even though i am 68 years old and have been on social security for about 6 years. i had back
surgery last year and am disabled now and cannot work . binder and binder said that i cannot
go for disability now that i am in the social security system, how can i get disability help from
social security? thank you

Hi,

Social Security disability benefits are essentially like starting your full retirement benefit early because you can no longer work. They can start at any age prior to full retirement age (FRA), as long as you've paid in to Social Security long enough, and you are determined to be disabled by SS standards (i.e. inability to do all types of work for a period of at least a year). Once you reach full retirement age, it makes no difference if you become disabled as far as Social Security benefits are concerned.

Disability benefits are calculated the same as retirement benefits, but fewer earnings years are averaged if a person becomes disabled prior to age 62. When a person on Social Security disability reaches full retirement age, their disability benefits convert to retirement benefits at the same rate.

If you have a very low total income and virtually no disposable assets, you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI can begin at age 65 even for non-disabled people, so you would meet that part of the requirements even if you weren't disabled. Here is a link to more information about SSI: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11000.pdf.

Best, Jerry