I have been disabled for 10 years but work part-time and get 800 a month from ssd .just turned 62 but my doctor says I can't do my job because of the virus my part time job is a janitor. Can I apply for ss retirement and get more money or will it remain the same amount. Thanks

Hi,

Probably not. When you qualify for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, your full benefit rate is essentially the same as what your Social Security retirement benefit rate would be if you started drawing it at full retirement age (FRA). If you continue to receive SSDI until you reach FRA, your SSDI benefits then convert to regular Social Security retirement benefits at the same rate.

You can't be paid both SSDI and Social Security retirement benefits simultaneously. If you opted to switch from SSDI to regular Social Security retirement benefits prior to FRA, your benefit rate would then be reduced for age. In other words, you'd likely get less per month if you opted to switch to drawing retirement benefits, not more.

The only times that a person drawing SSDI should consider filing for Social Security retirement benefits prior to FRA is if a) their SSDI benefits are being offset because they also receive workers compensation benefits or a public disability benefit, or b) they have an eligible spouse and/or child who could receive a higher auxiliary benefit rate because of a higher family maximum benefit (FMB) rate that might apply, or c) if the person is earning enough to cause their SSDI benefits to be suspended. If none of those apply in your case, you should almost certainly just continue drawing your SSDI benefits until they automatically convert to Social Security retirement benefits when you reach FRA.

Best, Jerry