I recently read your article regarding SS versus disability. I retired several years ago due to my back pain being very painful from an industrial accident that happened many years ago. Perhaps I should have filed for disability rather than SS? Can I still file for disability? If so, how do I go about doing this?

Hi,

If you're age 67 or older, it is too late. If you're younger than that, you might still be able to qualify for disability benefits, which would result in a higher monthly Social Security benefit.

If a person first files for reduced retirement benefits, then subsequently qualifies for disability benefits prior to full retirement age (FRA), their benefit is recalculated beginning with the month of disability entitlement to remove the percentage reduction that was previously applied to their benefit for the months of disability entitlement prior to FRA. For example, say a person's full retirement age benefit (PIA) is $2000, and their FRA is age 66. If they start reduced benefits at age 62, their monthly benefit is 75% of the PIA, or $1500 in this example. If this person later qualifies for disability benefits at age 64 & a half, 10% of the initial 25% reduction would be removed, raising their monthly benefit to $1700. The closer such a person is to FRA when the disability entitlement begins, the less of an increase they would receive in their benefit amount.

Once you reach FRA, you will have already received any and all reduced benefits for which you applied, so subsequent disability entitlement would have no effect. Since disability entitlement can potentially be established for up to 12 months prior to the month of filing, however, a person can still become entitled retroactively to disability benefits if they apply as late as 11 months after reaching FRA. Keep in mind, though, that disability entitlement can't begin until 5 months after the disabling condition began, or 5 months after the person stopped doing substantial gainful work, if later.

If you believe you could be entitled to disability benefits before age 66, as explained above, you can start the application process by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

Best, Jerry