Can I work after SS disability converts to retirement at FRA without restrictions?

Yes, once your brother reaches his Full Retirement Age (FRA) and his SSDI benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits, the disability work restrictions completely disappear. At FRA, the earnings test no longer applies, so he can earn any amount without it affecting his Social Security retirement benefits. This is one of the advantages of reaching that age milestone.The transition from SSDI to retirement happens automatically in the month he reaches 67 - he doesn't need to apply or do anything. The amount stays the same too, as his disability benefit simply becomes his retirement benefit.

That's such a relief! He's been so cautious about working at all because he was afraid of losing his benefits. Is there anything he needs to report to Social Security when he starts working, or can he just go ahead and start the job?

my sister went thru this exact thing last year!! once u hit retirement age all those stupid SSDI rules go away!!! she works 3 days a week now at the library and doesn't worry about all that trial work period nonsense. she said its the best thing ever to not have to track her hours and worry about going over the limit!!

Thanks for sharing about your sister! That's exactly what my brother wants - just to work a bit without all the stress of counting dollars and worrying about reviews. Sounds like it worked out great for her!

What you're describing actually sounds exactly like what happened with me! I had been on disability since 2015 after a major car accident and when I hit my full retirement age last year (I'm 66 and 8 months), the SSA letter said my

This is not entirely accurate. While it's true the disability work restrictions end, Medicare eligibility rules are different. If he's been on SSDI for more than 24 months, he qualifies for Medicare regardless of age. After converting to retirement, his Medicare continues uninterrupted, but he should check if his Medicare premiums might change based on his new income from working.

Oh no I never said Medicare eligibility changes! I just meant his Medicare CONTINUES the same after the switch from disability to retirement. I was worried Medicare would stop when SSDI ended but it doesn't. Sorry if I wasn't clear!!

congrats to your bro! my dad did same thing. worked as crossing guard after his SSD became regular SS. extra $$ and no problems at all.

While others have correctly stated that your brother won't have the SSDI work restrictions after conversion to retirement benefits at FRA, there's one important consideration nobody has mentioned: If he plans to earn income, this could potentially affect the taxation of his Social Security benefits.Up to 85% of Social Security benefits become taxable when your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of SS benefits) exceeds certain thresholds. For a single filer, taxation begins when this combined income exceeds $25,000.So while his $800-1000 monthly earnings won't affect his benefit amount, it could increase the portion of his benefits subject to income tax if his other income sources already put him near the threshold.

That's really helpful - I hadn't thought about the tax implications. His only other income is a small pension of about $850/month, so I'll need to figure out if the combined amounts would push him over that threshold. Might be worth talking to a tax person before he starts.

THE SSA IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE about explaining this transition!! My husband was on disability for 12 years and when he hit FRA last year, they sent some TERRIFYING letter about his \

omg yes those letters are SO SCARY!!! they make it sound like ur benefits are being cancelled when really nothing changes except the name of the program!!!

Thank you for the recommendation! We actually haven't received any letter yet about the transition, but his birthday is still a few weeks away. I'll keep that service in mind if we run into problems or have questions when the letter arrives. The SSA phone system is absolutely maddening.

I'd like to add some technical clarity that might be helpful. When SSDI converts to retirement benefits at FRA:1. The benefit amount remains exactly the same - there is no recalculation2. The rules that govern the benefit change completely3. All SSDI work incentives end (Trial Work Period, Extended Period of Eligibility, etc.)4. The retirement earnings test would normally apply until FRA, but since he's already at FRA, there is no earnings limit5. Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) no longer occurBasically, your brother is free to work as much or as little as he wants with no impact on his monthly benefit amount. This is one of the advantages of reaching FRA - complete freedom from the complex SSDI work rules.

Thank you for breaking it down so clearly! He'll be relieved to hear about no more disability reviews. Those always stressed him out terribly even though his condition was well-documented.

WAIT NO ONE TOLD ME THE REVIEWS STOP TOO??? I've been on SSDI for 7 years and I have a review coming up next year according to my last letter. But I turn 66 and 10 months (my FRA) in 6 months. Are you saying I won't have to do that review after all because my benefits will convert to retirement??

That's correct. Once your benefits convert to retirement benefits at FRA, the Continuing Disability Reviews stop entirely. The review scheduled for next year will be automatically cancelled once you reach your FRA and convert to retirement benefits. This is because disability eligibility becomes irrelevant once you're receiving retirement benefits.

THANK YOU!!! One less thing to worry about! Those reviews are so stressful even though my condition is permanent.

does anyone know if this effects medicade too?? my cousins on both ssdi and medicade and shes turning 65 next yr

Your cousin's situation is a bit different since she's turning 65, not Full Retirement Age (which would be 66+). At 65, she'll become eligible for Medicare, but her SSDI won't automatically convert to retirement yet.Regarding Medicaid: When SSDI converts to retirement benefits, Medicaid eligibility doesn't automatically change, but it could be affected if she starts earning income that puts her above her state's Medicaid income limits. Medicaid has different rules in each state, so she should check with her local Medicaid office.Medicare eligibility will continue unchanged when SSDI converts to retirement benefits.

ok thx for explaining!! its all so confusing i'll tell her to call her medicade office.

Thank you all for the incredibly helpful responses! This community is amazing. I've summarized what I learned to share with my brother:1. At FRA (67 for him), his SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits with the same payment amount2. Once converted, he can work and earn any amount without affecting his benefits3. No more disability reviews to worry about4. Medicare continues unchanged5. We need to consider possible tax implications if his combined income exceeds certain thresholdsThis is honestly such a relief. He's been wanting to get back to some form of work for years but was always afraid of jeopardizing his benefits. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and expertise!

That's a fantastic summary! Your brother is so lucky to have someone advocating for him like this. Just wanted to add one small thing - when he does start working, he might want to keep some basic records of his earnings just for his own peace of mind and tax purposes, even though he doesn't need to report anything to SSA anymore. After years of being hypervigilant about work restrictions, it can take a while to mentally adjust to the freedom! My uncle went through this transition two years ago and said the hardest part was trusting that he really could work without consequences. Best of luck to your brother in his new chapter!

This is such valuable information for anyone approaching this transition! I went through something similar with my mom last year. One thing I'd add is that it might be worth having your brother contact SSA (or check his online account if he has one) just to confirm his exact FRA date and when the conversion will happen. Sometimes there can be slight variations based on birth month, and it's good to have that official confirmation. Also, if he's been receiving any state disability benefits alongside his SSDI, those rules might be different and worth checking separately. But for federal Social Security, you've got all the key points covered perfectly. Your brother is going to love having that freedom to work without worry!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in benefits administration - this thread has excellent advice! One small additional point: if your brother has any other income sources (like retirement accounts, part-time consulting, etc.), the combined income from all sources is what matters for the Social Security taxation thresholds mentioned earlier. Also, some people don't realize that the "provisional income" calculation for SS taxation includes half of the Social Security benefit itself, so it's not just about the work earnings. Given his pension of $850/month plus potential work income of $800-1000, he'll probably want to run the numbers or consult a tax professional to see where he lands. But the main point stands - no restrictions on the benefit amount itself once he converts to retirement!

This is such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! As someone who's been navigating Social Security disability benefits with my elderly father, I really appreciate how clearly everyone has broken down the transition from SSDI to retirement benefits. One thing I'd like to add from our experience is that it might be worth your brother keeping a copy of his most recent SSDI award letter or benefit statement before the conversion happens. When my father transitioned last year, having that documentation was helpful when we had to verify his benefit history for other purposes (like applying for certain senior programs). The conversion is seamless, but sometimes other agencies or programs ask for proof of prior disability status. Also, I love how supportive this community is - reading through all these responses really shows how much people care about helping each other navigate these complex systems. Your brother is fortunate to have you researching all this for him!

As someone who recently went through this exact transition myself, I wanted to add one more reassuring point - the mental relief of not having to worry about work restrictions is incredible! I was on SSDI for 6 years after a workplace injury, and I spent so much mental energy tracking every dollar and worrying about crossing thresholds. When I hit my FRA last fall and the benefits converted, it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. I started working part-time at a local bookstore and it's been wonderful to just focus on the work itself rather than constantly calculating earnings. Your brother is going to love this newfound freedom! Just make sure he knows that the first few paychecks might feel scary even though everything is perfectly fine - that's totally normal after years of being cautious. The peace of mind that comes with reaching FRA is truly life-changing.