Retirement and SSDI are separate programs with different rules
You can receive both Social Security retirement benefits and SSDI, but they work differently and you cannot collect both at the same time. If you have already started taking retirement benefits, you cannot also receive SSDI payments. However, if you become disabled before you reach full retirement age, you may be able to switch from retirement to SSDI, or you may have other options depending on your situation and when you applied.
The key difference is what each program requires: retirement benefits are based on your age and work history, while SSDI is based on a medical condition that prevents you from working. Social Security treats these as two separate benefit streams, and the rules about which one you receive depend on when you became disabled and when you started taking benefits.
Key Takeaways
- You cannot receive both retirement and SSDI payments at the same time — Social Security will pay you whichever amount is higher.
- If you are already receiving retirement benefits and then become disabled, you stay on retirement; you cannot switch to SSDI.
- If you became disabled before reaching full retirement age but did not report it, you may have been paid retirement instead of SSDI, and the amounts could differ significantly.
- If you are still working or have not yet started retirement benefits, becoming disabled may allow you to pursue SSDI instead.
- Your work credits remain the same whether you pursue retirement or SSDI — the difference is in the medical requirement and the benefit amount.
What happens if you are already receiving retirement
Once you start receiving Social Security retirement benefits, you remain on the retirement program for the rest of your life. If you later develop a disability, Social Security will not move you to SSDI. You continue to receive your retirement payment, even if an SSDI payment would be larger.
This matters because retirement and SSDI payments are calculated differently. Your retirement benefit is based on your age and your lifetime earnings record. Your SSDI benefit is also based on your earnings record, but it is calculated as if you had become disabled at the time you turned 22, which often results in a different amount. For some people, SSDI would pay more; for others, retirement pays more. Once you are on retirement, you stay there.
If you became disabled before you started retirement
If you became disabled before you reached full retirement age but you did not report the disability to Social Security, you may have been receiving retirement benefits under a different program. Social Security has a program called Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits, which allows people who became disabled before age 22 to receive benefits based on a parent's work record. There is also a program for people who became disabled between age 22 and full retirement age, which is SSDI.
If you reported a disability to Social Security before you turned full retirement age, the agency should have determined whether you met the medical requirements for SSDI. If you did not report it, or if Social Security denied your SSDI claim at the time, your situation may be different now. You cannot go back and switch from retirement to SSDI after you have started retirement benefits, but understanding what you were originally denied for can help you understand your current options.
If you have not yet started retirement benefits
If you have reached retirement age but have not yet started taking benefits, you still have options. If you become disabled now, you can pursue SSDI instead of retirement. Social Security will evaluate your medical condition using the SSDI rules, and if you meet them, you can receive SSDI payments rather than retirement payments.
This is one of the few situations where you have a choice. You would need to report your disability to Social Security and go through the SSDI information process. The amount you receive may be different from what your retirement benefit would have been, so it is worth understanding both numbers before you decide which program to pursue.
How your work credits factor in
Your work credits are the same whether you are pursuing retirement or SSDI. You earn one credit for each quarter of the year that you earn a certain amount of money (the amount changes yearly). To receive SSDI, you generally need 40 credits, with 20 of them earned in the 10 years before you became disabled. To receive retirement, you need 40 credits total, with no time limit on when you earned them.
If you have already retired, you clearly have the 40 credits needed. The question is not whether you have enough credits — it is whether you meet the medical requirements for SSDI and whether you are still in a situation where you can pursue it. Your work history does not change based on which program you are on.
What to do if you think your situation has changed
If you are currently receiving retirement benefits and you believe you have become disabled, contact Social Security to report the change. They cannot move you to SSDI, but they can document your medical condition in your file. This matters if you ever need to appeal a decision or if your circumstances change in other ways.
If you have not yet started retirement but you are disabled, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office to report your disability before you claim retirement benefits. Bring medical records and documentation of your condition. If you are unsure whether you meet the medical requirements, Social Security can explain what they look for and what information you would need to provide.
The difference between retirement and SSDI payments
Your retirement benefit is calculated based on your 35 highest-earning years of work. The older you are when you start retirement, the larger your monthly payment. If you start at full retirement age, you receive your full benefit. If you start earlier, the payment is reduced. If you start later, the payment is increased.
Your SSDI benefit is calculated differently. It is based on your average earnings over your entire work life, but it is calculated as if you became disabled at age 22. This means the calculation does not include your most recent, higher-earning years in the same way retirement does. For some people, this results in a lower SSDI payment. For others, particularly those who had lower earnings early in their career and higher earnings later, SSDI can be higher. The only way to know your actual amounts is to contact Social Security or view your Social Security Statement online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive both retirement and SSDI at the same time?
No. Social Security will pay you one benefit or the other, whichever is higher. You cannot collect both payments simultaneously. Once you start receiving retirement, you remain on retirement for life, even if you later become disabled.
If I am on retirement and become disabled, can I switch to SSDI?
No. Social Security does not allow people to switch from retirement to SSDI. You will continue receiving your retirement payment. However, you should still report your disability to Social Security so it is documented in your file.
What if I delayed retirement because I was disabled?
If you delayed starting retirement because of a disability, you may have been able to pursue SSDI instead. Contact Social Security to discuss your situation. Depending on when you became disabled and when you reported it, you may have options you were not aware of.
Does my work credit requirement change if I am retired?
No. Your work credits are the same whether you pursue retirement or SSDI. If you have 40 credits, you meet the basic requirement for both programs. The difference is the medical requirement for SSDI and the way the benefit amount is calculated.
How do I know if my SSDI payment would be higher than my retirement payment?
You can view your estimated benefits on your Social Security Statement at ssa.gov, or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask. They can tell you what both amounts would be, though this only matters if you have not yet started retirement benefits.