You can receive both, but the rules depend on which one you claimed first and your age

If you are already receiving Social Security retirement benefits, you can also receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) — but the amount you get may be reduced. If you are receiving SSDI and reach full retirement age, your SSDI payments convert to retirement benefits at the same rate. The key factor is which benefit you claimed first and when you claimed it, because Social Security does not pay you twice for the same period of work history.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) treats these as two different benefit programs drawing from the same earnings record. When you switch from one to the other, or receive both simultaneously, SSA adjusts your payment to prevent overlap. Understanding how this works matters because the adjustment can significantly change your monthly income.

Key Takeaways

  • If you claimed retirement benefits before age 62, you may be able to switch to SSDI if you become disabled, and SSA will recalculate your payment based on your current age and disability status.
  • If you claimed retirement at 62 or later and then become disabled, you cannot switch to SSDI; you continue receiving retirement benefits at the rate you locked in.
  • If you are on SSDI and reach full retirement age, your SSDI payment automatically converts to a retirement benefit at the same monthly amount — no action needed on your part.
  • Family members who receive benefits on your work record may be affected when you switch between retirement and disability, because their payments are tied to your benefit amount.
  • The SSA will not pay you more than one benefit at a time; if you are may have access to to both, you receive whichever is higher, or a combination that does not exceed your primary insurance amount.

How the payment works when you have both retirement and disability

Social Security calculates a Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) based on your lifetime earnings. This is the foundation for all benefits tied to your work record — retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. When you are may have access to to more than one type of benefit, SSA pays you based on a hierarchy: you receive your own retirement benefit, your own disability benefit, or a combination, but never more than your PIA.

If you claimed retirement early (before full retirement age) and later become disabled, SSA may recalculate your benefit. The recalculation removes the early-claiming reduction that was applied to your retirement benefit, because disability benefits do not carry that penalty. This can result in a higher monthly payment. However, this only works if you claimed retirement before age 62; if you claimed at 62 or later, you are locked into the retirement rate and cannot switch.

If you are on SSDI and reach full retirement age, the conversion is automatic. Your SSDI payment becomes a retirement benefit, but the dollar amount stays the same. You do not need to do anything; SSA handles this on its own and sends you a notice when it happens.

When you can switch from retirement to disability

You can only switch from retirement to disability if you claimed retirement before age 62. This is a narrow window — it applies mainly to people who claimed retirement at a reduced rate due to early filing, then experienced a disability that SSA determines meets its definition.

To switch, you must file a new SSDI claim and go through SSA's medical review process. SSA will examine your medical records, work history, and age to determine whether you meet the disability standard. If approved, SSA recalculates your benefit to remove the early-claiming reduction, which usually results in a higher payment than your retirement benefit was.

If you claimed retirement at 62 or later, you cannot switch to SSDI. You continue receiving retirement benefits at the rate you locked in when you first claimed, even if you later become disabled. This is why the age you claim matters so much — it determines your options years down the road.

What happens to family benefits when you switch

If your spouse, ex-spouse, or children receive benefits based on your work record, a change in your benefit type or amount affects their payments. Family members receive a percentage of your PIA — typically 50 percent for a spouse at full retirement age, 75 percent for a child, and so on. When your benefit amount changes, theirs changes proportionally.

If you switch from retirement to disability and your recalculated benefit is higher, your family members' payments increase. If your benefit decreases for any reason, theirs decrease as well. SSA notifies all affected family members when your benefit changes, and the new payments usually take effect within one to two months.

If you are receiving benefits on someone else's work record (as a spouse or child), your own disability does not change that arrangement. You continue receiving the family benefit unless you reach full retirement age, become may have access to to your own retirement benefit, or your family member's benefit ends.

The difference between claiming early and waiting until full retirement age

The age you claim Social Security determines not only your initial payment but also your future options. If you claim retirement at 62, you receive a reduced benefit for life — typically 30 percent less than your full retirement age amount. You also lock yourself out of switching to SSDI later, even if you become disabled.

If you claim retirement before 62 (which is rare and requires special circumstances), you retain the option to switch to SSDI if you become disabled. If you wait until full retirement age or later to claim, you receive your full benefit amount, but you also cannot switch to SSDI afterward.

For people who become disabled before reaching full retirement age, the timing of a retirement claim matters enormously. Filing for retirement early closes the door to SSDI's recalculation benefit. This is why some people in their late 50s who suspect they may become disabled choose to delay claiming retirement, even though they are may be able to access.

How work affects your benefits if you receive both

If you are receiving SSDI, you can work and earn money up to a certain limit without losing benefits — this is called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit. In 2024, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for blind individuals. If your earnings exceed this amount, SSA may determine that you are no longer disabled and end your SSDI.

If you are receiving retirement benefits, there is no earnings limit once you reach full retirement age. Before full retirement age, the earnings limit is $23,400 per year (in 2024); for every $2 you earn above that, SSA withholds $1 from your benefit. This limit does not apply to SSDI, only to retirement benefits claimed before full retirement age.

If you are receiving both retirement and SSDI, the earnings limit that applies depends on which benefit is primary. SSA will tell you which limit applies to your situation when you report your work income.

How to report a change in your situation to SSA

If your health changes and you believe you may now meet SSA's disability standard, contact SSA directly to discuss your options. You can reach SSA by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), visiting your local Social Security office, or creating an account on ssa.gov. Have your Social Security number and recent medical records available.

If you are already receiving retirement benefits and want to explore switching to SSDI, SSA will review your medical evidence and work history. The process takes several months, and you may be denied. If you are denied, you have the right to request reconsideration and, if denied again, to appeal to an administrative law judge.

If you experience a major life change — such as returning to work, a change in your medical condition, or reaching full retirement age — report it to SSA promptly. Failing to report changes can result in overpayments that you will be required to repay.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I am on SSDI and turn 66, do I have to do anything?

No. SSA automatically converts your SSDI to a retirement benefit when you reach full retirement age. Your monthly payment stays the same, and you will receive a notice in the mail explaining the change. You do not need to contact SSA or file any paperwork.

Can I receive both retirement and SSDI at the same time?

You can be may have access to to both, but SSA will not pay you more than your Primary Insurance Amount. You receive whichever benefit is higher, or a combination that does not exceed that amount. In practice, most people receive one or the other, not both simultaneously.

What if I claimed retirement at 62 and now I am disabled?

You cannot switch to SSDI. You continue receiving retirement benefits at the reduced rate you locked in when you claimed at 62. Your disability does not change your benefit type or amount once you have claimed retirement at or after 62.

Will my family members' benefits change if I switch from retirement to disability?

Yes. If your benefit amount changes, your spouse's, ex-spouse's, and children's benefits change proportionally, because they receive a percentage of your Primary Insurance Amount. SSA will notify them of the change and adjust their payments accordingly.

How much can I earn while on SSDI without losing my benefits?

You can earn up to $1,550 per month (in 2024) without SSA considering you engaged in substantial work. Above that amount, SSA may review your case and determine you are no longer disabled. There are work incentive programs that allow you to earn more while keeping some benefits; contact SSA to learn about these options.