SSI and retirement benefits

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments do not automatically convert to Social Security Retirement benefits upon reaching retirement age. As we have discussed in prior blog posts, SSI is funded by general federal taxes while SSDI and Retirement are funded by payroll taxes.

Unfortunately, not only do SSI payments not automatically convert to retirement payments, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) can essentially force you to apply for early retirement benefits at 62, instead of waiting for your full retirement age. This can happen if you did not qualify for SSDI benefits, but you did work enough years to qualify for a small retirement benefit.

One of the requirements of continuing to receive SSI benefits is that you apply for any other cash benefits that are available, including retirement benefits.

However, the good news is that you will be able to receive both retirement and SSI at the same time, so your overall monthly benefit amount will not decrease. If you are currently receiving the maximum SSI amount of $735 per month and begin to receive $500 in early retirement benefits, you will still receive $735 per month: $500 will be retirement benefits, and $235 will be SSI benefits.

Further, if someone is receiving SSI benefits and does not qualify for retirement benefits through SSA, at age 65 their benefits will automatically convert from disability to “aged” benefits. Once again, the benefit amount will not change.

Home - Allan W. Ben, PC (allanwbenpc.com)

Location: Michigan, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sample questions you may be asked at your social security hearing

  Every case is different; no list will contain EVERY question an administrative law judge might ask, and the questions may not be asked in exactly this way, or in this order, but this information should help prevent you from feeling like questions are coming at you from “left field.” Going over this list will also spur you to think about things you might not have previously considered (such as how long you can sit, stand, walk or concentrate). You will NOT be asked every single question on this list and it is NOT useful to try to memorize answers to the questions. Just read over the list in the days before your hearing. Of course, this list should NOT be construed as legal advice pertaining to your case, and by providing it, I am not acting as your lawyer. My intention is just to provide some really helpful, general information. I. INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION Name – address – date of birth Marital Status and maiden name Former spouse information Do you live in a house, apartment, or mobi
Read more

Frequency of Medical Treatment

The frequency of your medical treatment is an important factor in your Social Security disability claim. A diagnosis is a first step, but a judge must evaluate your functional limitations due to your medical condition. And when evaluating the seriousness of your functional limitations, regular doctor visits are helpful. Looking at the cases of mine that were not granted in the past year or so, the lack of medical treatment played a role in almost every one. There a lots of reasons not to go to the doctor. There are co-pays. Sometimes there is little the doctor can do for you. Perhaps you do not want to complain to the doctor about your daily struggles. But without regular doctor visits, you may have an uphill battle for disability benefits. Also, the more the doctor sees you and is familiar with your condition, the more likely that the doctor will provide an opinion regarding your functional limitations. Those opinions are often the most persuasive medical evidence available to a perso
Read more

Covid Long Haul and Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability is a federal program to assist individuals who suffer from long-term disabilities that will keep them from working for 12 months or longer. This program is funded through payroll taxes that everyone sees on their pay stubs.  Applying for SSDI as a COVID long-hauler is a bit of a complex topic at this point. Due to the associated symptoms of long COVID, it is reasonable to connect having the disease and qualifying for disability benefits. However, every case is individually considered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) before approval, and there are plenty of cases that are later approved after being initially denied.  Long COVID, or long-haul COVID, is a term to describe a syndrome where symptoms continue months after a coronavirus infection. Researchers think that 10% to 30% of patients who had COVID infections might suffer from long COVID, or "post-COVID syndrome," whether their initial illness was serious or not. Some researchers define
Read more