If you’re disabled and no longer able to work and have also reached the age where you can begin collecting Social Security retirement benefits, can you collect retirement and disability at the same time? Traditional Social Security disability benefits represent an earlier-available form of retirement benefits, so unless certain exceptions apply, the Social Security Administration (SSA) typically does not allow individuals to collect both benefits simultaneously.
Can I Receive Disability and Retirement at the Same Time?
A person who receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) cannot also collect retirement benefits when they reach retirement age. Instead, when a person receiving SSDI benefits reaches full retirement age, their SSDI benefits automatically convert into retirement benefits.
Exceptions in Which You Can Receive Both Disability and Benefits at The Same Time
Although a person cannot collect SSDI and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time, an individual can collect both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security retirement benefits.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is another disability benefits program operated by the Social Security Administration. However, unlike SSDI, which comes from Social Security taxes collected from a person’s paycheck, SSI provides financial payments to disabled or visually impaired individuals with little or no income and few or no assets.
Thus, whereas SSDI represents a bridge between a worker’s total disability from the workforce and their eligibility to receive retirement benefits, SSI represents financial assistance payments to disabled individuals in the lowest economic brackets. However, SSI applicants must meet strict financial eligibility criteria. Many individuals may not qualify for SSI if they receive retirement benefits.
One exception exists for individuals who want to collect SSDI payments and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time. A person who opts into collecting early retirement benefits, which begins at 62 and continues until the individual’s full retirement age, and who subsequently gets approved for SSDI benefits can receive additional money on top of their early retirement benefits, up to the amount they would receive at full retirement age. Once the person reaches full retirement age, their SSDI benefits will fully convert to retirement benefits.
Is Filing for Early Retirement Benefits a Good Idea?
Filing for early retirement while awaiting a decision on an SSDI application (or filing for both at the same time) has advantages and drawbacks. Opting for early retirement can provide financial support when you cannot work due to a claimed disability. If the SSA approves your SSDI application, you’ll receive early retirement and SSDI benefits equal to your full retirement benefit amount. However, if your SSDI application gets denied, you may get stuck with a smaller retirement benefit for the rest of your life. Fortunately, you can appeal the denial of an SSDI application.
Contact a Social Security Disability Attorney in Oklahoma City Today
If you receive or have applied for Social Security disability benefits, contact Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons today for a free consultation with an Oklahoma City Social Security attorney to learn more about collecting Social Security and retirement at the same time. Our firm can walk you through your legal options and help you maximize your benefits.
This post was originally published in February 2020 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in July 2024.
We are Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons, a legal firm that, for decades, has been fighting for the rights of hardworking Oklahoma residents. Our mission is to hold the powerful accountable.
