Beneficiaries in the United States who collect a disability benefit may wonder what will happen when they reach the minimum age to apply for Social Security because of age. This question is more common than it seems. Some even wonder outright whether they will be able to combine the two benefits at that point.
Although this could apparently have a positive impact on the retiree’s pocketbook, several factors must be taken into account. They appear to be two different benefits, but in reality they are not. Therefore, this means that the combination is not possible, at least on a regular basis. If you have one of the two benefits and are thinking of collecting the other, you may want to know a few related issues.
When we reach the minimum retirement age, we will have to choose which retirement we want. In this sense, we have the option to choose and we must always choose the benefit that suits us best. The final amount will depend on our working career. In this way, as some users due to disability have not had the option to work, this option is totally unfeasible.
Is retirement by age or by disability better?
This is a question that for thousands of beneficiaries does not have an exact answer. It all depends on the case of each individual. If we have worked for many years before starting to collect the disability benefit, it may be worthwhile to exchange one for the other.
However, if we have not worked long enough to get good Social Security because of age, it is not a good idea to switch. Since each case is completely individual, it is advisable to make use of two things:
- Social Security Calculator.
- The nearest SSA office.
If we have access toSocial Security’s My Account, which is common for users with disabilities and retirees, we can access all of our work records. Here we can see all the data related to our benefits. We can then find out an approximation of what our retirement benefit will be.
What other benefits can I collect?
Although Social Security Age and Disability Retirement cannot be combined, this does not mean that we cannot have other checks. Supplemental Security Income is also a benefit. This other check can be combined with either one benefit or the other.
So regardless of the type of check we receive each month, we can apply for Supplemental Security Income if we meet two requirements:
- Be 65 years of age or have a disability.
- You are low-resourced and have a low monthly income.
The maximum Supplemental Security Income check in 2023 is $914. While it is true that it is not the largest benefit we can get, it is also true that any type of help is welcome for citizens who collect a Social Security disability benefit.