Will Social Security Disability Benefits Affect My Retirement?
If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits and are closely approaching your retirement age, you may wonder how disability benefits may affect your retirement benefits.
If you are wondering about the effects of SSDI and SSI benefits on your retirement, consult with our Tampa Social Security disability attorney at Kobal Law to discuss your particular situation.
Can I Receive Both Retirement and Social Security Disability Benefits?
Many people who are approaching retirement age wonder if they can receive both retirement and SSDI/SSI benefits at the same time. While there may be exceptions under certain circumstances, in most cases, you cannot receive both retirement and Social Security disability benefits.
Even if you are eligible to receive disability and retirement benefits, you will not be entitled to both benefits in full. It means that if you are eligible to receive both benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will combine the two monthly payments to the full benefit amount.
If you are currently receiving Social Security disability benefits and become eligible for retirement benefits, the former will be automatically converted into the latter once you reach your retirement age.
However, it does not work the same way if you become disabled while receiving retirement benefits. After you have reached your retirement age, you are no longer entitled to receive Social Security disability benefits.
Does Early Retirement Affect My Social Security Disability Benefits?
How early retirement at age 62 may affect your Social Security disability benefits depends on which benefits you started receiving earlier.
- If you opt for early retirement and then begin receiving disability benefits, you will receive your full benefit amount for the disability during the period between when you were approved for disability benefits and reaching full retirement age. When you reach full retirement age, the amount of your retirement benefits will be reduced based on the number of months you collected early retirement benefits.
- If you opt for early retirement while receiving disability benefits, both benefits will be combined and you will get the difference to bring you up to your full benefit amount. Once you reach full retirement age, you will continue to receive the full benefit amount.
It is advisable to speak with an experienced attorney if you are receiving disability benefits and considering applying for early retirement benefits.
What Kind of Benefits Can Affect Your SSDI Benefits?
Retirement benefits are not the only benefits that may affect the amount of your monthly SSDI payments. Benefits that can affect your SSDI include public disability benefits such as workers’ compensation.
The total monthly amount of your Social Security disability benefits and other public disability benefits cannot be greater than 80% of the average current earnings you received before your disability.
If the total amount of your benefits exceeds the threshold when combined, the excess amount will be deducted from your SSDI payments. You will receive the reduced amount until you reach full retirement age or stop receiving your additional disability benefits.
Speak with our Tampa social security disability attorney at Kobal Law to determine how retirement benefits and public disability benefits could affect your SSDI and SSI payments. Call 813-873-2440 to schedule a case review.