Does applying for Social Security disability make sense after already receiving retirement benefits? Terminal illness compassionate allowance question

Sorry about your mom. My dad had cancer to and we looked into this. Once someones already getting SS retirement they cant switch to disability. Its one or the other and after full retirement age theres no difference anyway.

I work with seniors and can clarify this situation. Once someone has begun receiving Social Security retirement benefits, they generally cannot switch to SSDI (disability). The Compassionate Allowance program primarily helps expedite disability applications for people with certain severe conditions, but it doesn't typically apply to someone already receiving retirement benefits. Regarding benefit amounts: 1) If your mother started her retirement benefits at her Full Retirement Age (FRA), her disability benefit would be exactly the same amount anyway 2) If she took early retirement before FRA, there might have been a slight difference, but at 68, she's past FRA 3) For survivor benefits, your father would receive the higher of his own benefit or up to 100% of your mother's benefit amount when she passes - this calculation would be the same whether she was on retirement or disability The focus should be on ensuring she's receiving any other benefits she might qualify for, like Medicare's hospice benefit and possibly help with prescription costs.

The previous response is correct. Once someone begins receiving retirement benefits, switching to disability isn't possible. At age 68, your mother is already past Full Retirement Age (FRA), so there would be no monetary advantage to disability benefits even if she could switch. Regarding survivor benefits for your father, the calculation will be based on your mother's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), and he would generally be eligible for 100% of her benefit amount if he's at his FRA when he claims survivor benefits. This would be the same whether she was receiving retirement or disability benefits. The compassionate allowance program is excellent, but it's designed to expedite the disability determination process for those who haven't yet started receiving any Social Security benefits. It doesn't increase benefit amounts - it just speeds up approval.

When my wife got terminal cancer we tried to get her switched from regular SS to disability thinking it would be more money. The SSA office told us it doesn't work that way. Once your on retirement you cant go back. Something about the disability trust fund being different from the retirement trust fund. Its really frusterating how complicated they make everything!!

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's diagnosis. I just want to add that you should check if your mother might qualify for any state-specific programs that help with medical costs not covered by Medicare. Some states have additional assistance programs for people with terminal illnesses. Also, make sure your father understands the survivor benefit process. He should contact Social Security promptly after your mother passes (I know it's difficult to think about) as some benefits aren't retroactive if he waits too long. If he's already collecting his own retirement, they'll automatically give him whichever benefit is higher - his own or the survivor benefit based on your mother's record.

To answer your follow-up question about other programs that might help with medical expenses: Medicare's hospice benefit should cover most hospice-related costs, but there are other options to explore: 1) If your mother has limited income and resources, she might qualify for a Medicare Savings Program that helps pay Medicare premiums and possibly copays 2) Extra Help program for prescription drug costs 3) If costs are still high, check if she qualifies for Medicaid (even with Medicare) 4) Many cancer foundations offer financial assistance - the American Cancer Society can direct you to specific programs 5) Check if your parents have any long-term care insurance or critical illness insurance policies they may have forgotten about A hospital social worker or the social worker at her hospice should be able to help identify which programs she might qualify for in your specific state.

Want to add somthing I found out to late. Tell your dad to make sure SSA has HIS direct deposit info on file before your mom passes. My mom died and dad had no income for almost 2 months because they were depositing to moms account that got frozen when she died. The survivor benefit stuff is a mess.

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses. This clarifies so much for us. I'll make sure to work with the hospice social worker to look into the additional medical cost assistance programs mentioned, and I'll definitely make sure my dad has his direct deposit information on file with SSA. It sounds like there's no benefit to pursuing the compassionate allowance route in our situation, which helps us focus our energy on more productive paths. I truly appreciate all of your insights and experiences during this difficult time.