Is SSDI formula based on FRA? Can I switch to regular SS at age 70?

Your SSDI benefit is essentially equal to what your full retirement benefit would be at your Full Retirement Age (FRA). The calculation uses your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) and applies the same formula used for retirement benefits. However, there's a key point you should understand - SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits when you reach your FRA. You don't get to delay and receive the 8% per year increase because you're already receiving the equivalent of your full retirement benefit through SSDI. Hope this helps clarify things!

My cousin was on SSDI and he tried to switch to regular SS at 68 and they told him no way jose!! The system is designed to prevent double dipping so your already getting your full amount. Thats just how it works

I had the EXACT same question last year!! So frustrating trying to understand all this stuff. From what I finally figured out, SSDI is basically giving you your full retirement early because of your disability. When you hit retirement age they just switch the name of the benefit but the $ stays the same. Kinda stinks we can't get that 8% increase but I guess we've been getting paid years earlier than everyone else so it sorta evens out???

There are so many misconceptions about this! Let me clarify: SSDI benefits are calculated using the PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) formula, which is the same formula used for retirement benefits at FRA. The difference is SSDI recipients get this amount regardless of age. The conversion from SSDI to retirement benefits at FRA is automatic and purely administrative - your check amount doesn't change. The delayed retirement credits (8% per year from FRA to 70) are ONLY available to people who haven't started receiving ANY Social Security benefits yet. Since you're already receiving your PIA through SSDI, you can't delay to increase the amount. The trade-off is that SSDI recipients get their full benefit amount potentially decades earlier than retirement-only recipients.

wait i thought SSDI was based on the last 5 years you worked?? thats what the guy at my local office told me when i applied. are we talking about the same benefit??

I spent DAYS trying to reach someone at SSA about a similar question last month. After getting disconnected 6 times, I found a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an agent in under 10 minutes! I was shocked it actually worked. The agent confirmed what others are saying here - SSDI gives you your full retirement benefit early, and it automatically converts to retirement benefits at FRA with no change in amount. You can check out how it works at claimyr.com or see a demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU if you're still trying to talk to someone at SSA directly.

BUT WHAT ABOUT WORKING?? Can we work part time on SSDI and will that increase our benefit when it converts to retirement? That's something I've been wondering about too!!!!

my dad was on ssdi for like 20 yrs and when he hit 67 last yr nothing changed with his payments so yea ur stuck with what u got

Just to provide a bit more context on why this system exists this way: The intention of SSDI is to provide income to those who cannot work due to disability, essentially replacing the income you would have earned until retirement age. The intention of delayed retirement credits is to compensate people for delaying the start of their benefits. Since SSDI recipients already receive benefits early, the system doesn't allow for both advantages (early receipt and delayed credits). There's no way to "pause" SSDI at FRA and then restart as retirement at 70 with increases.