Can I collect Social Security retirement and California SDI benefits simultaneously without exceeding earnings limit?

Good news - CASDI (California State Disability Insurance) is NOT counted as earned income for Social Security purposes! Only actual wages from work count toward your earnings limit. Disability payments, whether private or state, don't count against your SS earnings limit. And yes, you can collect both CASDI and your Social Security retirement benefits simultaneously. They're completely separate programs. Just be aware that once you're back to work in January, then you'll need to keep track of your earnings if you're below your full retirement age.

my sister had the same thing happen with nj disability and social security last year and she got to keep both no problem

NOT TRUE!!!! You need to be very careful here because California has special rules! My cousin lost nearly $4000 in benefits because of this exact situation. The SSA counts ANY income including disability as earned income especially if it's paid through your employer!!!! Don't listen to these people saying it's fine without checking first!!!!!

Hi there! Former SSA employee here. To clarify what others have said: CASDI benefits are NOT counted as earned income for the Social Security earnings test. The earnings test only counts actual wages or self-employment income. You can absolutely receive both CASDI and Social Security retirement benefits simultaneously without one affecting the other. However, since you're turning 66 in February 2025, here's something important to consider: February 2025 is the month you reach your full retirement age (FRA) if you were born in 1959. The earnings limit actually disappears completely in the month you reach FRA. So even if you do work in January 2025, you only need to worry about the earnings limit for that one month. Also, since you mentioned trouble reaching SSA by phone - have you tried creating a my Social Security account online? You can start your retirement application there without the phone hassle.

I've been through this exact situation in 2023 with CA disability and starting my Social Security. If you're having trouble getting through to Social Security on the phone, I used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an agent in under 20 minutes. It was worth it to finally get answers directly from SSA instead of stressing for weeks. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Regarding your question - I was able to collect both without issues. The SSA agent confirmed CASDI isn't counted as earned income for the earnings test.

im confused...isnt CASDI the same as SSDI?? why would you get both state and federal disability? or are you trying to double dip??

My situation was almost identical to yours last year. On CA disability then started SS retirement when I turned 66. My experience: CASDI doesn't count as earned income for Social Security purposes. I collected both with no problems. Just make sure when you file your taxes next year you understand how both are reported. CASDI is handled differently than regular income.

wait so ur turning 66 but not at FRA yet? i thought 66 was the full age for ss?

Thank you all for your responses! I've learned so much from this thread. Based on what everyone's shared, it seems like I can collect both CASDI and Social Security retirement without the disability payments counting against my earnings limit. I'm going to try calling SSA again tomorrow morning to confirm, and I might try that phone service if I can't get through again. This has been hugely helpful!