What happens if i’m getting SS benefits in my 50s due to disability but then reach age 62 ?

Can i suspend payments and collect “full” benefits at an older age?

I’m now 62-1/2 still getting the benefits but never heard anything from SS. Can i contact them, pay back all benefits since turning 62, suspend benefits and earn “full” later ?

I’m hesitant to contact them because i fear the fraught discussion about whether i’m still disabled, having to get my medical team involved etc

Hi. If you're receiving Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, then you're already receiving your 'full' Social Security benefit amount. SSDI benefits are calculated at 100% of the disabled person's primary insurance amount (PIA), as are Social Security retirement benefits if a person starts drawing at full retirement age (FRA). That's why SSDI benefits automatically convert to Social Security retirement benefits at the same benefit rate when a person reaches FRA.

You could file for reduced Social Security retirement benefits now and draw those benefits instead of SSDI, but that would almost certainly just result in a lower monthly benefit rate. Social Security retirement benefits, when started at age 62 1/2, are paid at 72.5% of the worker's PIA. So, you'd likely just be taking a 27.5% benefit cut if you switched to drawing retirement benefits now. The only times that switching from SSDI to early Social Security retirement benefits can result in a higher monthly benefit rate for a disabled individual is if their SSDI benefits are being offset because they're receiving workers compensation or public disability benefits.

Best, Jerry