthly amount received will not change. However, would the normal retirement social security benefit have been greater for them had they not collected SSDI payments prior? I guess my question is, does collecting SSDI before retirement age reduce the regular social security payout at age 67? Thank you!
In reply to Hi. If someone has been by Lanie S. (not verified)
Hi Lanie,
Hi Lanie,
Collecting SSDI may not reduce the retirement payout. However, their retirement benefit amount may be lower because the person collecting SSDI would not contribute to Social Security while they are receiving benefits, as opposed to someone who was working all the way up to retirement.
I am 62 and permanently
I am 62 and permanently disabled. Can I convert my SSDI benefits to Social Security Retirement now instead of waiting until age 65? Thank you!
In reply to I am 62 and permanently by Edward (not verified)
HI Edward,
HI Edward,
You may be able retire early without any change in your benefits.
Will my dollar amount stay
Will my dollar amount stay the same
In reply to Will my dollar amount stay by Jimmy ray farris (not verified)
HI Jimmy,
HI Jimmy,
Your dollar amount may stay the same.
I'm on ssd and have
I'm on ssd and have Medicare can I get medicaid
In reply to I'm on ssd and have by Pam haddix (not verified)
Hi Pam,
Hi Pam,
You may be able to if you meet your state's requirements for Medicaid, if you contact your local SSA office they may be able to help you a little further:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/social-security-disability-loca…
Will the amount I receive now
Will the amount I receive now under disability change when I reach 65 or retirement age. I know some of the rules change at 66 and you can make extra money and it won't penalize your amount. But I'm worried that my amount will decrease.
In reply to Will the amount I receive now by Brenda Daniels (not verified)
Hi Brenda,
Hi Brenda,
Your benefits amount may not change when your disability benefits convert to retirement benefits.
I am 55 on ssi will I receive
I am 55 on ssi will I receive more money when I'm retirement age? I worked up until a year ago.
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