You can receive both SSDI and Social Security retirement benefits, but the amount you get depends on which one you earned first
If you have worked long enough to earn both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and regular Social Security retirement benefits, you cannot collect the full amount of both at the same time. Instead, you receive whichever benefit is higher, or a combination that follows specific rules set by Social Security. The exact amount depends on your work history, when you became disabled, and when you reach retirement age.
The most common scenario is that you receive SSDI while disabled, and then your benefit automatically converts to a retirement benefit when you turn your full retirement age (usually between 66 and 67, depending on your birth year). You do not have to reapply or do anything — Social Security handles the switch on its own. The dollar amount typically stays the same or may increase slightly, but you are still receiving only one benefit.
A second scenario occurs if you are already receiving retirement benefits and then become disabled before reaching full retirement age. In this case, Social Security may increase your benefit to the SSDI amount if it is higher than what you were already getting. Again, you receive only one payment, but it may go up.
Key Takeaways
- You receive one benefit amount, not two separate payments, even if you have earned both SSDI and retirement benefits.
- Your SSDI benefit automatically converts to a retirement benefit at your full retirement age without any action on your part.
- If you are already receiving retirement benefits and become disabled, Social Security will pay you the higher of the two amounts.
- Your spouse and children may be able to receive benefits on your SSDI record even if you are receiving only one payment yourself.
- The rules are different if you also receive workers' compensation or public disability benefits — those can reduce your SSDI payment.
What happens to your SSDI when you reach full retirement age
When you turn your full retirement age, your SSDI benefit does not stop. Instead, Social Security automatically converts it to a retirement benefit under your own Social Security record. The conversion is invisible to you — you keep receiving the same payment to the same bank account, and your case number stays the same. You do not need to contact Social Security or fill out any forms.
The amount you receive after conversion is based on your lifetime earnings record, just like a regular retirement benefit would be. In most cases, the dollar amount stays exactly the same because Social Security calculates it to be the same. However, if your retirement benefit would have been higher than your SSDI benefit (which is rare), Social Security pays you the higher amount starting at full retirement age.
After the conversion, you are no longer considered disabled in the eyes of Social Security, even though you may still have the same medical condition. This matters mainly for Medicare purposes: you keep your Medicare coverage, but the rules around work and earnings change slightly. If you work and earn above a certain amount, your benefit may be reduced — but this is true for any retirement benefit, not specific to yours.
When you are already retired and then become disabled
If you are already receiving Social Security retirement benefits and then become disabled before reaching full retirement age, you can request that Social Security review your case for SSDI. Social Security will compare your current retirement benefit to what your SSDI benefit would be and pay you whichever is higher.
You must report your disability to Social Security by contacting your local office or calling 1-800-772-1213. Bring medical evidence of your condition — the same kind of documentation you would need for an initial SSDI claim. Social Security will not automatically discover that you are disabled; you have to tell them.
The approval process takes several months. During that time, you continue receiving your retirement benefit. If Social Security approves your SSDI claim, your payment may increase retroactively to the month you reported the disability, depending on the timing and your local office's procedures.
How your family members can receive benefits on your record
Your spouse and unmarried children under 19 (or up to 22 if they are full-time students) can receive benefits based on your SSDI record. This is true whether you are receiving SSDI or whether your benefit has converted to retirement. The family members do not have to be disabled themselves — they receive benefits straightforward because they are related to you and meet Social Security's age or student requirements.
Each family member receives their own separate payment, calculated as a percentage of your benefit amount. The total paid to your entire family cannot exceed a certain limit (called the family maximum), which is usually between 150 and 180 percent of your own benefit. If multiple family members are receiving benefits, Social Security divides the family maximum among them.
Your family members must be aware that if you work and earn above the annual limit (currently $23,400 per year, though this changes annually), your benefit may be reduced. Any reduction to your benefit also affects the amount available to your family members, because their payments are based on yours.
Workers' compensation and other public benefits that can reduce SSDI
If you receive workers' compensation or a public disability benefit (such as a state workers' compensation program or a public employee disability retirement), Social Security may reduce your SSDI payment. This reduction is called the Government Pension Offset or Windfall Elimination Provision, depending on your situation.
The reduction does not eliminate your SSDI entirely, but it can be substantial. For example, if your SSDI would be $1,200 per month and you receive $600 per month in workers' compensation, Social Security may reduce your SSDI to $900 per month. The exact calculation depends on when you became disabled and what type of public benefit you are receiving.
You should report any workers' compensation or public disability benefit to Social Security as soon as you start receiving it. If you do not report it and Social Security discovers it later, you may owe back payments. Contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to report other benefits you are receiving.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and SSDI at the same time
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a different program from SSDI, and the rules for receiving both are strict. SSI is a needs-based program for people with very low income and resources, while SSDI is based on your work history. Most people cannot receive both because SSI has strict limits on how much money and property you can own.
If your SSDI benefit is very low (currently below $943 per month, though this amount changes yearly), you may be able to receive a small SSI payment in addition to your SSDI. This is called "concurrent benefits." Social Security will automatically review your case to see if you may have access to for SSI when you are approved for SSDI. You do not have to ask for it separately.
To receive SSI along with SSDI, you must have limited income and resources. Your home and one vehicle do not count toward the resource limit, but savings, investments, and other property do. If you inherit money, receive a settlement, or have other changes to your finances, you must report them to Social Security within 10 days to avoid overpayments.
What to do if you think you are receiving the wrong amount
If you believe Social Security is paying you incorrectly — for example, if your benefit did not increase when you thought it should, or if you are unsure whether you should be receiving SSDI or retirement — contact your local Social Security office in person or call 1-800-772-1213. Bring your Social Security card, proof of your birth date, and any recent benefit statements.
Social Security can pull up your complete earnings record and explain exactly how your current benefit was calculated. If an error is found, Social Security will correct it and may owe you back payments. The process usually takes several weeks to a few months, depending on how complex your case is.
You also have the right to request a detailed benefit statement called a "Social Security Statement," which shows your estimated benefits at different ages and your lifetime earnings record. You can request this by visiting ssa.gov or calling Social Security directly. Reviewing this statement can help you understand whether your current payment is correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to choose between SSDI and retirement benefits?
No. Social Security automatically pays you whichever benefit is higher, or combines them according to their rules. You do not make a choice — the system determines which benefit you receive based on your work history and age. At full retirement age, your SSDI converts to retirement automatically.
What happens to my SSDI if I go back to work?
If you work and earn above the annual limit (currently $23,400), your SSDI benefit will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above that amount. This is called the "earnings test." Once you reach full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies, and you can work without any reduction to your benefit.
Can my ex-spouse receive benefits on my SSDI record?
Yes, if you were married for at least 10 years and your ex-spouse is at least 62 years old (or any age if caring for your child under 16). Your ex-spouse receives a separate benefit based on your record, and this does not reduce the amount you receive. Your ex does not need your permission.
If I am denied SSDI, can I still receive retirement benefits?
Yes. SSDI and retirement benefits are separate decisions. If Social Security denies your SSDI claim, you can still receive regular retirement benefits when you reach full retirement age, as long as you have worked long enough to earn them. You can appeal the SSDI denial while continuing to receive retirement.
Will my SSDI increase when I turn 70?
No. Once your SSDI converts to retirement at full retirement age, delayed retirement credits (the extra amount you get for waiting past full retirement age) do not explore. Your benefit amount is locked in at the conversion. This is one reason some people choose to start retirement benefits early instead of waiting.