You can receive both SSDI and Social Security retirement benefits, but not in the way most people expect

If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you cannot also collect your own Social Security retirement benefit at the same time. However, you may receive SSDI now and then switch to retirement benefits later, or you may be may have access to to benefits on someone else's record — a spouse's or parent's — while also receiving SSDI on your own record. The rules depend on your age, your work history, and which benefits you are already receiving.

The key distinction is that SSDI and your own retirement benefit are two different payment streams from the same Social Security account. Social Security will not pay you both simultaneously. But if you have worked long enough to earn both, you will eventually receive one or the other, and the timing of that switch matters for how much money you get.

Key Takeaways

  • You cannot receive your own SSDI and your own Social Security retirement benefit at the same time — Social Security pays one or the other.
  • When you reach full retirement age, your SSDI automatically converts to a retirement benefit of the same amount, so your payment does not change.
  • You may be able to receive SSDI on your own record while also collecting a family benefit on a spouse's or parent's Social Security record.
  • If you are under full retirement age and working, earning too much money can reduce or stop your SSDI payments.
  • The amount you receive depends on your own earnings history, not on whether you are receiving SSDI or retirement benefits.

What happens to SSDI when you reach full retirement age

When you turn your full retirement age — which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year — your SSDI automatically converts to a Social Security retirement benefit. You do not have to do anything. Social Security will send you a notice before this happens, and your payment amount stays the same.

This conversion is automatic because SSDI and retirement benefits are calculated the same way: based on your lifetime earnings record. Social Security does not pay you twice. Instead, it switches the label on your benefit from "disability" to "retirement," but the monthly amount you receive does not change. If you were getting $1,400 per month on SSDI, you will get $1,400 per month on retirement benefits.

After the conversion, the rules that applied to SSDI no longer apply. For example, the earnings limit that can reduce SSDI payments goes away. You can work and earn as much as you want without affecting your retirement benefit amount.

Receiving SSDI and family benefits on someone else's record

You may be able to receive SSDI based on your own disability while also receiving a family benefit based on a spouse's or parent's Social Security record. This is possible because family benefits and your own SSDI are treated as separate payments.

Common scenarios include: a disabled adult child receiving SSDI on their own record and also receiving a benefit as the child of a retired or deceased parent; or a disabled person receiving SSDI on their own record and also receiving a spousal benefit because their spouse is receiving retirement or disability benefits. In these cases, you would receive both payments, but Social Security applies a family maximum — a cap on the total amount the household can receive on one person's earnings record.

If your combined benefits exceed the family maximum, Social Security reduces the family benefits (not your SSDI) to stay within the limit. The exact reduction depends on how many family members are receiving benefits on that record.

How the earnings limit affects SSDI while you are working

If you are under full retirement age and receiving SSDI, Social Security limits how much you can earn from work. For 2024, if you earn more than $23,400 per year, Social Security will reduce your SSDI payment by $1 for every $2 you earn above that amount. The exact limit changes each year.

This earnings limit applies only to SSDI, not to retirement benefits. Once you convert to retirement benefits at full retirement age, you can earn unlimited income without affecting your payment.

Some types of income do not count toward the limit: self-employment income during a trial work period, certain impairment-related work expenses if you are self-employed, and income from certain plans to achieve self-support (called PLANS). If you are working and receiving SSDI, ask Social Security which of your income sources count toward the limit.

What happens if you are already receiving retirement benefits and become disabled

If you are already receiving Social Security retirement benefits and later become disabled, you cannot switch to SSDI. You will continue receiving your retirement benefit at the same amount. SSDI is only for people who become disabled before reaching full retirement age and have not yet started collecting retirement benefits.

However, if you became disabled before reaching full retirement age but did not file for SSDI at that time, you may still be able to file now — as long as you have not yet reached full retirement age. Social Security looks back to determine when your disability began, not when you file. If you believe you became disabled years ago but never applied, contact Social Security to discuss your options.

How your benefit amount is calculated

Your SSDI payment is based on your own earnings history, not on whether you are receiving disability or retirement benefits. Social Security calculates your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) using your average earnings over your working years. This amount is the same whether you receive it as SSDI or as a retirement benefit.

If you have a limited work history — for example, if you became disabled young — your benefit will be lower than someone who worked for 35 years. There is no way to increase your SSDI by also receiving a family benefit; the family benefit is a separate payment based on someone else's record, and it is subject to the family maximum.

Reporting changes to Social Security

If your situation changes — you start working, you get married, a family member dies, or your medical condition improves — you must report it to Social Security. Failing to report changes can result in overpayments that you will have to repay later.

You can report changes online through your my Social Security account, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Keep records of any changes you report, including the date and the name of the person you spoke with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive SSDI and a spousal benefit at the same time?

Yes, if you are disabled on your own record and your spouse is receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits. You would receive both payments, but they are subject to the family maximum. Social Security will reduce the spousal benefit if necessary to stay within the limit.

What if I start working and earn too much money?

If you are under full retirement age and earning above the annual limit, Social Security reduces your SSDI by $1 for every $2 you earn over the threshold. Report your earnings to Social Security so they can adjust your payment correctly. Once you reach full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies.

Does my SSDI stop when I turn full retirement age?

No. Your SSDI automatically converts to a retirement benefit at full retirement age, and your payment amount stays the same. The conversion is automatic; you do not need to do anything. The main change is that the earnings limit goes away.

Can I receive SSDI if I am already on my spouse's Social Security?

If you are receiving a spousal benefit and later become disabled, you may be able to file for SSDI on your own record. You would then receive both payments, subject to the family maximum. Contact Social Security to discuss your specific situation.

What if I became disabled after I started receiving retirement benefits?

You cannot switch from retirement benefits to SSDI. SSDI is only for people who become disabled before reaching full retirement age. If you are already receiving retirement benefits, you will continue on that benefit even if you later become disabled.