You can receive both Social Security retirement benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) at the same time, but the rules depend on your age and work history.

The short answer is yes — but "both" means different things depending on your situation. If you are receiving SSDI and reach full retirement age, your SSDI payments convert to retirement benefits at the same rate. If you are already collecting retirement benefits and later become disabled, you can switch to SSDI if you meet the medical requirements. The key is understanding that these are two paths to the same Social Security fund, not two separate payments stacked on top of each other.

The confusion usually comes from the word "both." You cannot receive two full payments simultaneously. What you can do is transition from one benefit type to another, or receive one type while a family member receives another based on your work record.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI and retirement benefits are two different ways to draw from your Social Security account — you receive one or the other, not both at full rates.
  • If you are on SSDI and reach full retirement age, your payments automatically convert to retirement benefits without a change in amount.
  • If you are already receiving retirement benefits and become disabled before full retirement age, you may be able to switch to SSDI if you meet the medical definition of disability.
  • Family members can receive benefits based on your work record while you receive your own benefit, which is different from receiving two benefits yourself.
  • Your work history determines whether you have enough credits to receive either benefit type — SSDI requires 40 credits with at least 20 earned in the last 10 years.

How SSDI and Retirement Benefits Relate to Each Other

Social Security Disability Insurance and retirement benefits both come from the same Social Security account tied to your work record. The difference is the reason you are drawing from it. SSDI is for people under full retirement age who cannot work due to a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Retirement benefits are for people who have reached their full retirement age, regardless of health.

When you turn full retirement age while receiving SSDI, the Social Security Administration does not send you a new process or ask you to reapply. Your SSDI payments straightforward convert to retirement benefits. The monthly amount stays the same. From that point forward, you are technically receiving retirement benefits, not disability benefits, but you will not notice any difference in your check or how it arrives.

This conversion happens automatically. You do not need to contact Social Security or sign anything. The change is administrative and reflects the fact that you have now reached the age at which you are may have access to to retirement benefits based on your work record.

Switching from Retirement to Disability Before Full Retirement Age

If you are already receiving retirement benefits and become severely disabled before you reach full retirement age, you may be able to switch to SSDI. This is less common than the opposite scenario, because most people do not become disabled after they have already retired. But it can happen — a stroke, accident, or progressive illness can occur at any age.

To switch, you must meet Social Security's medical definition of disability: a condition that prevents you from doing substantial work and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. You will need to file a new process and provide medical evidence. Social Security will review your case as if you were explore for the first time, even though you are already receiving benefits.

If you are approved, your SSDI benefit amount is calculated based on your full retirement age benefit amount. In most cases, the payment will be the same or very close to what you were already receiving as a retiree. The main practical difference is that SSDI comes with access to Medicare after 24 months of receiving benefits, whereas retirement beneficiaries become may be able to access for Medicare at 65 regardless of when they started collecting.

Family Members Receiving Benefits on Your Record

This is where the word "both" actually applies in a meaningful way. While you receive your own SSDI or retirement benefit, your spouse, ex-spouse, children, or parents may also receive benefits based on your work record. These are separate payments, not reductions to yours.

A spouse can receive up to 50 percent of your full retirement age benefit amount. Children can each receive up to 75 percent. There is a family maximum — typically 150 to 180 percent of your benefit — but each family member's payment comes from that pool. Your own benefit does not shrink because family members are receiving payments; instead, the total household payment is capped.

If you are receiving SSDI, your children can receive benefits until age 19 (or 19 if still in high school), and your spouse can receive benefits at any age if caring for a child under 16. These rules are the same whether you are on SSDI or retirement benefits.

Work Credits and Whether You may have access to for Either Benefit

Before you can receive SSDI or retirement benefits, you must have earned enough work credits through payroll taxes. You earn one credit for each $1,730 of wages in 2024 (this amount changes yearly). You can earn up to four credits per year, and you need 40 credits total to receive retirement benefits.

SSDI has a stricter requirement: you need 40 credits total, but at least 20 of them must have been earned in the 10 years before you became disabled. This is called the "recency requirement." If you became disabled at age 28 and have only 15 credits, you do not may have access to for SSDI, even though you might may have access to for retirement benefits later when you turn 62.

You can check your work credits by creating an account on ssa.gov and viewing your Social Security Statement. This statement shows your earnings history and the number of credits you have earned. If you are missing credits or see incorrect earnings, you can request a correction by filing Form SSA-7008 with Social Security.

What Happens to Your Benefit Amount When You Switch

When your SSDI converts to retirement benefits at full retirement age, your payment amount does not change. Social Security calculates your benefit based on your 35 highest-earning years. SSDI uses the same calculation, so the conversion is seamless.

However, if you claimed retirement benefits early (before full retirement age) and later switch to SSDI, the situation is more complex. Early retirement benefits are permanently reduced — typically 25 to 30 percent lower than your full retirement age amount. If you then become disabled and switch to SSDI, Social Security recalculates your benefit based on your full retirement age amount, which may be higher. You would receive the higher SSDI amount going forward.

The reverse is also true: if you claimed SSDI early and later switch to retirement benefits, your payment reflects the SSDI calculation, not a new retirement calculation. The amount does not change based on the benefit type — it is based on when you first became may have access to to benefits from Social Security.

Medicare and Medicaid When You Receive SSDI

One significant difference between SSDI and retirement benefits is access to Medicare. If you are receiving SSDI, you become may be able to access for Medicare after 24 months of receiving benefits, regardless of your age. If you are receiving retirement benefits, you become may be able to access for Medicare at age 65.

This matters because SSDI recipients are often younger and may have limited other insurance options. After 24 months on SSDI, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). You can decline Part B, but most people accept it because the premium is deducted from your SSDI payment.

Medicaid is separate from Medicare and is run by states, not Social Security. Some states provide Medicaid to SSDI recipients automatically; others require a separate process. If you are receiving SSDI, contact your state Medicaid office to learn what coverage is available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my SSDI when I turn full retirement age?

Your SSDI payments automatically convert to retirement benefits. The amount stays the same, and you do not need to do anything. Social Security handles the conversion on its own.

Can I receive SSDI and retirement benefits at the same time?

No. You receive one or the other based on your age and circumstances. However, family members can receive separate benefits based on your work record while you receive your own benefit.

If I am on retirement benefits and become disabled, can I switch to SSDI?

Yes, if you meet Social Security's medical definition of disability and are under full retirement age. You will need to file a new process and provide medical evidence. The process is the same as explore for SSDI for the first time.

Do I need enough work credits for both SSDI and retirement benefits?

You need 40 credits for retirement benefits. SSDI requires 40 credits total, but at least 20 must be earned in the 10 years before you became disabled. You may may have access to for one but not the other depending on your work history and age.

How do I know if I have enough work credits?

Create an account on ssa.gov and view your Social Security Statement. It shows your earnings history and the number of credits you have earned. If you see errors, you can request a correction by filing Form SSA-7008.