Can SSDI recipients returning to work increase future SS retirement benefits at 62 or FRA?

This is actually a great question. Yes, returning to work while on SSDI can potentially increase your future retirement benefits. Here's how it works: 1. SSA recalculates your benefit amount annually if you have new earnings 2. Your SSDI benefit automatically converts to retirement benefits at your Full Retirement Age (66+) 3. New substantial earnings could replace earlier lower-earning years in your top 35 years of earnings Regarding working with gaps - SSA has work incentives like the Trial Work Period (TWP) where you can work for 9 months (not necessarily consecutive) without losing benefits. After that, you enter Extended Period of Eligibility for 36 months where benefits are reinstated if earnings drop below Substantial Gainful Activity ($1,550/month in 2025). Consider starting with part-time work to test your stamina before going full-time.

Be SUPER CAREFUL with this!!! I tried going back to work and it was a NIGHTMARE dealing with Social Security after. They kept sending me overpayment notices even though I reported everything. Then they suddenly cut off my benefits completely saying I was "working above SGA" even when I wasn't! It took 7 months to get my benefits back and I almost lost my house!!! The system is BROKEN and they will use any excuse to kick you off. Just warning you what you're getting into.

i went back to work after 4 yrs on disabilty. you definietly get the 9 month trial period where u can make whatever and still get ssdi. then after that u can only make like $1550 a month. if your trying to test it out maybe do part time first? the fatigue is real, i had to drop back to 24 hrs a week cuz full time was too much with my condition

To answer your specific question about increasing your future retirement benefit - yes, any new earnings can potentially increase your benefit calculation. Social Security retirement is based on your highest 35 years of indexed earnings, so if these new work years have higher earnings than some of your previous years (after indexing for inflation), they could replace lower years and increase your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). Regarding gaps in work - they won't "dock" you. Your future retirement is simply calculated based on those highest 35 years. If you don't have 35 years of earnings, they use zeros for the missing years. So additional work, even with gaps, can only help your eventual retirement calculation. I'd recommend requesting your Social Security Statement through my Social Security account online to see your current estimated retirement benefits. That gives you a baseline to compare against.

I went through exactly this situation at age 56! The fatigue from my condition was also my biggest hurdle (MS in my case). Here's my practical advice: 1. Start with part-time work through Ticket to Work program if possible - they have employment supports 2. Document EVERYTHING - keep copies of all your earnings reports to SSA (I learned this the hard way) 3. Get a benefits planning query (BPQY) from SSA before starting - it shows exactly where you stand 4. Find an Employment Network that specializes in SSDI return-to-work 5. Yes, new earnings can increase future retirement benefits if they're higher than previous years in your top 35 Also, know that you keep Medicare for at least 8.5 years after returning to work even if your SSDI cash payments stop. That was huge for me.

@profile8 - Ticket to Work is a free SSA program that helps people on SSDI or SSI return to work while providing protections for their benefits. You work with an Employment Network or state Vocational Rehabilitation agency who helps with job placement, training, counseling, etc. The big advantage is additional protections against medical reviews while participating. You can learn more at choosework.ssa.gov

thanks, had no idea this existed! gonna check it out

Just wanted to add something important nobody mentioned - when you're trying to reach someone at Social Security to discuss your return to work plans, use Claimyr.com to get through to an agent without the endless hold times. Regular calls to SSA can mean waiting hours or getting disconnected, but I was connected in under 15 minutes with their service. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It really helped me when I needed to speak with someone about my specific situation with returning to work. For something this important, you want to make sure everything is documented correctly from the start.

One more important point: when you return to work, you should report your earnings to SSA monthly rather than waiting. This helps prevent overpayments which can be a huge headache later. If you have a smartphone, the SSA has a mobile wage reporting app called "SSI Mobile Wage Reporting" that some SSDI beneficiaries can use. Otherwise, you can report online through my Social Security account, by phone, or in person. Consistent reporting is absolutely crucial to avoid problems down the road. I've seen so many clients face overpayment notices simply because they didn't know they needed to report or didn't report consistently.

@profile7 is right - the mobile app is currently only for SSI recipients, not SSDI. For SSDI, you need to report through your my Social Security account, by phone, or by visiting an office. Thanks for that correction! @OP - Another consideration: if you're planning this transition, consider meeting with a benefits counselor through your state's Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program. They provide free benefits counseling to understand exactly how working affects your specific situation. You can find your local WIPA through the SSA website.

I really appreciate all the advice everyone! I'm feeling more confident about trying to return to work with the Trial Work Period protection, and knowing that new earnings could actually increase my future retirement benefits is motivating. I think I'll start with part-time work to test my stamina and use the Ticket to Work program. I'll definitely document everything carefully and use that Claimyr service to talk with SSA directly about my specific situation. The fatigue is still scary, but maybe I can find something that accommodates my condition. Even replacing a few low-earning years in my record would help my long-term financial situation. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge!