Can I collect Social Security retirement benefits while still receiving employer paid medical leave?

my husband did this last year!! he had 16 weeks of sick leave from his company and started taking ss about 8 weeks in. he got both until the sick leave ran out. your company might have different rules tho

This is specifically addressed in SSA's rules. Paid medical leave from your employer is not considered the same as disability benefits for Social Security purposes. You can receive both your employer's PML and early retirement benefits simultaneously. However, keep in mind three important points: 1. Filing 14 months before your FRA means approximately a 7.8% permanent reduction in your monthly benefit amount 2. If your PML counts as wages, it could trigger the earnings test if it exceeds the 2025 annual limit ($22,200 for those under FRA) 3. Check your employer's specific plan rules - some rare PML plans do have offsets for Social Security benefits

To clarify - short-term disability insurance payments are treated differently than regular wages or PML. For the earnings test, what matters is whether your employer is counting the PML as wages on your W-2. Some companies classify it as wages (which would count toward the earnings test) while others don't (in which case it wouldn't affect your SS benefits). The best approach is to ask your HR department specifically: "Will my paid medical leave be reported as wages on my W-2?" That will tell you if it might trigger the earnings test.

I had a NIGHTMARE getting through to SSA to ask almost this exact question last month. Waited on hold for over 3 hours and then got disconnected TWICE!!! Finally I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real person at SSA in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU When I finally talked to SSA, they confirmed what others are saying - medical leave payments don't automatically stop your retirement benefits, but you need to know if they count as earnings for the test. Worth calling them to confirm for your specific situation.

One thing no one has mentioned yet - if you're planning to retire permanently, you should consider whether it makes more sense financially to wait until your Full Retirement Age rather than taking benefits 14 months early. The reduction is permanent, and if you have a decent life expectancy, the math often favors waiting. Have you run the calculations both ways?

THE SSA DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOUR MEDICAL LEAVE! This is between you and your employer only. SSA just wants to know if you're still working or not for earnings test. If you're not going back to work and PML is just running out, file now and get your money!!

Sorry to hijack but this is similar to my situation... I'm getting workers comp payments AND thinking about SS retirement (I'm 64). Does anyone know if workers comp reduces SS retirement? I know it affects SSDI but not sure about regular retirement benefits.

also check with ur tax person cuz some of ur benefits might be taxable depending on other income

I don't think anybody mentioned this yet, but you should also check if starting your Social Security affects any health insurance you might have through your employer while on medical leave. That was a nasty surprise for my sister when she did something similar!

Just wanted to add another perspective - I was in a very similar situation 2 years ago at age 66. I was on paid medical leave after knee surgery and decided to file for SS retirement benefits. The key thing that helped me was getting everything in writing from my employer's benefits department. I asked them to confirm in an email: 1) Whether my PML would continue if I filed for SS, 2) How the PML would be reported for tax purposes, and 3) Whether there were any plan provisions that would offset my PML if I received SS benefits. Having it documented protected me later when there was some confusion in payroll. Everything worked out fine - I got both benefits until my PML expired, then transitioned to full retirement. The peace of mind from having clear written confirmation was worth the extra step!

I went through something very similar last year at 64. Was on employer-paid medical leave after heart surgery and decided to file for SS retirement. The good news is that in most cases you can receive both - they're separate benefits. However, I learned a few things the hard way that might help you: 1. Double-check if your PML is classified as "wages" on your W-2. Mine was, which meant it counted toward the earnings test and temporarily reduced my SS payments until I hit my FRA. 2. Make sure to report your PML income to SSA when you file - they'll want to know about any ongoing employer payments. 3. Consider the timing carefully. Since you're so close to your FRA, you might want to run the numbers on waiting vs. taking the reduced benefit now. I'd definitely recommend calling SSA directly to discuss your specific situation. They were actually pretty helpful once I got through (though the wait times are brutal). Good luck with your decision!

I'm currently 63 and facing a similar decision after my recent back surgery. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One thing I'd add is that you might want to check if your employer has a "return to work" deadline that could affect your PML status. My company requires me to provide periodic updates on my recovery timeline, and if I officially retire rather than planning to return, it could potentially change how they handle the remaining leave payments. It might be worth asking HR if there's any difference in how they treat PML for someone who's planning to return to work versus someone who's officially retiring. Also, the suggestion about getting everything in writing is gold - I'm definitely going to do that before making my own decision. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

I'm currently 62 and considering early retirement after a workplace injury that has me on medical leave. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly valuable! A few observations from my research: 1. The key distinction seems to be between "paid medical leave" vs "short-term disability insurance" - they're treated differently by SSA for earnings test purposes. 2. For those mentioning the earnings test, remember it only applies if you're under your Full Retirement Age. Once you reach FRA, you can earn unlimited amounts without any reduction in benefits. 3. One thing I'd suggest is also checking if your state has any additional considerations. Some states have their own disability/medical leave programs that could potentially interact with federal SS benefits. The advice about getting written confirmation from HR is spot-on. I've learned from other benefit situations that having documentation prevents a lot of headaches later. Also, if anyone is struggling to get through to SSA by phone, I've had better luck calling first thing in the morning (8 AM EST) on Tuesdays or Wednesdays - seems like Monday/Friday are the worst days to try. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - it makes navigating these decisions so much easier when you can learn from others who've been there!

I went through almost the exact same situation 3 years ago at age 66! I was on paid medical leave after shoulder surgery and decided to file for SS retirement benefits rather than return to work. Here's what I learned: The good news is that you can typically receive both your employer's PML and SS retirement benefits simultaneously - they're considered separate income sources. However, there are a few key things to watch out for: 1. **Ask HR specifically how your PML is classified** - if it's reported as wages on your W-2, it could trigger the earnings test since you're filing before your FRA. This could temporarily reduce your SS payments. 2. **Get written confirmation from your employer** that receiving SS won't affect your PML eligibility. Some companies have obscure plan rules about benefit coordination that HR reps aren't always aware of. 3. **Consider the permanent reduction** - filing 14 months early means about a 7.8% permanent reduction in your monthly benefit. Given your health situation though, having the income security now might be worth more than the higher future payments. 4. **Don't forget about Medicare** - you'll become eligible at 65, and starting SS might affect your current health insurance through your employer. I ended up receiving both benefits for about 12 weeks until my PML ran out, then transitioned to full retirement. The key was getting everything documented upfront. Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions about the process!

I'm 64 and went through this exact situation last year! I was on paid medical leave after gallbladder surgery and filed for SS retirement benefits about 6 weeks into my leave. Here's what happened: **The good news:** I was able to collect both my PML and SS benefits without any issues. They're treated as separate income sources. **The important details:** - My employer classified my PML as regular wages on my W-2, which meant it counted toward the earnings test and temporarily reduced my SS payments by about $200/month until I hit my FRA - I had to report the PML income to SSA when I filed my application - My company required me to officially notify them that I was transitioning to retirement rather than planning to return to work **My advice:** 1. Call your benefits department and ask for written confirmation about how your PML is classified for tax purposes 2. Ask if there are any company policies that would change your PML if you officially retire vs. planning to return 3. When you apply for SS, be upfront about your ongoing PML payments The whole process was actually smoother than I expected once I got all the documentation sorted out. I collected both benefits for about 10 weeks until my leave expired. The reduced SS payment due to the earnings test was temporary - once I stopped receiving PML, my full SS benefit kicked in. Hope this helps with your decision!

I'm 63 and currently navigating a very similar situation after my recent hip replacement surgery. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly enlightening! I've been on employer-paid medical leave for about 6 weeks now and am seriously considering filing for SS retirement benefits rather than returning to work. A few things I've learned from my own research that might add to the great advice already shared: 1. **Document everything with dates** - I started keeping a log of all my conversations with HR, including who I spoke with and what they told me. This has already helped when I got conflicting information from different HR representatives. 2. **Ask about COBRA implications** - One thing I discovered is that if I officially retire while on medical leave, it might affect when my COBRA eligibility period starts, which could impact my health insurance transition strategy. 3. **Consider your HSA if you have one** - If you're contributing to an HSA through payroll deduction while on PML, starting SS might affect your eligibility for future HSA contributions depending on when you enroll in Medicare. The consensus here seems to be that you can typically receive both benefits, but the details really matter. I'm planning to follow everyone's advice about getting written confirmation from HR and calling SSA directly. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it makes this complex decision feel much more manageable when you can learn from others who've successfully navigated it!

I'm 66 and went through this exact scenario 18 months ago after my knee replacement surgery. I was on paid medical leave and decided to file for SS retirement benefits rather than return to work. Here's what I learned: **You can absolutely receive both benefits simultaneously** - they're separate income sources and SSA doesn't prohibit this combination. **Key steps I recommend:** 1. **Get written confirmation from HR** about how your PML is classified (wages vs. non-wages) and whether collecting SS affects your leave eligibility 2. **Calculate the earnings test impact** - if your PML counts as wages, it might temporarily reduce your SS payments since you're filing before FRA 3. **Consider the permanent 7.8% reduction** - weigh this against your health situation and financial needs **My experience:** I received both benefits for 14 weeks without issues. My PML was classified as wages, so my SS was temporarily reduced by about $150/month until the leave ended. Once I stopped receiving PML, my full SS benefit resumed. The peace of mind of having the income security now was worth more to me than waiting for the higher benefit later, especially given my health concerns. Don't let anyone pressure you either way - this is a very personal decision based on your specific circumstances. Feel free to ask if you want more details about the application process or timeline!

I'm 67 and went through this exact situation 2 years ago after rotator cuff surgery. I was on employer-paid medical leave for 16 weeks and filed for SS retirement benefits about 8 weeks into my leave. Here's what I discovered: **The short answer is YES** - you can typically receive both your employer's PML and SS retirement benefits at the same time. They're considered separate income sources. **However, there are some important nuances:** 1. **Check how your PML is classified** - Ask HR if it's reported as "wages" on your W-2. If yes, it counts toward the earnings test and could temporarily reduce your SS payments until you reach FRA. 2. **Get everything in writing** - I cannot stress this enough. Ask HR for written confirmation that starting SS won't affect your PML eligibility and how the leave payments are classified for tax purposes. 3. **Consider the timing** - Since you're only 14 months from FRA, you'll have about a 7.8% permanent reduction in benefits. Given your health situation though, the financial security now might outweigh the higher future payments. **My experience:** I successfully collected both benefits for the entire 16-week period. My PML was classified as wages, so my SS was temporarily reduced by about $180/month due to the earnings test. Once my leave ended, my full SS benefit kicked in. The process was straightforward once I got all the documentation sorted. The key is being proactive about understanding your employer's specific policies and getting clear answers in writing. Best of luck with your recovery and decision!