DISABILITY AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Here's a question from the mail bag this week.

An individual is 63 year-old and has been receiving early retirement benefits from Social Security for one year.  Since starting the retirement benefits, he had heart problems and believes that he has now become disabled.  Can he apply for Social Security disability while receiving partial retirement benefits?  Will filing for disability benefits interfere with his monthly retirement check while the claim gets decided?

Answers.  Yes, a person who is receiving partial retirement benefits (prior to their full retirement age) can file for Social Security disability.  Such an application will not interfere with their retirement benefit, which will continue as usual until the disability claim is decided.  If the disability claim is approved, the monthly benefit amount will increase to equal the "full retirement benefit" that would be available at the claimant's full retirement age.  He cannot receive both retirement and disability benefits in duplicate; however, he can receive the larger of the two amounts.  The disability benefit, in this case, would be somewhat higher than the early retirement benefit.

I might note that it is often easier to get approved for disability after age 60 than at younger ages.  (The age category actually improves your odds beginning at age 50).

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