Can my wife switch from SSDI to regular retirement with delayed credits at FRA? Getting contradicting info

Unfortunately, the SSA representative is correct. When you receive SSDI benefits and reach your full retirement age, those benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits at the SAME amount. There is no option to stop payments and earn delayed retirement credits. The reason is that SSDI benefits are already paid at what would be your full retirement amount - in other words, it's as if you were already at FRA. The law doesn't allow for delayed credits in this situation. This is different from someone who never received disability and is just deciding when to take retirement between 62-70. Those folks can choose to delay for the 8% yearly increase.

My husban went thru this last year. They just switch him from disability to regular SS, same exact amount. No option to delay or anything, and we asked! Its just how the system works, they say disability already pays you your full amount. Sorry its not the answer you want :

The SSA rep is 100% WRONG! I was on SSDI for 15 years and when I hit my FRA last year, I was able to suspend my payments to earn delayed credits. The key is you have to submit form SSA-795 stating your intention to suspend under Section 202(z) of the Social Security Act. I'm getting the 8% increases now and will restart payments at 70. Most SSA reps don't know this rule because it's rarely used. Ask specifically for a Technical Expert who understands the voluntary suspension rules!!! DON'T take no for an answer - they denied me THREE TIMES before I got someone who knew the regulations!

The confusion here stems from how the Social Security Administration handles the transition from disability to retirement benefits. Let me clarify the facts: 1. SSDI benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits when you reach Full Retirement Age (FRA). 2. The amount remains the same because SSDI already pays you at your full retirement benefit rate. 3. According to SSA's Program Operations Manual System (POMS) DI 10115.035, once benefits convert to retirement at FRA, you DO have the option to suspend your retirement benefits to earn delayed retirement credits. 4. However, you cannot repay SSDI benefits and file a completely new claim as if you never received disability - which might be what the representative was referring to. 5. To request suspension after conversion, you need to contact SSA directly and specifically request to suspend your retirement benefits under voluntary suspension rules. The representative was incorrect about requiring repayment of all previous disability benefits. That's not necessary for voluntary suspension after FRA.

I went through something similar with my benefits last year! The local office gave me completely wrong information THREE times. I eventually got so frustrated with the phone waits and misinformation that I tried a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually reach a live person at SSA without the endless holds. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU After finally getting through, I requested to speak with a Technical Expert who confirmed what others here are saying - after conversion to retirement at FRA, you CAN suspend to earn delayed credits. But you definitely need to talk to someone who knows the technical details, not just a front-line representative.

honestly i think everyones overthinking this. SS is SS. disability or retirement its all the same pot of money. my dads been on disability forever and he just got a letter saying hes on retirement now. same check amount, different name. why bother with all this suspension stuff? just take the money lol

This is one of those situations where the details really matter. I think part of the confusion is that there are different rules for SSI vs SSDI. If your wife is receiving SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), then yes, at FRA it converts to retirement benefits and you should be able to suspend to earn delayed credits. But if she's receiving SSI (Supplemental Security Income), different rules apply and suspension for delayed credits isn't an option. Also, important note - if your wife suspends her retirement benefits after conversion, any benefits paid to dependents based on her record would also be suspended during that time. Something to consider if that applies to your situation.

Just wanted to update - I called SSA back and specifically asked for a Technical Expert. Had to wait 2 days for a callback, but finally spoke with someone who confirmed what several people here said! After SSDI converts to retirement at FRA, my wife CAN suspend to earn delayed credits until 70. The first representative was completely wrong about having to pay back all disability benefits. They didn't even understand the question correctly. The Technical Expert explained that once benefits convert to retirement, they follow retirement rules, which include voluntary suspension. Thanks everyone for the help! We'll be using this strategy to increase her lifetime benefits.

This is such valuable information! I'm a newcomer to this community and this thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm in a similar situation - my spouse has been on SSDI for about 8 years and will reach FRA in two years. I had no idea that suspension after conversion was even possible. The local SSA office told us the same thing about automatic conversion with no options, but clearly we need to speak with a Technical Expert who actually understands these rules. One question for those who've gone through this - is there any paperwork or documentation you'd recommend keeping during the conversion process? I want to make sure we're prepared when the time comes to request suspension for delayed credits. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

As someone new to this community, I just want to say thank you all for this incredibly detailed discussion! My mother-in-law is currently on SSDI and approaching her FRA in about 18 months, so this information is absolutely invaluable. It's shocking how much misinformation exists, even from SSA representatives themselves. The fact that multiple people here had to fight through incorrect initial responses really highlights the importance of asking specifically for a Technical Expert who understands these complex rules. The financial impact is enormous - we're talking about potentially tens of thousands of dollars in additional lifetime benefits. For families already dealing with the challenges of disability, every dollar matters tremendously. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and share it with my mother-in-law. When her time comes, we'll be prepared to wait for the automatic conversion and then immediately request suspension through the proper channels. Thanks again to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this kind of peer knowledge is absolutely priceless!