Will I have to repay my early retirement benefits if approved for SSDI after applying for both?

You won't have to pay anything back. When SSA approves your SSDI, they'll calculate how much back pay you're entitled to, then subtract what you've already received in retirement benefits. You'll get the difference. Since SSDI is typically higher than reduced retirement benefits, you'll probably get some back pay, just not as much as if you hadn't taken early retirement. For example, if your SSDI monthly amount is $2,400, and your retirement is $1,920, that's a $480 difference per month. If they approve your SSDI with 15 months of back pay, that would be $7,200 in additional benefits (15 × $480). Once approved, they'll switch you from retirement to disability benefits automatically. Then when you reach Full Retirement Age, they'll convert your SSDI to regular retirement benefits at your full rate (not reduced).

I went through EXACTLY this!! applied for disability, waited FOREVER, ended up taking early retirement at 62 because I was desperate, then 9 months later finally got approved for SSDI. They did NOT make me pay anything back!!! They just calculated the difference between what I already got in retirement and what I should have gotten in disability, and paid me that amount. The best part is that now I'm getting the higher disability amount every month instead of the reduced retirement. And when I hit my full retirement age, I'll automatically convert to full retirement benefits, NOT the reduced amount I would have gotten from taking it early. It's like I get to undo the early filing penalty! Don't stress - you made the right choice given your financial situation!

had the same worry when i applied. the ssa lady explained that they adjust ur backpay not make u pay stuff back. but the wait is TERRIBLE right?? took me almost 2 years to get approved

The REAL question you should be asking is whether your SSDI application is even still active!!! SSA sometimes automatically closes disability claims when you apply for retirement. You need to call IMMEDIATELY and make sure your disability application is still being processed. This happened to my sister and she had to start all over with her disability claim!!! I'd recommend using Claimyr if you want to actually get through to a real person at SSA without waiting on hold for 3+ hours. I used them when I had problems with my wife's survivors benefits. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU or go to claimyr.com. They got me through to a rep in about 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait.

To clarify a few technical points about concurrent entitlement to retirement and disability benefits: 1. When you file for early retirement while a disability claim is pending, you're making what's called a "protective filing" for retirement benefits. 2. If disability is later approved with an onset date before your retirement benefit start date, SSA will pay the difference between the two benefit amounts for all affected months. 3. This is covered under SSA POMS section DI 52150.050 - Concurrent Retirement and Disability Insurance Benefits. 4. You will NOT need to pay back your retirement benefits. The adjustment is handled internally by SSA through their benefit offset process. 5. Your disability benefit will likely be higher than your reduced retirement benefit because SSDI is based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) without reduction. 6. Most importantly, when you reach Full Retirement Age, your benefit converts to an unreduced retirement benefit - essentially eliminating the early filing reduction permanently. You made a financially sound decision by filing for early retirement while waiting for the disability determination.

I filed for both as well, but my situation was a bit different. I filed for SSDI first, got denied initially, and then applied for early retirement while I was in the appeals process. When I finally won my disability case at the hearing level, they adjusted my backpay exactly as others have described. One thing to know: the disability onset date matters a lot. If SSA determines your disability began BEFORE you started collecting retirement, you'll get disability back to that onset date (minus the 5-month waiting period). But if they determine onset was AFTER you started retirement, things get more complicated. Also, make sure you're watching your mail carefully. SSA might be sending you requests for medical records or forms to complete. If you miss these deadlines, it could hurt your disability case.

My aunt got approved for disability after getting early retirement and the SSA office gave her a NIGHTMARE of paperwork to sort through. The local office made so many mistakes on her backpay calculation that she had to make like 5 appointments to get it fixed!!! The system is completely broken. Be prepared to check their math carefully when they calculate your backpay!!

my neighbor said u have to PAY EVERYTHING BACK if u get approved for disability but he also thinks the moon landing was fake so idk if hes right lol

Just to follow up on my earlier comment - there's one more benefit to getting approved for SSDI after taking early retirement that people haven't mentioned. You'll become eligible for Medicare 24 months after your SSDI entitlement date, regardless of your age. So you'll get Medicare before 65, which can be a huge help with medical expenses. Also, if your disability has worsened since you initially applied, make sure your medical records reflect this. The more documentation you have about your limitations, the stronger your case will be. Have you had a lawyer helping with your disability claim?

I'm going through something similar right now! Filed for SSDI in February 2024 and just started early retirement at 62 last month because I couldn't wait any longer financially. The uncertainty is so stressful, but reading all these responses is really reassuring. One thing I learned from my disability attorney is that it's actually pretty common for people to file for both, especially when the disability process drags on so long. She said SSA has specific procedures for handling these "concurrent entitlement" situations, so it's not like you're doing something wrong or unusual. Have you considered reaching out to your congressperson's office for help with the delay? I've heard they sometimes can get SSA to move faster on cases that have been pending way too long. 15 months is ridiculous! Hope you get some good news soon.

I'm a disability advocate and wanted to add some reassurance here - you absolutely will NOT have to pay back your retirement benefits! This is one of the most common misconceptions people have about concurrent filing. Here's what actually happens: SSA has what's called an "offset" system. When your SSDI gets approved, they calculate your total disability backpay from your onset date. Then they subtract dollar-for-dollar what you've already received in retirement benefits during that same period. You get the difference as a lump sum, and going forward you'll receive the higher disability benefit amount. The beauty of this system is that if you're later approved for SSDI, it's like the early retirement penalty never happened. When you reach Full Retirement Age, you'll convert to your full, unreduced retirement benefit - not the reduced amount you originally filed for. At 15 months with rheumatoid arthritis and DDD, you might want to ask your attorney about whether your case could benefit from a consultative exam or if there are any updated medical records that could strengthen your claim. Sometimes these cases get stuck in the system and a little push can help move things along. Hang in there - you made the right financial decision given your circumstances!

I went through this exact same situation about two years ago! Filed for SSDI, waited over a year with no decision, then had to take early retirement at 62 because I was running out of savings. I was terrified about having to pay everything back too. When I finally got approved for disability (took 18 months total!), SSA handled everything automatically. They calculated my disability backpay, subtracted what I'd already received in retirement benefits, and sent me a check for the difference. No repayment required at all! The best part? My monthly benefit went from about $1,850 in reduced retirement to $2,640 in disability benefits. And just like others mentioned, when I hit my full retirement age, I'll get the full unreduced amount instead of the penalized early retirement amount. Don't let anyone scare you about repaying benefits - that's not how the system works. You made a smart choice taking early retirement while waiting. The financial stress of waiting with no income would have been so much worse. Hang in there, and hopefully your approval comes through soon!

I'm actually going through something very similar right now! I filed for SSDI in October 2023 for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, and I'm still waiting for a decision 16 months later. I ended up taking early retirement at 62 in January because I just couldn't make it financially anymore. Reading all these responses has been such a relief! I was also worried about having to pay back benefits, especially after the person at my local SSA office seemed confused about how it all works. It sounds like the offset system is pretty straightforward once you understand it. The part about getting Medicare 24 months after SSDI approval is huge for me too - my current health insurance premiums are brutal and don't cover much. And knowing that the early retirement penalty essentially gets erased if I'm approved for disability makes me feel so much better about the decision to file early. @Landon Morgan - have you tried checking your case status online through your my Social Security account? Sometimes that shows updates before you get anything in the mail. Also, if it helps at all, my disability attorney said that cases involving autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis often have better approval rates, especially with strong medical documentation. Hang in there!