I filed for SS at 62 while waiting for a determination of my disability claim. I received $700/mo SSi for the first year. At 63, my SSDI claim was awarded and it added $200/mo to my SSI for a total of $900 (which is the same, i believe as my maximum SS benefit). Is my monthly SSDI payment 2-separate components and, if so, Is it possible/advisable now to delay the normal SSI component of the monthly payment (until reaching 70) while maintaining the disability?

Hi,

No, your current payment amount does not consist of 2 separate benefits. It sounds like you are technically entitled to both retirement and disability benefits (SSDI), but you can't be paid both of those benefits at the same time. SSDI is the higher benefit because it's unreduced, so it's paid automatically unless you request to be paid the lower retirement benefit instead. The only times that you would want to do opt for retirement benefits is if your SSDI was subject to offset due to the receipt of worker's compensation, or if you had other family members receiving benefits on your record and their rates would be higher if you were receiving retirement benefits due to a lower SSDI family maximum benefit limit.

Bottom line, from your description it sounds like what you are being paid is simply your SSDI rate, which may or may not be somewhat reduced depending on whether or not you were entitled to any months of reduced retirement benefits prior to your first month of entitlement to SSDI. In any case, your SSDI will convert to regular retirement benefits at full retirement age, at which time you would have the option of suspending your benefits until age 70 in order to receive delayed retirement credits. That would increase your rate at age 70 by up to 32%, but it would mean not receiving any benefit payments during the time that your benefits are suspended.

Best, Jerry