You can receive both SSDI and Social Security retirement benefits, but the amount you get from one affects the amount you get from the other

If you have worked long enough to earn Social Security credits, you may be may have access to to both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time. However, federal law limits how much total money you can receive. The way the limit works depends on which type of disability benefit you are on and when you were born.

The most common scenario is the Government Pension Offset or the Windfall Elimination Provision, which reduce your retirement benefit if you also receive a government pension. But if you are on SSDI specifically, a different rule applies: your family members may be able to collect benefits on your record, and those payments do not reduce what you receive.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients can switch to Social Security retirement benefits at full retirement age without losing money, because SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at that age.
  • If you receive a government pension (such as from federal, state, or local employment where you did not pay Social Security taxes), your Social Security retirement benefit will be reduced by the Windfall Elimination Provision.
  • Family members on your SSDI record — such as a spouse or child — can collect their own benefits without reducing the amount you receive.
  • The Social Security Administration will handle the switch from SSDI to retirement benefits automatically; you do not need to reapply or contact them.
  • If you have questions about your specific situation, the Social Security Administration's toll-free number is 1-800-772-1213, and you can also visit your local Social Security office in person.

How SSDI converts to retirement benefits at full retirement age

When you reach your full retirement age — which depends on your birth year and ranges from 66 to 67 for most people — your SSDI benefit automatically becomes a Social Security retirement benefit. You do not have to do anything. The amount you receive stays the same or may increase slightly, depending on your earnings record.

This is not the same as receiving both benefits at once. Instead, the system recognizes that you have now reached the age when you could claim retirement benefits anyway, and it switches your payment over. Your benefit amount is based on your lifetime earnings, not on the disability information that got you SSDI in the first place.

If you continue to work and earn income after you reach full retirement age, your benefit may increase. The Social Security Administration recalculates your benefit every year based on your most recent earnings, so working longer can raise the amount you receive in retirement.

The Windfall Elimination Provision and government pensions

If you receive a pension from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes — such as employment with a federal agency, some state or local governments, or certain foreign governments — the Windfall Elimination Provision will reduce your Social Security retirement benefit. This reduction applies whether you are claiming on your own record or on a spouse's record.

The reduction is not a flat dollar amount. Instead, it changes the formula used to calculate your benefit, which typically lowers it by 25 to 50 percent depending on your birth year and how much non-covered pension income you have. The Social Security Administration has a detailed chart showing how much your benefit will be reduced based on your birth year and pension amount.

The Windfall Elimination Provision does not apply to SSDI itself — only to retirement benefits. So if you are currently on SSDI and have a government pension, the pension does not reduce your SSDI payment. However, once you convert to retirement benefits at full retirement age, the reduction will take effect.

Family benefits on your SSDI record

One of the key differences between SSDI and retirement benefits is that family members can collect on your SSDI record. A spouse, ex-spouse, or child may be able to receive their own benefit based on your earnings history, and those payments do not reduce the amount you receive.

A spouse can claim at any age if they are caring for your child who is under 16, or at age 62 or older. An ex-spouse can claim at age 62 or older if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. Children can claim until age 19 if they are in high school full-time, or until age 18 if they are not in school, with exceptions for children who are disabled.

The total amount all family members can receive is capped at 150 to 180 percent of your benefit amount, depending on your situation. However, this family maximum does not reduce your individual payment — it only limits how much the group can collect together. If the family maximum is reached, each family member's benefit is reduced proportionally, but your benefit stays the same.

What happens if you work while receiving SSDI

SSDI has work incentives that allow you to earn money without immediately losing your benefits. You can work and still receive your full SSDI payment during a trial work period, which lasts nine months. During these nine months, you can earn any amount without affecting your benefit.

After the trial work period ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, you can earn up to a certain amount each month (called the substantial gainful activity level, which changes yearly) without losing your benefits. If you earn more than that amount, your benefit is reduced or stopped.

If your benefit stops because you are earning too much, you can still get Medicare for up to 93 months after your trial work period ends. This means you can work and keep your health coverage even if your cash benefit has stopped. If you later stop working or your earnings drop below the limit, your benefit can restart without a new application.

Coordinating SSDI with other income and benefits

SSDI itself has no income limit — you can have other income, savings, or assets without affecting your SSDI payment. This is different from Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which does have strict income and resource limits.

However, if you are receiving both SSDI and SSI at the same time, your SSI payment will be reduced dollar-for-dollar by any SSDI you receive. Additionally, if you have other unearned income (such as a pension, unemployment benefits, or child support), your SSI will be reduced by that income as well, with some exceptions.

Once you convert to Social Security retirement benefits at full retirement age, the same rules apply: retirement benefits have no income limit, but if you are also on SSI, your SSI will be reduced by the retirement benefit amount.

How to report changes to the Social Security Administration

If your work status, living situation, family composition, or other circumstances change, you must report it to the Social Security Administration. 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.

Some changes that must be reported include: starting or stopping work, a significant change in earnings, marriage or divorce, a child being born or adopted, a family member moving in or out, a change in your address, or a change in your citizenship status. Failing to report changes can result in an overpayment that you will be required to repay.

You can create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov to check your benefit amount, view your earnings record, and change your address or direct deposit information without calling or visiting an office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to tell Social Security if I start working?

Yes. You must report when you start work, and you should report your expected monthly earnings. The Social Security Administration uses this information to determine whether you are in your trial work period, extended may be able to access period, or whether your benefit will be reduced. Reporting early prevents overpayments and keeps your record accurate.

Can my spouse collect retirement benefits on my SSDI record before I reach full retirement age?

Yes, if your spouse is age 62 or older, or if your spouse is any age and caring for your child who is under 16. Your spouse's benefit does not reduce your SSDI payment. However, if your spouse claims before their full retirement age, their benefit will be permanently reduced by a percentage based on how early they claim.

What is the difference between SSDI and SSI?

SSDI is based on your work history and Social Security taxes you have paid. SSI is a needs-based program for people with low income and few resources. You can receive both at the same time, but your SSI payment will be reduced by the amount of your SSDI. SSDI has no income or resource limits; SSI does.

Will my benefit increase when I turn full retirement age?

Your benefit amount typically stays the same when you convert from SSDI to retirement benefits, unless you have continued to work and earn income. If you worked and earned money since you started SSDI, the Social Security Administration recalculates your benefit to include those recent earnings, which may increase your payment slightly.

Can I receive both SSDI and a pension from my former job?

Yes, you can receive both SSDI and a pension at the same time without any reduction to your SSDI. However, once you convert to Social Security retirement benefits at full retirement age, the Windfall Elimination Provision may reduce your retirement benefit if your pension is from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes.