Learning More About Your Accident

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) claimants can lose their benefits when they fail to follow the rules. For example, if the claimant is found to be earning income and not reporting it, they can be suspended from the benefits program by the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, the SSA also maintains several other benefit programs, and one of them is the retirement fund for those reaching retirement age. Read on and find out about the connection between disability benefits and retirement benefits. 

Making the Transition

When SSDI benefits stop at retirement age, it means that the disabled individual will transition from receiving disability benefits to receiving retirement benefits under the Social Security program. Here's what typically happens:

1. Transition: The disabled individual's SSDI benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits once they reach full retirement age (FRA), which is based on their birth year. FRA is gradually increasing from 66 to 67 for individuals born in 1943 or later. 
2. Benefit Amount: The amount of retirement benefits received at FRA will generally remain the same as the SSDI benefit amount the individual was receiving. SSDI benefits are calculated based on the individual's average lifetime earnings, similar to how retirement benefits are determined.
3. No More Work Restrictions: With SSDI, there are limitations on the amount of income a disabled individual can earn while receiving benefits. However, once the individual reaches retirement age, there are no longer any restrictions on how much they can earn, and they can continue working if they choose to do so without penalty.
4. No Medical Reviews: SSDI recipients are subject to periodic medical reviews to assess their ongoing disability. However, once the individual reaches retirement age, these reviews generally stop, as retirement benefits are not contingent upon the individual's disability status. Being eligible for retirement benefits also means you don't have to report your income each month to the SSA.
5. Medicare Eligibility: Individuals who receive SSDI benefits for a specified amount of time become eligible for Medicare regardless of age. So, if an individual on SSDI reaches retirement age, they would likely continue to receive Medicare coverage.

If you have been turned down or had your benefits unjustly suspended before you can take advantage of the retirement benefits, speak to a Social Security Disability lawyer. They can help you with setting up an appeal hearing before an administrative law judge and fighting your untimely loss of benefits.

Contact a Social Security Disability attorney for more information.