Social Security Disability conversion to retirement benefits at FRA - confusion about automatic transition

Your SSDI benefits will automatically convert to retirement benefits when you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA), which depends on your birth year. Since you're 62 now, your FRA is likely 67. The conversion is completely automatic - you don't need to apply or do anything. The good news is that your benefit amount will stay exactly the same after conversion. The only real difference is that once you're on retirement benefits, you won't be subject to the same medical reviews that SSDI requires. The SSA just basically moves your case from one program to another in their system.

I went thru this last year and it was SO confusing!!!! Nobody told me anything was changing until I got a letter saying congrats your now on retirement not disability. I panicked thinking maybe they were kicking me off disability but then realized it was just because I hit my retirement age. Nothing changed with my monthly amount thank goodness.

its all automatic dont worry about it. they just switch you over and nothing changes with your money. happened to my wife last year and she didnt even notice until she got the letter in the mail.

Technically what happens is that SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) automatically converts to RIB (Retirement Insurance Benefits) when you reach your Full Retirement Age. The benefit amount calculation is identical, which is why the amount doesn't change. SSDI essentially pays you your full retirement benefit early due to disability. When you reach FRA, there's no need for the disability classification anymore since you'd qualify for the same amount based on age alone. The system handles this automatically because your birth date is in their records. You might receive different paperwork/tax forms, but direct deposits continue without interruption. Medical reviews stop, and if you decide to work, different earning limits will apply.

To clarify for everyone: SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) are completely different programs. The original poster is asking about SSDI conversion to retirement benefits, which happens automatically at FRA. SSI is needs-based and works differently.

Have you tried calling the SSA? I had a similar question about my disability benefits converting and spent DAYS trying to get through to someone. I finally found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at SSA in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU and their site is claimyr.com. Saved me a ton of frustration and the agent I spoke with explained everything about the SSDI to retirement conversion process.

Here's a tip most people don't know: if you're receiving SSDI and were also eligible for reduced retirement benefits before your disability began (meaning you were over 62 when you became disabled), at FRA you might be eligible for a recalculation. In some specific cases, this can result in a higher payment. This only applies in certain circumstances, but it's worth asking SSA about when your benefits convert, especially if you had already reached early retirement age (62) before you started receiving SSDI.

my friend got a big surprise when his disability switched over cuz he had a worker comp settlement years ago and they had been offsetting his ssdi but when it went to retirement the offset went away and his check got bigger. not sure if thats a thing for everyone but worth asking about

Does anyone know if Medicare changes when you switch from disability to retirement??? That's what I'm worried about!!!