Will my high SSDI payment decrease at retirement age? Questions about survivor benefits and returning to work

when u get to retirement age ur SSDI just converts to regular retirement but the amount stays same, they just call it something different. not a decrease. and yeah if ur husband passes u can get survivors benefits but only if its MORE than what ur already getting, u dont get both

To answer your questions: 1. Your SSDI will automatically convert to retirement benefits at your full retirement age, but the amount remains the same. It's just an administrative change in how SSA categorizes your benefit. 2. If your husband passes away, you would be eligible for survivor benefits, but you would receive either your own benefit OR the survivor benefit based on his record, whichever is higher - not both. Based on the numbers you provided, you would likely receive survivor benefits of about $3,200. 3. There is no "top-off" benefit. You receive the higher of the two benefits. 4. Regarding returning to work: This gets complicated. If you return to work while on SSDI, you need to be aware of the Trial Work Period (TWP) and Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limits. If you earn enough new work credits before reaching retirement age, it could potentially increase your retirement benefit calculation. However, this depends on your previous earnings history and whether new earnings would replace lower earning years in your benefit calculation. I would definitely recommend speaking directly with SSA about your specific situation.

DONT TRUST WHAT SSA TELLS YOU!!! My sister was on SSDI and when she hit retirement age they DID reduce her payment by almost $300!!! They said something about "recalculation" and "windfall provision" because she had a small pension from a county job 20 years ago. FIGHT THEM ON EVERYTHING and get EVERYTHING in writing!!!!

I dealt with this exact situation when my SSDI converted to retirement benefits last year. The amount stayed exactly the same - there was no reduction. About returning to work - it could potentially help your future benefit amount, but only if your new earnings would be high enough to replace lower-earning years in your 35-year calculation. The SSA uses your highest 35 years of earnings to calculate benefits. If you already had 35 years of solid earnings, part-time work now might not increase your benefit. Regarding survivor benefits, you're right that you'd get the higher of either your benefit or your husband's, not both. But there's one more thing to know - if he passes away, you could potentially claim survivor benefits earlier (as early as age 60) and then switch to your own higher retirement benefit later. It's a bit complicated but might be worth looking into depending on your situation. I found the only way to actually talk to someone at SSA was using Claimyr.com - they got me through to an agent in about 10 minutes after I'd been trying for weeks. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works. Definitely worth it for complex questions like yours that really need a personalized answer.

my mom got widows benefits when my dad died and she said they were higher than her own retirement so thats what she gets now. but she had to take all his paperwork to the SS office to prove everything. bring death certificate and marriage license they said

I want to address your returning to work question specifically. I'm a therapist who works with many clients on SSDI, and this comes up often. If you return to work while on SSDI, you'll enter what's called a Trial Work Period (TWP). In 2025, any month you earn above $1,170 counts as a TWP month. After 9 TWP months within a 60-month period, SSA evaluates if you're engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). If your earnings stay below the SGA limit (currently $1,550/month for non-blind individuals), you can continue receiving SSDI while working. However, if you consistently earn above SGA after your TWP, your SSDI could eventually stop. As for improving your retirement benefit: SSA calculates your benefit using your highest 35 years of earnings. If you have fewer than 35 years of earnings, any new work would help fill those gaps. If you already have 35+ years, new earnings would only help if they're higher than your lowest earning years in the calculation. Given your previous career in healthcare management and your current $2,900 SSDI (which suggests solid previous earnings), part-time work might not significantly increase your retirement benefit unless it's very well-paid part-time work. I'd recommend requesting your earnings record from SSA to see your 35-year calculation before making any decisions based on this factor.

i just went thru this with my brother. dont forget that your medicare continues for 8.5 years after u go back to work even if u lose ssdi! thats a huge benefit most people dont know about

One important correction to my earlier response: When I mentioned that you'd likely receive about $3,200 in survivor benefits based on your husband's record, that assumes he would have reached his full retirement age. If he passes before reaching his FRA, the survivor benefit would be reduced. Also, regarding returning to work: The 2025 SGA limit is $1,550/month for non-blind individuals as another commenter mentioned. However, there are work incentives like Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) that might help you deduct certain costs related to your disability from your earnings calculation. Given your specific situation with rheumatoid arthritis and potential return to work, I would strongly recommend scheduling an appointment with an SSA Claims Specialist to discuss your options in detail. These consultations are free and can help you make the best decisions for your situation.

btw when u do get thru to SSA make sure u ask for an APPOINTMENT with a claims specialist dont just talk to whoever answers, the regular phone ppl just read from scripts and give wrong info half the time