How long for SSDI approval at age 64? Should he switch to early retirement benefits instead?

SSDI decisions typically take 3-5 months for initial applications, but can stretch to 6+ months depending on how complex the medical evidence is and the backlog in your state's DDS office. If he applied in June, he's actually still within the normal processing window. If approved, yes, he would receive backpay to his application date (or potentially up to 12 months before if he can prove his disability started earlier). And yes, SSDI pays at his full FRA rate even though he's only 64. Switching to early retirement would be permanent - he'd lose about 20% of his potential benefits forever. Plus no backpay. It's generally better to wait for the SSDI decision if he can manage financially.

WAITING IS ABSOLUTE TORTURE!!!! I filed for disability last year and ended up waiting 11 MONTHS before getting approved. The system is BROKEN. They don't care that people are losing their homes and can't buy food while waiting. And calling the 800 number is useless - they just say "it's processing" over and over. Tell your brother-in-law to hang in there with the SSDI application. The backpay will be worth it if he can survive until then. But SSA doesn't make it easy!!!

My husband was in a similar situation at 63. His dr wrote a letter explaining his condition was terminal and we got an expedited decision in 6 weeks. Does your brother have a condition that qualifies for Compassionate Allowance or TERI (Terminal Illness) processing? Those are much faster.

I've worked with many SSDI applicants, and I'd strongly recommend he NOT switch to retirement benefits yet. Here's why: 1. SSDI pays at his full retirement age amount (what he'd get at 67), even though he's only 64 2. If approved, he'll get backpay to his June application date 3. When he reaches full retirement age, SSDI automatically converts to regular retirement WITHOUT the reduction he'd face by filing early now If he takes early retirement now at 64, he'll permanently lock in a roughly 20% reduction in monthly benefits for the rest of his life. That adds up to tens of thousands in lost benefits over his lifetime. The decision timeline varies widely by state and medical complexity. Some cases are decided in 3-4 months, others take 6+ months for just the initial decision. Unfortunately, going to the office rarely speeds things up as disability determinations are handled by the state DDS, not the local SSA office.

I went through this exact situation last year! The waiting is absolutely brutal. I couldn't get anyone on the phone after trying for WEEKS. Then I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real SSA agent in under 10 minutes. The agent was able to tell me exactly where my application was in the process and gave me a much clearer timeline. Just knowing what was happening reduced my stress tremendously. You might want to suggest this to your brother-in-law. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU showing how it works. It saved me countless hours of frustration when I was in a similar situation.

my mom went thru this and switched to early retirement cuz she couldnt wait any longer for SSDI... she regrets it SO MUCH now. shes getting like $450 less every month forever!! tell ur brother to try and hold out if possible

If your brother-in-law REALLY can't wait financially, he could potentially apply for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) while his SSDI claim is pending. It's meant for disabled people with limited income and resources. The amount is less than SSDI would be, but it might help bridge the gap. Just a thought.

has he talked to his doctor about helping with the disability claim? my doctor wrote a really detailed letter that i think made a big difference in my approval. might be worth asking about!

My brother got denied on his first application even though he clearly qualified. Almost everyone gets denied the first time - it's like their standard procedure. Just be prepared for that possibility and know that appeals often have better success rates.

Something else to consider: Since your brother-in-law is 64, if his SSDI application is still pending when he reaches full retirement age (which is likely 66 and some months for someone his age), the application essentially becomes moot. At FRA, he would automatically get his full retirement benefit regardless. So worst case, if his SSDI claim takes a very long time or is denied, he's only looking at 2+ years of reduced benefits if he switches to early retirement now. That said, the backpay from SSDI could still be substantial if he's approved, so waiting is generally the better financial choice if possible.