Will getting SSDI at 58 reduce my benefits like early SS retirement would?

Good question about SSDI vs early retirement! SSDI is actually calculated as your full retirement benefit regardless of age - it's based on your full PIA (Primary Insurance Amount). So no, you won't be penalized for being 58 like you would with early retirement. When you reach full retirement age (67 in your case), your SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at the same amount. No reduction at all. As for spousal benefits, you'll need to apply for those separately when you reach retirement age. At that point, if 50% of your husband's benefit is higher than your own benefit, you'd get your benefit plus the difference to reach that 50% level. But you wouldn't get both full benefits combined.

my cousin got ssdi at 55 and they paid him the same as his full retirement would have been. they don't cut it like early retirement. but it took him 18 months to get approved! good luck

I went through this exact scenario. SSDI is NOT reduced for age - that's a huge misconception! I got approved at 56 and received my full retirement benefit amount. When SSDI converts to retirement benefits at your FRA, that's when you should apply for any spousal benefits if they'd be higher. Remember though, the spousal benefit is only valuable if 50% of your husband's PIA is significantly more than your own benefit. One thing to prepare for: SSDI applications take FOREVER. I waited 14 months from application to approval, even with strong medical evidence. Be mentally prepared for a long process with possible denials before approval.

MY SISTER WENT ON DISABILITY LAST YEAR AND SHE GOT WAY LESS THAN HER FRIEND WHO RETIRED REGULAR SO I THINK IT DOES REDUCE IT!! NOBODY TELLS YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEM REALLY WORKS!!!

I've been through this whole process. I got SSDI at 54 and was so confused about how it would affect my retirement. The most important thing to understand is SSDI pays your full retirement benefit (what you'd get at your FRA) regardless of your age when approved. But honestly, the hardest part was actually getting through to someone at Social Security to file my application and then check on the status. I would call for HOURS and either get disconnected or told to call back later. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual SSA agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me so much frustration during an already stressful time. Once I connected with SSA, the agent explained everything about how SSDI would convert to retirement benefits when I reach my FRA without any reduction. Good luck with your application!

Let me clarify a few things about SSDI and retirement benefits: 1. SSDI benefits are equal to what your full retirement benefit would be at your Full Retirement Age (FRA), regardless of the age you begin receiving them. So no, you won't be penalized for being 58. 2. When you reach your FRA (67), your SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits, generally at the same amount. 3. Regarding spousal benefits: You can't claim both your own benefit and a full spousal benefit. If 50% of your husband's benefit is higher than your own benefit, you'll receive your benefit plus the difference to reach that 50% threshold. 4. Important timing note: You should apply for the spousal benefit when you reach FRA. Applying earlier would result in a reduced spousal benefit amount. 5. There's a 5-month waiting period after your established onset date before SSDI benefits begin, but you'll receive backpay for the period after that waiting period. I hope this helps clear up some confusion about how the benefits work together.

i think you need to worry more about getting approved first lol. my neighbor applied 3 times before she got it. ssdi is super hard to get unless you're literally dying 🙄

When I got SSDI they definitely didn't reduce my benefit for being "early" like they do with retirement. But I had a different issue with the Family Maximum when my kids got auxiliary benefits - there's a cap on how much one earner's record can pay out to a family. Not sure if that applies to your situation though?

I'm going through something similar right now. My neighbor told me that after I get SSDI, I can still work part-time up to like $1,470 per month without losing benefits. Is that true? Sorry to hijack your thread but thought you might be wondering about this too since we're in the same boat!

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! You've really cleared up my confusion about SSDI vs. early retirement. I'm relieved to know my benefit won't be reduced just because I'm 58. I'm going to start gathering all my medical records to strengthen my application. My rheumatologist is supportive and has already documented how my condition prevents me from performing nursing duties. I'll also look into that Claimyr service when I'm ready to call SSA - sounds much better than spending hours on hold! Wish me luck with the application process. I'll update this thread when I have news.