I’m confused, based on information you gave “Tim” to apply for disability ben. 1st, then reg. SSA ben. later 70. Well, I must have missed something. I’m on disability since 11/1999 (age 44), have reached 62 (7/2017). It is my understanding from SSA that you only get one benefit.. if you work until 62 or full retirement age or 70, you get regular SSA retirement ben.; if you obtain permanent disability (all that SSA has - theirs is not graded by % like military) you get that benefit at whatever age approved but when you reach a normal early to 70 retirement age, you still keep receiving your same disability. Nothing increases because you can’t be on SSA disability and work. If you try to work, once you reach monthly wage that surpasses your disability then you lose the disability benefit. If you go back to work then you would still need to work til at least 62 to bet SSA retirement ben. So, it sounds like you are telling this guy he can just move from one to the other. 2 folks I knkw of who 1) had a major stroke at 62 applied for disabiliry 2) cancer both denied and put on early retirement receiving the early retirement ben. for the rest of his life. So as I have reached 62, are you saying when I reach full retirement age 66 and 2 months I think or 70 - I should apply for retirement??? Just don’t understand.

Hi,

Sorry, but I've answered over 3,000 questions here so I don't know what previous question you are referring to.

In any case, if you start out drawing Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) and your entitlement continues until you are full retirement age (FRA), your benefits would automatically convert to regular retirement benefits at that time. So normally, there would be no need for a person on SSDI to apply separately for retirement benefits.

However, if a person's SSDI terminates prior to FRA due to work and earnings or medical improvement, then they would need to file for retirement benefits in order to become entitled. Also, there are some rare situations in which it would be advantageous for a person on SSDI to opt for drawing reduced retirement between ages 62 & FRA as opposed to SSDI, but only if a) their SSDI benefits are being reduced due to receipt of worker's compensation or a public employee disability pension, or b) they have an eligible wife and or children who could receive higher benefits if the disabled worker was drawing retirement benefits vs. SSDI, or c) if the person's SSDI benefits are suspended due to their earnings, but their earnings are low enough to permit payment under the regular Social Security earnings test.

It doesn't sound like any of the circumstances I mentioned above apply in your case, so you shouldn't need to do anything in order to have your SSDI benefits convert to regular retirement benefits at your FRA. At FRA, you could choose to voluntarily suspend your benefits in order to receive delayed retirement credits until age 70 (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/delayret.html). That would increase your subsequent benefit rate, but it would also mean doing without any benefits until you decide to resume your benefits or turn age 70.

Best, Jerry