My sister has been receiving SSI since being determined to be disabled in 2015. She will turn 62 in November, 2021.
How will this affect her benefits? (She worked on and off at low paying jobs, having had difficulty staying employed). She currently receives about $1200 a month and $120 in food stamps. (She lives in Staten Island with $800 a month rent for a studio apartment, so you can see why I'm concerned). Thank you for any info and advice you can provide.

Hi,

Nothing would necessarily change with regard to your sister's benefits when she turns age 62. About the only thing that might happen at that time is that she would have to file for Social Security benefits if she's eligible for them.

I assume by the abbreviation SSI that you mean your sister is drawing Supplemental Security Income, and that she doesn't qualify for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI). One of the conditions for continued eligibility for SSI is that you must file for any other types of benefits for which you may be eligible. So, if your sister has enough work credits to be eligible for a reduced Social Security retirement benefit on her own record or if she could qualify for spousal benefits on the record of a spouse or ex-spouse, she would be required to file for those benefits at age 62. If she didn't do so, her SSI payments would stop.

If your sister does start drawing Social Security benefits at age 62 her SSI payments would be offset by at least all but $20 of her Social Security benefit amount. Therefore, unless her Social Security benefit amount is higher than her SSI rate she would likely to continue to receive roughly the same total amount whether or not she qualifies for Social Security benefits at age 62.

Best, Jerry