I'm collecting social security right now and I was collecting unemployment but I had to stop unemployment 2 months ago because I end up getting that stroke so that's when they're wonder if I could like disability for a while until I'm better cuz I can't get unemployment because I can't look for work

Hi. I'm sorry to hear about your stroke. You couldn't collect both Social Security retirement benefits and Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits at the same time, but if you became disabled more than 5 months prior to reaching your full retirement age (FRA) then you may be able to get a higher monthly benefit rate if you qualify for SSDI benefits. Unreduced SSDI benefits are paid at a rate of 100% of the disabled person's primary insurance amount (PIA), which is equal to the amount they would receive if they started drawing their Social Security retirement benefits at FRA. So, in other words, collecting unreduced SSDI benefits is like collecting your unreduced Social Security retirement benefits early.

However, if you start drawing your Social Security retirement benefits prior to FRA then your ongoing benefit rate will be permanently reduced for age even if you subsequently qualify for SSDI benefits. But, your ongoing benefit rate wouldn't be permanently reduced for any months that you qualify for SSDI benefits prior to reaching FRA.

Therefore, it sounds like you'd probably want to apply for SSDI benefits if your stroke occurred more than 5 months prior to your FRA. If you're approved for SSDI benefits, your ongoing Social Security payment amount could then be increased at least somewhat. However, if you didn't become disabled until you were within 5 months of reaching FRA then you couldn't qualify for SSDI benefits. That's because SSDI benefits can no longer be paid once a person reaches FRA, and there is a 5 month waiting period from the time that a person becomes disabled until they can qualify for SSDI benefits.

Best, Jerry