Will my SSDI automatically convert to retirement benefits at FRA without me applying?

You don't need to do anything at all. Your SSDI will automatically convert to retirement benefits when you reach your Full Retirement Age. The SSA handles this conversion internally - no new application needed. Your benefit amount will remain exactly the same, and there won't be any interruption in your payments. The only difference you might notice is that certain SSDI restrictions (like the substantial gainful activity limits) no longer apply once you're on retirement benefits.

same thing happened with my husband last year. literally nothing changed, same payment date, same amount. they dont even send you a letter saying it switched lol

The transition is automatic, but I would still recommend checking your MySocialSecurity account online after your FRA date. Just to make sure everything converted properly. Sometimes there can be glitches in their system. It's rare but it happens. Also, important point: if you were getting Medicare before FRA due to disability, that will continue without any changes too.

I went thru this exact thing last year and its 100% automatic but i still TRIED to call SSA about it because i was paranoid lol. gave up after being on hold for 2 hours. ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. they had a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. the agent confirmed everything was fine and would transition automatically. i probably didn't need to call but it gave me peace of mind!

WRONG INFORMATION being given here!!! You absolutely DO need to apply for retirement benefits!!! SSDI and retirement are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS!!! My brother lost 3 months of benefits because no one told him this!!!

Just to add a data point, my SSDI converted to retirement last month, and the only difference is now I can work as much as I want without worrying about the earnings limit. Payment stayed the same to the penny.

my sister went through this last year and she said one thing nobody tells you is that after you convert to retirement you start getting those COLA increases every january! her first one was like $125 more per month

Thank you all for the helpful information! It's a relief to know I don't need to do anything special for the transition. I think I'll still try to contact SSA just to make sure everything is set up correctly in their system. Better safe than sorry!

Just wanted to add my experience - I went through this conversion 3 years ago and it was completely seamless. No paperwork, no calls needed. The only thing I noticed was that my annual Social Security statement changed from showing "disability benefits" to "retirement benefits" but the dollar amount stayed identical. One tip: if you're married and your spouse is eligible for spousal benefits, they might want to check if the conversion affects their options at all. In most cases it doesn't, but it's worth a quick review.

I'm approaching my FRA in about 8 months and have been on SSDI for 5 years, so this thread is incredibly timely for me! Reading everyone's experiences has been so reassuring. I was definitely in the same boat as you Edison - worried I'd somehow mess things up by not filing something or missing a deadline. It's great to hear from so many people who went through the automatic conversion successfully. I'm particularly glad to learn about the work restrictions being lifted - I hadn't realized that was part of the change. I think I'll also check my MySocialSecurity account regularly leading up to and after my FRA date, just to keep an eye on things. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences!

I'm currently on SSDI and will be hitting my FRA in about 14 months, so this discussion has been incredibly valuable! It's such a relief to hear from so many people who went through this transition smoothly. I've been losing sleep worrying about whether I'd need to file new paperwork or if there was some deadline I might miss. The fact that it's completely automatic and the payment amount stays the same is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and probably check my MySocialSecurity account regularly as my FRA approaches. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it means so much to hear from people who actually went through this rather than just reading generic government websites that don't always give you the full picture of what to expect.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this conversion about 18 months ago - everything everyone is saying is absolutely correct! The transition from SSDI to retirement benefits at FRA is completely automatic. I remember being just as worried as you are, Edison, especially since I'd heard horror stories about SSA mix-ups. But honestly, it was the smoothest thing ever. One day I was getting disability benefits, the next day (my FRA birthday) I was getting retirement benefits - same amount, same payment date, zero interruption. The only real difference I noticed was psychological - it felt good to not have to worry about those work restrictions anymore, even though I wasn't planning to work much anyway. My advice: don't stress about it, but definitely keep an eye on your MySocialSecurity account around your FRA date just for your own peace of mind. The system really does work as advertised in this case!