What Happens To Your Florida Social Security Disability Benefits When You Reach Retirement Age

If you receive Florida Social Security disability benefits and are nearing retirement age, you may be wondering whether your benefits will stop.  The short answer is no, but the way your benefits are structured changes.

Understanding the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) guidelines and what to expect can help you prepare. Our experienced Jacksonville Social Security disability lawyer explains what you need to know.

Converting from Social Security Disability to Retirement Benefits

Under SSA guidelines, once you reach full retirement age, your Florida Social Security disability benefits convert to Social Security retirement benefits. They do so automatically, with no action on your part required.

When making plans, people often assume the retirement age is 65. However, it depends on your birth year:

• If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66, when conversion occurs.
• If born between 1955 and 1959, the full retirement age is 66 to 67, increasing by 2 months per birth year.
• If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67.

As your benefits convert automatically, there is no required paperwork. However, the transition to retirement age comes with a few other changes that Florida Social Security disability recipients should be aware of.

What Changes at Full Retirement Age and What to Watch For

If your Social Security disability payments were reduced because you also receive workers’ compensation or certain public disability benefits, that reduction ends at full retirement age when your benefits convert. Your monthly payment may actually increase at that point.

If you get Social Security retirement benefits at 62 and your disability claim is later approved, the SSA may pay retroactive benefits for the months you were eligible, increasing your payment. However, if you didn’t establish your disability before claiming early retirement, you could be locked into a permanently reduced amount. A few additional points Florida recipients should keep in mind:

• Medicare, for which most recipients become eligible after 24 months of receiving benefits, continues uninterrupted through the conversion. You do not lose your health coverage when your disability benefits convert to retirement benefits.
• You cannot get Social Security disability and retirement benefits together on the same earnings record; the law allows only one at a time.
• Any work income limits that applied to your Social Security disability benefits are lifted once benefits convert to retirement benefits.
• Cost-of-living adjustments apply to your benefit amount in both the disability and retirement phases.

If you are a disabled Florida resident, knowing what to expect can help protect your financial security as you approach retirement.

Contact Our Experienced Jacksonville Social Security Disability Lawyer

Whether you are filing for Social Security disability, were denied benefits, or are navigating changes as you approach retirement, get trusted legal help from Farrell Disability Law. Our experienced Jacksonville Social Security disability lawyer answers your questions, addresses common concerns, and guides you on available options. Call or contact us online today to request a consultation at our Jacksonville or Orlando office.

Source:

ssa.gov/faqs/en/questions/KA-01861.html https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.html