Will SSDI benefits at 62 equal my full retirement age Social Security amount with severe arthritis?

Yes, you're correct. SSDI benefits are equal to your full Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is what you would receive at your full retirement age. There is NO reduction for starting SSDI before your FRA - that's one of the main advantages of SSDI over early retirement benefits. Keep in mind that getting approved for SSDI can be challenging. Make sure your medical records clearly document how your arthritis limits your ability to work. Having joint replacements helps establish severity, but they'll look at your functional limitations and whether you can do any type of work, not just your previous job. When you reach FRA, your SSDI will automatically convert to retirement benefits, but the amount stays the same. The only difference is that after FRA, you're no longer subject to SSDI's restrictions on earning income.

sorta related but not exactly - my sister got SSDI for RA at 61 and she got her full amount. but it took her like 8 months to get approved and she had to appeal once. good luck!!

I went through this exact situation with severe osteoarthritis in both knees and my lower back. Applied for SSDI at 59 and yes, you get your FULL retirement age amount - that's the big advantage over taking early retirement. No reduction at all. However, I want to warn you about the application process. It is BRUTAL. I was denied twice before getting approved at the hearing level. It took 19 months total and I nearly lost my house waiting. What helped me finally win was having my orthopedic surgeon write a detailed letter about my limitations - specifically that I couldn't sit/stand for more than 20 minutes at a time and needed to change positions frequently. If you're still working at all, even part-time, stop before you apply. They'll use any current work against you. Also, keep a daily pain and function journal - this was super helpful at my hearing to show how the condition impacts me day-to-day. Best of luck to you! The system makes you fight for what you deserve.

YES you'll get your full retirement amount regardless of your age IF you get approved for disability!!! BUT that's a big IF! My husband has had 3 back surgeries and still got denied TWICE before finally getting approved. It's not fair but that's how they do it. They deny almost everyone the first time even with obvious disabilities. DON'T give up if they deny you! Appeal appeal appeal!

I work at a clinic and we see this all the time with our patients. Quick correction to what someone else said - SSDI has a 5-month waiting period before benefits start, so factor that into your planning. Even after approval, you won't see money right away.

I'm an SSDI recipient and worked with many disability clients in my previous job. I want to make a couple important clarifications: 1. Yes, SSDI pays your full Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) regardless of age - no reduction for claiming before FRA. 2. However, your PIA is calculated based on your earnings history, just like retirement benefits. So those reduced working years due to your condition might slightly lower your benefit amount, but that's separate from the early claiming reduction issue. 3. The approval process is challenging. Only about 35% of initial applications are approved. Having joint replacements is objective medical evidence, which helps, but you'll also need documentation showing how your condition limits specific work functions. 4. If you're denied (which happens to most people initially), the appeals process typically takes 18-24 months currently. Be prepared financially for this wait. 5. Consider having a consultation with a disability attorney before filing. They typically offer free initial consultations and can help strengthen your application from the start.

If you're struggling to reach SSA by phone (which is necessary for both filing and checking your application status), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I spent days trying to get through to SSA about my disability claim before finding them. They basically secure your place in line with SSA and call you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of hold time. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU or visit claimyr.com. For arthritis cases, it's especially important to stay on top of your application and provide any additional medical evidence SSA requests immediately. Having a way to actually reach SSA quickly when needed made a huge difference in my case.

Has anyone used the new SSDI online application?? I heard they made it easier to apply online instead of calling but not sure if that's true???

Thank you all for the helpful information! I'm going to start gathering my medical records and look into disability attorneys in my area. I'm still nervous about the application process and potential wait time, but at least now I know that IF I get approved, I'll receive my full benefit amount without reduction. That's a huge relief. I'll also check out that Claimyr service when I need to call SSA - sounds much better than sitting on hold all day with my painful joints! I'll update this thread once I get started with the process in case it helps others with similar conditions.