I am 62 years old I gotten SSD1 Since2017 I get 849 dollars I worked all my life I stop working when I got diagnosed with scoliosis it made it hardy for me to work along with my chronic arthritis. I worked for over 20 years as a Certified Nursing Assistant can I apply for my SS and get more than what I am getting a month.could you please let me know. Thank You
Judith

Hi Judith,

No. When you qualify for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI), the full amount of your benefit is equal to your primary insurance amount (PIA). Your PIA is also the amount that you'd be paid if you filed for Social Security retirement benefits at full retirement age (FRA). So, in other words, drawing SSDI is just like collecting your unreduced FRA retirement benefit early. That's why SSDI benefits automatically convert to regular Social Security retirement benefits at the same benefit rate when a person reaches FRA.

You can't draw both SSDI and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time. If you were to switch from drawing SSDI to drawing retirement benefits prior to FRA, your retirement benefit rate would be reduced for age. Therefore, you'd just be electing to receive a lower monthly benefit rate.

The only times that a person drawing SSDI may want to consider filing for Social Security retirement benefits is if a) the person's SSDI benefits are being reduced because they're receiving workers compensation or public disability benefits, or b) they have a spouse or child who would be eligible for higher auxiliary benefits if the SSDI recipient was drawing retirement benefits instead, or c) they are working and their earnings cause their SSDI benefits to be suspended.

Best, Jerry