Should I apply for SSDI at 60 or wait for retirement benefits at 62? Disability vs early SS benefits

YES this is 100% true! SSDI pays your FULL retirement amount regardless of age, while early retirement at 62 reduces your benefit by like 30%. I went through this last year - was planning to wait til 62 but my doctor convinced me to file for disability at 59. Best decision ever. My SSDI payment is $2,400/month but would've only been about $1,700 if I'd waited until 62 for regular retirement. BUT - and this is a HUGE but - you CANNOT earn more than $1,470/month (in 2025) on SSDI without losing benefits. It's called SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity). If you earn over that amount, SSA assumes you're not disabled. So your part-time job might be a problem unless you reduce hours.

The previous commenter is correct about SSDI paying your full retirement benefit regardless of age, but there are several important factors to consider in your situation: 1. SSDI eligibility requires that you have a medical condition that prevents substantial work for at least 12 months. Working part-time doesn't automatically disqualify you, but earning above the SGA limit ($1,470/month in 2025) generally does. 2. SSDI approval is not guaranteed - the process can take 6-24 months with appeals, and only about 30% of initial applications are approved. 3. Early retirement at 62 is guaranteed if you have enough work credits, but yes, it's permanently reduced (about 30% less than your full retirement age benefit). 4. If approved for SSDI, you'd be automatically converted to retirement benefits at your full retirement age (67), but at the higher SSDI rate. Based on your situation, it might be worth applying for SSDI while continuing your part-time work under the SGA limit. If denied, you still have your retirement option at 62.

You need to be SUPER careful with this because SSA scrutinizes SSDI applications carefully!!! I went through this EXACT situation and tried to keep working part-time and they DENIED my disability claim because they said I could still work. You said you "like your job" and are "choosing" to work part-time - SSA will see that as evidence you're NOT disabled enough for SSDI. They don't care if you LIKE working - they only care if you are MEDICALLY UNABLE to work. If you're physically/mentally capable of earning over SGA, they'll deny your claim IMMEDIATELY. Also, the application process is BRUTAL. Be prepared for multiple denials and possibly needing to hire a lawyer. And they'll want detailed medical records showing your condition is severe enough to prevent full-time work.

I work with Social Security applicants regularly, and I'd like to clarify a few important points: 1. SSDI benefits are calculated based on your lifetime earnings record using the same formula as retirement benefits, but without the reduction for early filing. This is why SSDI is typically higher than early retirement at 62. 2. To qualify for SSDI, your medical condition must prevent you from performing substantial gainful activity (SGA) - which means earning more than $1,470/month in 2025. 3. The fact that you're currently earning $1,250/month part-time is slightly below the SGA limit, which is helpful for your case, but SSA will evaluate whether your medical condition truly prevents full-time work. 4. You must also meet the "recent work test" - generally having worked 5 of the last 10 years before disability onset. If I were advising you, I'd suggest: 1. Speak with your doctor about whether they believe your condition meets SSA's disability criteria 2. Consider applying for SSDI now - if approved, you'd receive higher benefits 3. If denied, you still have the option of early retirement at 62 Keep in mind that SSDI applications often take 3-6 months for initial decisions, and appeals can extend this timeline significantly.

i work at a grocery store with a guy whos 61 and has diabetes and heart problems and hes on disability but still works like 18 hours a week. he said you can work as long as you dont make too much money. but honestly the whole process sounds like a huge headache and most people get rejected their first try.

One additional consideration: If you apply for SSDI and are approved, the benefit amount is typically higher than early retirement for two key reasons: 1. SSDI gives you your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is what you'd receive at full retirement age (67), regardless of your current age 2. Early retirement at 62 reduces your benefit by approximately 30% for the rest of your life Based on your estimate of $1,800/month at age 62, your PIA (and potential SSDI amount) might be closer to $2,550/month. That's a significant difference. However, the key challenge is qualifying for SSDI. The medical requirements are strict, and SSA must determine that your medical condition prevents substantial gainful activity.

Thank you all for the thoughtful responses. After reading through everything, I think I'll take the following approach: 1. Talk to my doctor next week about whether my condition meets SSA's disability criteria and get their opinion on filing for SSDI 2. Make sure my part-time hours keep me under the SGA limit while applying 3. Begin the SSDI application process and see what happens 4. If denied, I'll still have my original plan of taking early retirement at 62 The potential financial difference between SSDI and early retirement seems significant enough to at least try applying. Even if it's a long process, I've still got almost 2 years before I turn 62, so there's time to navigate the system. I really appreciate all the personal experiences and expertise shared here!