I am 68 years old now. I filed for social security at age 62. I returned to work 5 years later to a full time job and is currently working. I'm still receiving social security. I have rheumatoid arthritis and there's a strong possibility that I may not be able to work much longer. I would like to know if I become totally disabled and unable to work, can I apply for social security disability? Would my social security payments change from regular payments to disability payments? Would I even qualify for disability payments.

Hi,

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.

Dear Larry,
I am a 63 year old widow and started collecting widows benefits in November 2013. I stopped working due to my Rheumatoid Arthritis and the inability to continue working. I have worked in the earthmoving, mining and heavy equipment business for over 35 years. I am no longer able to safely climb the ladders to access the equipment, crawl under and access tight confined spaces to inspect the equipment safely.

I am at full retirement age and have been drawning SS for 6 months now. I am a professional truck driver for the last 37 years and have been having trouble with both my hips and knees. Which now have to have surgery to repair all and my condition has been well documented with my health provider. Can I in the future ask for SSDI instead of drawing what I am drawing presently. And how would I go about claiming the SSDI if I do qualify for it. Thank You

Hi,

Larry, I am a 55 year old male and currently receive SSDI benefits and expect them to continue until Retirement age.My current benifet is $1265.00 a month.Will my benifets automatically change over to retirement benifits when I reach full retirement age(70)or before? Do I need to notify Social Security ,when I reach either 65 or 70 and when will it benefit me the most? If not and the switch is automatic at what age will it occur? .Also will switching over raise or lower my current benefit depending on if I switch over at 65 or wait till FRA(70) ?

Thank You,John

Hi Larry I am 52 and receiving SSDI disability, what happens to my benefit amount when I reach FRA?? Do I still receive SSDI, or does it go down to the retirement leval? Thanks

Hi,

Your disability benefit will convert to a retirement benefit when you reach full retirement age (FRA). You don't get both benefits, but your rate will not be reduced. Entitlement to disability benefits essentially qualifies a person for their full retirement age benefit early, and that benefit continues when they reach FRA.

Best, Jerry

I have been on disability from Social Security for a little over three years and they put me on medicare benefits because of it. Is that the same as being on full retirement or will that convert over to retirement when I am at fra? I am 63 now

Hi,

Your disability benefits will convert to retirement benefits when you reach full retirement age (FRA), which is age 66 in your case. You will likely see no change in benefits at that point.

I am now receiving Social Security disability. I am 60. I am wondering if I get married to my boyfriend how this affects my disability and also he is 63, he is still employed. I was wondering if I could collect a higher amount if his disability amount is higher then mine can I apply for some of his benefit money.

Hi,

Marriage would not affect your Social Security disability benefits. It could affect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, however, which are needs based benefits administered by the Social Security Administration.

Hi Larry,

Is it possible to switch to SSDI if I'm already collecting Social Security retirement benefits? I filed early and have been collecting less than a year. Thank you.

If you are below full retirement age (now 66), I believe the answer is yes. Your disability benefit will be higher than your reduced retirement benefit. Indeed, it will equal your full retirement benefit. At full retirement age (FRA), you can suspend your retirement benefit (your disability benefit is renamed your retirement benefit at FRA and restart it at a 32 percent higher value at 70.

Hi, I have two disabled adult sons who currently draw Social Security on their father's retirement account. I am trying to determine whether I should take retirement (at 65) and move one of my sons to my account, assuming my son would make more on my account than he does on his father's. I am having a hard time determining what my son would draw and whether this makes it cost effective for me to start drawing Social Security early. Thanks, Spencer