Hi - if a person age 57, is collecting disability payments (not SSDI) but disability through private insurance, are they at any point required to apply for SSDI? How would private disability payments be affected when a Social Security beneficiary files for Social Security benefits, either at age 62 or FRA or age 70? Thank you

Hi. That depends on the terms of the person's private insurance policy. Social Security would never require a person who is collecting private disability insurance to apply for either Social Security retirement or disability (SSDI) benefits. However, I believe that most private disability insurance plans do require individuals who collect benefits to also apply for SSDI benefits. And, if the person gets approved for SSDI benefits, I believe that most private policies reduce their payments dollar for dollar by the amount of the person's SSDI benefit.

Whether or not a person collecting private disability insurance would be required to apply for Social Security retirement benefits at any particular age would also depend on the terms of their private disability insurance policy.

Best, Jerry