Applied for Social Security disability at 62 after cardiac issues - how to navigate SSDI vs. early retirement?

Yes, SSDI will pay your full FRA (full retirement age) benefit amount regardless of your age when approved. If you qualify medically, it's definitely worth pursuing over early retirement at 62. I helped my brother with his SSDI claim for heart failure last year - took about 7 months total but he was approved and gets his full retirement amount even though he was only 61. Make sure your medical records clearly document that your cardiac condition prevents you from performing your job duties. Get a detailed letter from your cardiologist specifically stating work limitations.

just take the early retirement now while ur applying for disability. if u get approved for ssdi they'll switch u over to the higher amount and u might get backpay for the difference. thats what my neighbor did.

As someone who successfully navigated this exact situation, I can confirm several important points: 1. SSDI at any age pays your full retirement age amount (not reduced). This was a significant difference for me - about $800 more monthly than early retirement would have been. 2. You CAN apply for early retirement benefits while simultaneously pursuing SSDI. If approved for SSDI, SSA will adjust your benefit to the higher amount. This is called "dual entitlement." 3. The key for cardiac approval is detailed medical documentation. Make sure your records clearly show: - Specific functional limitations (can't lift over X pounds, can't stand for Y hours) - Failed treatments or procedures that didn't fully resolve your condition - Ongoing symptoms despite medication compliance 4. The SSDI process is challenging but manageable with proper documentation. I recommend checking your mySSA account online to make sure your work credits are accurate before starting.

I was in almost the same situation! Heart attack at 61, then bypass surgery. Got SSDI approved and yes it pays my full amount. But let me tell you, don't try to handle this alone. I got disconnected TWELVE TIMES trying to call the SSA office for help with my application.

MY ADVICE - DO NOT JUST TAKE EARLY RETIREMENT!!!! The SSA LOVES when people do this because they save THOUSANDS by paying you the reduced amount forever!!!! My brother just went through this - he had major heart failure and gave up on disability after first denial and took early retirement. HUGE MISTAKE!!!! He's stuck with the lower amount FOR LIFE!

Is anybody here familiar with how the cardiac listings work for disability? My doctor said something about my ejection fraction needing to be below 30% for automatic approval, but mine is at 35%. Does that mean automatic denial?

My husband tried going back to work after his heart attack and collapsed on the job two weeks later. Don't risk your health - if your doctor says high stress is dangerous, listen! His disability was approved pretty quickly after that second incident.

Based on everything here, it looks like your best route is: 1. File for early retirement benefits NOW to get immediate income 2. Simultaneously apply for SSDI with all your medical documentation 3. If SSDI is approved, you'll switch to the higher amount 4. If denied, appeal immediately (most cases are denied initially) 5. Consider having your cardiologist complete a residual functional capacity form specifically addressing your work limitations This approach provides income while you navigate the longer SSDI process. Just don't give up if you get an initial denial - about 65-70% of all initial applications are denied, but many are approved on appeal.

For Medicare with SSDI, there's a 24-month waiting period from your SSDI entitlement date (usually 5 months after onset). However, this is where your age helps - if you're already 65 when the waiting period ends, you'll get Medicare immediately. At 62, you'd likely still have some waiting time. One important note: If you take early retirement while waiting for SSDI, make sure you don't earn over the annual earnings limit (about $21,240 for 2025) or your benefits will be reduced. Once on SSDI, this earnings limit no longer applies, but you'd be subject to SSDI's substantial gainful activity (SGA) limits instead, which are actually more favorable for most people.

I went through this exact situation 3 years ago at age 63 after my second heart attack. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: The dual approach (early retirement + SSDI application) is absolutely the way to go, but make sure you document EVERYTHING. Keep copies of all your medical records, get letters from your cardiologist specifically about work restrictions, and don't let anyone pressure you into "trying to go back to work" if your doctor says it's unsafe. One thing I learned the hard way - when filling out the SSDI application, focus heavily on your worst days, not your best days. They want to know what you CAN'T do consistently, not what you might be able to do on a good day. Describe how far you can walk before getting chest pain, how lifting anything over 10-15 pounds affects you, how you need to rest frequently. Also, cardiac conditions can be tricky because they're not always "visible" disabilities. Make sure your application clearly explains how unpredictable your symptoms are and how that makes it impossible to maintain regular employment. The fact that your doctor said returning to high-stress work would be "playing with fire" is HUGE - get that in writing if you haven't already. Don't get discouraged if you get an initial denial. I was approved on reconsideration, and the extra $700/month compared to early retirement has made all the difference in my quality of life.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - the combination of health issues and financial stress is overwhelming. Based on what everyone's shared here, I'm in a similar boat at 64 after a stroke last year that left me with some cognitive issues and fatigue that make my accounting job impossible. What really helped me was organizing all my medical records into a timeline before starting the application. I created a simple spreadsheet with dates, medical events, treatments, and how each affected my ability to work. When I submitted my SSDI application, having everything organized this way seemed to make the process smoother. Also wanted to mention - if you're feeling anxious about the paperwork and process, don't hesitate to ask for help. I had my daughter help me with the online application because the brain fog from my stroke made it hard to concentrate. There's no shame in getting assistance with something this important. The dual approach everyone's recommending really does seem like the safest bet. Even if the SSDI takes a year, at least you'll have some income coming in during that time. Hang in there - it sounds like you have a strong medical case with multiple cardiac events and clear doctor recommendations about work restrictions.

I went through a very similar situation at 61 after my cardiologist told me the same thing - that returning to my high-stress job could trigger another cardiac event. The anxiety about the whole process is completely understandable, but you're asking the right questions. A few things that might help ease your mind: 1. The medical evidence you have sounds strong - multiple cardiac events, hospitalizations, stent procedure, and a clear doctor's statement about work being dangerous. This is exactly the type of documentation SSDI reviewers look for. 2. The "dual approach" everyone's mentioning really is your best option. I did the same thing - filed for early retirement to get immediate income while pursuing SSDI. It took about 8 months for my SSDI approval, but having that monthly income during the wait made all the difference. 3. Don't let the statistics about denials scare you too much. Yes, many applications get denied initially, but cardiac cases with solid medical documentation and clear work restrictions often have better approval rates, especially when you have a specialist explicitly stating you can't return to your previous work. Start gathering your medical records now and focus on documenting how your condition affects your daily activities and work capacity. The fact that you've been out of work for 4 months already actually supports your case - it shows this isn't a minor issue you're trying to exaggerate. You've got this. The process is intimidating but you have a legitimate claim and good medical backing.

I'm seeing a lot of great advice here, but wanted to add one important point that might help with your timeline concerns. When you file for SSDI, make sure you request that your "onset date" (when your disability began) goes back to when you first stopped working due to your cardiac issues - sounds like that would be about 4 months ago when you started using sick leave. If approved, SSDI has a 5-month waiting period, but they can backdate your benefits to your onset date minus those 5 months. So even though the approval process might take 8-11 months as others mentioned, you could potentially get backpay for some of those months you were waiting. This is especially important if you're doing the dual approach with early retirement - the backpay calculation gets more complex, but you should still receive the difference between what early retirement paid you and what SSDI would have paid for those months. Also, don't forget that once you're approved for SSDI, your spouse (if applicable) and dependent children might be eligible for auxiliary benefits too. That could add a few hundred more per month to your household income. The process is definitely stressful, but with your medical documentation and the clear work restrictions from your cardiologist, you're in a much stronger position than you might realize. Keep pushing forward with both applications!

I went through this exact situation two years ago at 63 after my third heart attack. The dual approach is definitely the right strategy - I filed for early retirement first to get immediate income, then applied for SSDI about a month later. A few things that really helped my case: 1. I kept a daily symptoms diary for about 6 weeks before applying - noting chest pain episodes, fatigue levels, how far I could walk without getting winded, etc. The SSDI examiner specifically mentioned this helped them understand my functional limitations. 2. My cardiologist filled out a detailed RFC (Residual Functional Capacity) form that SSA provides. This was crucial - it spelled out exactly what I couldn't do (lift over 10 lbs, work in high-stress environments, stand for more than 20 minutes at a time). 3. I was approved on initial application in about 6 months, which my attorney said was faster than usual for cardiac cases. The key was having comprehensive medical records that clearly showed my limitations weren't going to improve significantly. The financial difference has been life-changing - I'm getting about $2,180/month with SSDI versus the $1,490 I would have gotten with early retirement alone. Plus I got about $8,000 in backpay once approved. Don't let anyone pressure you to "try going back to work first" if your doctor says it's dangerous. Your health is more important than SSA's preference for people to attempt work. You've got strong medical evidence - trust the process and be patient with the timeline.