Can you collect Social Security and disability benefits simultaneously? In most cases, you cannot receive both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time. However, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) along with retirement benefits under certain circumstances.
Understanding these distinctions and determining your eligibility for multiple Social Security programs requires careful analysis of federal regulations. We at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C., are here to provide guidance on your eligibility for multiple benefit programs. Call (214) 999-9999 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with a Dallas Social Security Disability lawyer.
Can You Ever Receive Both at the Same Time?
While SSDI and retirement benefits cannot run concurrently, several exceptions allow beneficiaries to receive different combinations of Social Security benefits. At Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C., our lawyers can help you understand these exceptions and ensure you receive all benefits you deserve under federal law. They include the following:
- SSI and Retirement Benefits – You may receive both if your retirement benefits fall below SSI income limits. SSI serves as a supplement to bring your total income up to the federal minimum threshold.
- Survivor Benefits and SSDI – Widows and widowers can potentially receive both survivor benefits and their own SSDI. The Social Security Administration calculates which benefit provides the higher amount and may supplement one with the other.
- Dependent Benefits – Children or spouses receiving benefits on your record may continue receiving them while you transition between programs. Family members’ benefits operate independently from your primary benefit type.
Working with our team ensures you understand which benefit combinations apply to your situation. The SSD attorneys at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C., help clients identify every available benefit stream and coordinate applications to prevent administrative conflicts.
How Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Works
SSDI provides monthly benefits to workers who have paid into Social Security through payroll taxes but can no longer work due to severe medical conditions. The program requires both medical evidence of disability and sufficient work history to establish eligibility.
Your benefit amount depends on your average lifetime earnings before your disability began, calculated through a complex formula that considers your highest-earning years. The Social Security Administration maintains strict standards for disability determination, requiring proof that your condition prevents you from performing any substantial gainful activity.
Medical documentation must demonstrate that your impairment has lasted or will last at least twelve months or result in death. Processing times for SSDI applications often extend beyond six months, with many initial applications facing denial despite valid claims.
How Social Security Retirement Benefits Work
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) automatically converts to retirement benefits once you reach full retirement age, which is currently set between 66 and 67, depending on your birth year. Your monthly payment remains the same as your SSDI amount, so you will not lose income during this transition. While you may choose to begin collecting retirement benefits as early as age 62, doing so results in a permanent reduction of up to 30 percent in your monthly payments.
The Social Security Administration calculates retirement benefits based on your 35 highest-earning years, adjusting past wages for inflation to determine your average indexed monthly earnings. If you have fewer than 35 years of work history, zeros are averaged in for the missing years, which can substantially lower your overall benefit.
Delaying retirement past full retirement age increases benefits by 8 percent annually until age 70. However, disability recipients cannot utilize delayed retirement credits since their benefits automatically convert at full retirement age.
Can You Get SSI and Retirement Benefits at the Same Time?
“Can I collect disability and Social Security retirement benefits through the SSI program?” Yes, retirees with limited income and resources may be eligible for SSI in addition to their retirement benefits. SSI operates as a needs-based program, providing supplemental income when retirement benefits fall below $943 monthly for individuals or $1,415 for couples.
Eligibility requires a total countable income below the SSI limits and resources of $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for couples. The Administration excludes your primary residence, one vehicle, burial funds up to $1,500, and certain other assets from resource calculations. Your SSI amount decreases dollar-for-dollar as other income increases, creating careful balance requirements for maintaining eligibility while maximizing total benefits.
Common Mistakes People Make
Many applicants inadvertently jeopardize their benefits through procedural errors or misunderstanding program rules. Recognizing the following common pitfalls can help protect your eligibility and benefit amounts:
- Failing to report work attempts or earnings changes promptly
- Missing appeal deadlines after initial denials
- Providing incomplete medical documentation
- Applying for early retirement without understanding SSDI implications
- Misunderstanding income and resource limits for SSI
- Overlooking dependent benefit opportunities
- Assuming automatic approval based on obvious disabilities
The Social Security Disability lawyers at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C., guide clients through the application processes to ensure complete documentation and timely submissions. Our experience with Social Security Administration procedures helps prevent costly mistakes that delay or reduce benefits.
Talk to Our Dallas Social Security Disability Lawyers Today
For over 50 years, Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C., has been helping Dallas County residents understand the Social Security and disability benefits available to them. Our firm’s testimonials from satisfied clients consistently highlight how our services have improved their outcomes and reduced stress during the disability determination process.
Don’t delay quality legal counsel. The sooner you retain our services, the better chance we have at advising you and helping to protect your rights. We represent clients at every stage of the Social Security Disability process, from the initial application to reconsideration and through your formal hearing before the Administrative Law Judge.
The SSA frequently delays, denies, or undervalues valid claims. However, we refuse to let bureaucratic roadblocks stand in the way of your benefits. We aggressively analyze your work history, medical conditions, and financial circumstances to uncover every benefit you are entitled to and force the SSA to deliver the support you deserve. Call (214) 999-9999 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with a Dallas Social Security Disability lawyer.
