Ask Larry

How Much Would My Payment Be If I Switch From Disability To Social Security At Age 62?

I'm currently on permanent disability and I'm 61 yrs old getting ready to turn 62 in a few months I now receive 1489.00 per month what would be my payment if I switch over to social security payment. Would I benefit from switching.

Hi. I assume you mean that you're receiving Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. SSDI benefits are paid at 100% of a person's primary insurance amount (PIA), which is equal to the Social Security retirement benefit rate they'd receive if they start drawing at full retirement age (FRA). In other words, drawing SSDI is like getting your full unreduced Social Security retirement benefit early. If you choose to start drawing your retirement benefits this year at age 62 instead, your benefit rate would then be reduced for age. What you'd then be paid is roughly 71% of your PIA. So, assuming that $1489 is the gross amount of your SSDI benefit before any withholding or deductions, your benefit rate would drop to around $1057 (i.e. $1489 x .71) if you switch to Social Security retirement benefits at age 62..

SSDI benefits automatically convert to regular Social Security retirement benefits at the same benefit rate when a person reaches FRA. The only way that a person might benefit from switching to retirement benefits prior to FRA is if a) their SSDI benefits are being offset because they're receiving workers compensation or public disability benefits, or b) they have a spouse and/or children who could be paid a higher benefit rate due to the higher family maximum benefit that's sometimes payable when the worker is getting retirement benefits instead of SSDI.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Jul 7 2021 - 1:14pm
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