SSDI application deadline after retirement - before FRA or specific time limit?

There's actually no option to apply for SSDI after you've started receiving retirement benefits. Once you've begun collecting Social Security retirement, you're effectively locked into that path. The reasoning is that SSDI is designed to replace income for those who can't work before reaching retirement age.

The previous comment isn't quite accurate. While it's unusual, there IS a situation where someone can receive disability after starting retirement benefits. If your brother-in-law became disabled within 5 years of when he started receiving retirement benefits, he can potentially qualify for disability. This would effectively give him his full retirement amount instead of the reduced early retirement amount. To be specific: If he retired early at 62 and is now disabled, he should absolutely apply for SSDI right away. The important deadline is that the disability must occur within 5 years of when early retirement benefits began.

ive heard different things from different people at ssa offices about this. my cousin got rejected when she tried this but idk if her situation was different

I went through this exact situation with my dad last year! He had retired at 63, then had a major heart attack 14 months later. It was a NIGHTMARE trying to get through to Social Security to figure this out. We kept getting disconnected after waiting for hours. Finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got us connected to an actual SSA agent within 20 minutes. They have this video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once we got through, the agent confirmed that Dad could indeed apply for disability even though he was already on retirement. The disability had to occur within 5 years of starting retirement benefits. It took some paperwork and medical documentation, but they eventually approved it and it increased his monthly benefit significantly!

YESSSS, this is the TERRIBLE information they don't tell retirees!!! My husband got screwed by this 5-year rule because we didn't know about it and applied too late. If you retire early and become disabled MORE THAN 5 YEARS after starting benefits, you're stuck with the reduced amount FOREVER!!! Tell your brother-in-law to apply IMMEDIATELY!!! The clock is ticking!!!

When my sister had a similar situation the SSA office told her that she needed to have worked 5 out of the last 10 years before becoming disabled to qualify for SSDI. Maybe thats why some people get rejected? But if he just retired last year then I guess he would definitely meet that requirement.

To clarify a couple of important technical points that might help others reading this thread: 1. This provision is sometimes called the "disability freeze" rule 2. If approved, your brother-in-law would receive the higher of either his disability rate OR his reduced retirement benefit 3. At Full Retirement Age (FRA), the disability benefit automatically converts to retirement benefits, but at the higher non-reduced amount 4. The application process and medical requirements are exactly the same as for any SSDI claim 5. The 5-year window is firm - there are no exceptions Also worth noting that the medical review will be thorough. Make sure all his doctors' records clearly document the limitations from his stroke.

i think ull get different answers depending who u talk to at ssa honestly. my neighbor tried somthing similar and got denied but my uncle got approved. seems like luck of the draw with which agent reviews ur case lol

Thank you all so much for your help! We just submitted his application online yesterday. The hardest part was gathering all the medical documentation, but we made sure to include everything from his neurologist, physical therapist, and rehabilitation specialists. I'll update this thread once we hear back about his application. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly!