Did you know that you can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) even if you’re collecting early retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA)? It’s true. However, it can be a complicated process, which is why Second Chance Lawyer – Merryl Jones is here to shed some light on the details and clarify any questions you may have.
Here are all the ins and outs explained by one of Waco/Temple’s leading Social Security disability lawyers!
What if I’m Already Receiving Disability & Approaching Retirement Age?
For those already receiving SSDI, you are already receiving the full amount of benefits allowed. This means that when you reach full retirement age, these benefits will simply be converted into your retirement benefits and the amount will remain the same. Since you are already receiving your full amount of benefits, you don’t have to do anything once you reach full retirement age; the SSA automatically makes the change.
What if I Took Early Retirement Benefits & Still Want to Apply for SSDI?
If you’re currently receiving early retirement benefits, it’s possible to also apply for SSDI and collect both until you reach your full retirement age. You can apply for early retirement benefits once you reach the age of 62. At this point, you can still apply and be approved for SSDI benefits and receive both. However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t mean you’ll receive twice the amount of benefits. It means that the combination of both will equal the amount you’ll receive once reaching full retirement age. This also means that you can begin collecting your full benefit amount earlier than if you didn’t apply for SSDI.
There are some important things to keep in mind when it comes to receiving both benefits, such as:
If you began receiving disability benefits before early retirement from the SSA, as mentioned above, your benefits will stay the same as if you hadn’t taken early retirement benefits at all. As mentioned above, with SSDI you’ll already be receiving the full amount of benefits and they’ll be converted into retirement benefits when you reach full retirement age.
If you began receiving disability after taking early retirement, then you will receive your full disability amount much like you would if you were of full retirement age. However, it’s important to be aware that once you do reach full retirement age, based on the number of months you received early retirement benefits, the benefits you receive will be reduced accordingly.
If you need a Social Security disability lawyer, contact us today!
If you want to apply for SSDI or believe you’ve been wrongfully denied the benefits you deserve, Second Chance Lawyer – Merryl Jones can help you appeal your case.
Contact us online today or call (254) 776-3611 (Waco) or (254) 493-0345 (Temple).
