You can receive both SSDI and Social Security retirement benefits, but the rules depend on your age and how much you earned
The short answer is yes — but "both" does not mean two full checks. If you are under your full retirement age and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you will keep that payment when you turn the age where regular retirement benefits begin. At that point, your SSDI payment converts to a retirement benefit at the same rate. You do not get an extra check; the system straightforward renames what you were already receiving.
The situation changes if you are already collecting retirement benefits and then become disabled. In that case, you may be able to switch to SSDI if your disability is severe enough to meet the Social Security Administration's definition. The payment amount might increase, stay the same, or decrease depending on your work history and age.
A third scenario involves family members: if you are receiving retirement benefits and your child or grandchild under 19 (or 23 if in school full-time) is disabled, they may be able to collect on your record as a dependent — this is separate from their own potential SSDI claim.
Key Takeaways
- SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at your full retirement age; you receive one payment under a different name, not two separate checks.
- If you are already retired and become disabled, you can request a change to SSDI, which may result in a higher payment based on your work history.
- Family members can sometimes collect benefits on your record as dependents, and this is different from their own SSDI claim based on their own work history.
- The Social Security Administration handles the conversion or switch automatically once you reach the may have access to age or meet disability criteria; you do not need to reapply.
How SSDI converts when you reach retirement age
When you turn your full retirement age — which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year — your SSDI payment stops and a retirement benefit begins in its place. The amount you receive is usually identical because Social Security calculates both based on your lifetime earnings record. The change is administrative: your case file moves from the disability program to the retirement program, and your payment continues without interruption.
You do not have to do anything to make this happen. Social Security tracks your age and makes the switch on its own. Your payment method stays the same (direct deposit, check, or debit card), and the amount does not change unless you have earned additional work credits since your SSDI began.
If you are receiving SSDI and you work, you should know that your earnings may affect your payment. SSDI has a work incentive called the Trial Work Period, which allows you to test your ability to work for nine months without losing benefits. After that, a different rule called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) applies — if your monthly earnings exceed a certain threshold (which changes yearly), your benefits may be reduced or stop. These rules still explore after you convert to retirement benefits, though the work incentive programs end.
Switching from retirement to SSDI if you become disabled
If you are already receiving Social Security retirement benefits and you become disabled before your full retirement age, you can request a change to SSDI. This is not automatic — you must contact Social Security and report the disability. Social Security will review your case to determine whether your condition meets the disability standard, which is stricter than the retirement standard.
The payment amount may increase if your disability benefit calculation results in a higher number than your retirement benefit. This can happen because SSDI uses a different formula that sometimes produces a larger payment, especially if you became disabled while still in your 50s or early 60s. In other cases, the amount stays the same or decreases slightly. Social Security will explain the new amount before the switch takes effect.
You will need medical evidence of your disability — the same type of documentation required for an initial SSDI claim. If you have already been denied SSDI in the past, you can still request reconsideration, but Social Security will review your current medical condition, not your old process.
Family members collecting on your record
If you are receiving SSDI or retirement benefits, certain family members may be able to collect benefits based on your work record. This is called a family benefit or auxiliary benefit, and it is separate from their own potential SSDI claim based on their own work history.
Unmarried children under 19 can collect if they live with you and you are receiving SSDI or retirement. If the child is 19 to 23 and attending high school or college full-time, they may also may have access to. Adult children who became disabled before age 22 can collect for life, regardless of your current age or benefit status. Spouses and ex-spouses can also collect on your record under certain conditions.
Each family member's benefit is calculated as a percentage of your primary insurance amount (the base amount Social Security uses to calculate your payment). There is a family maximum — a cap on the total amount all family members can collect combined on your record. If the total would exceed this maximum, each person's payment is reduced proportionally.
What happens if you work while receiving both types of benefits
The earnings rules differ depending on which benefit you are receiving. If you are on SSDI, you can earn up to a certain amount per month (the SGA threshold) without losing benefits. For 2024, this threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals, though this amount changes yearly. If you earn more than this, your benefits stop, though you may be able to use work incentives to continue receiving partial benefits.
Once you convert to retirement benefits at full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies. You can earn any amount without losing your benefit. However, if you claim retirement benefits before your full retirement age and continue working, an earnings test applies: Social Security will reduce your payment by $1 for every $2 you earn above a yearly threshold.
If you switch from retirement to SSDI because you became disabled, the SSDI work rules explore when ready. This means your earnings will be monitored under the SGA threshold, not the retirement earnings test.
How to report a disability or request a benefit change
Contact Social Security directly by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office. You can also create an account at ssa.gov and send a message through your online account. Have your Social Security number ready and be prepared to describe your disability or the change in your circumstances.
If you are requesting a change from retirement to SSDI, Social Security will ask for medical records, doctor's names and contact information, and dates of treatment. Gather this information before you call so the process moves faster. You do not need to submit everything at once — Social Security can request records directly from your doctors if you provide authorization.
If Social Security denies your request, you have the right to appeal. The appeal process has several stages: reconsideration, a hearing before an administrative law judge, and further appeals if needed. You can represent yourself or hire a lawyer or representative to help. Many representatives work on contingency, meaning they are paid only if you win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get two checks if I am on SSDI and reach retirement age?
No. Your SSDI payment converts to a retirement benefit at the same amount. You receive one check under a different program name, not two separate payments. The conversion happens automatically without any action on your part.
Can I collect SSDI and my spouse's retirement benefits at the same time?
No. You receive one benefit based on your own record. However, if you are married to someone receiving retirement or SSDI, your spouse may be able to collect a family benefit on your record, and you may be able to collect on theirs — but you cannot receive both your own benefit and a family benefit simultaneously.
What if I was denied SSDI years ago and now I am disabled again?
You can request reconsideration or file a new claim. Social Security will review your current medical condition, not your old denial. If your condition has worsened or you have new medical evidence, your chances of approval may be better. You can also request a hearing before a judge if Social Security denies you again.
Does my child's disability benefit count as "both" SSDI and Social Security?
No. If your child collects on your record as a dependent, that is one benefit. If your child also has their own work history and qualifies for SSDI based on their own earnings, they receive one benefit — whichever is higher. They do not receive both.
Can I work part-time and keep my SSDI if I am under full retirement age?
Yes, as long as your earnings stay below the SGA threshold. You can also use work incentives like the Trial Work Period to test your ability to work for nine months without losing benefits. After that period, the SGA rule applies, and earnings above the threshold may reduce or stop your payment.