At What Age Does Social Security Disability Stop?

For many workers, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits will stop at age 67 (retirement age). However, this cut-off will vary based on an individual’s birth year and other factors, including their possible recovery from a disabling condition.

An Atlanta Social Security Disability lawyer can answer any questions you have about what age Social Security Disability stops at and how these benefits change when you reach retirement age.

What Age Are You When Social Security Disability Stops?

Social Security Disability benefits can remain active for as long as you are considered disabled. In most cases, if you continue receiving benefits until age 67, your SSDI payments will convert into Social Security retirement benefits.

However, if you have questions about how long your benefits will last or what might impact them, an Atlanta Social Security disability lawyer can help you understand your rights and obligations.

In some cases, SSDI benefits may end before age 67—particularly if you begin earning more income than the program allows or fail to provide ongoing documentation of your condition. Working with a knowledgeable disability attorney can help ensure you stay compliant and protect your benefits.

Will You Continue to Get Social Security Disability Benefits Until You Retire?

If your disability continues until age 67, you will keep getting SSDI benefits until they change into retirement benefits, allowing you to continue getting the financial support you need. However, there are things you must do to keep your benefits active.

Disability Status

Be sure that you’re seeing your doctor regularly. You’ll need to continue documenting how your condition prevents you from working. The Social Security Administration (SSA) might question your disability status during Continuing Disability Reviews if you do not provide thorough information about your condition.

When you get a notice about a Continuing Disability Review, respond as quickly as you possibly can. You could lose your benefits if you don’t respond. If you need help with a review, contact an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer.

Work Status

Also, let the SSA know anytime that your work situation changes. Tell the SSA if you are returning to work after you begin to receive benefits.

You will need to report if:

• You start or stop working.
• Your work pay, tasks, or hours have changed.
• You begin paying for disability-related expenses that you require for work.

You can report any changes to your condition or work by mail, phone, fax, or in person. You can also communicate a difference through your Social Security online account.

If you return to a job while receiving SSDI benefits, you may keep getting benefits for a specified period. If you make over a certain amount, the SSA will say that you worked a trial work month. You can continue to receive benefits until you’ve had nine total trial work months within a 60-month period.

Why Does Social Security Disability End?

The most common reasons that SSDI ends include:

• You return to work.
• Your disabling condition improves.
• You serve jail or prison time.

If any of these things happen, the SSA could stop your benefits. It will depend on the details of the changes and when they occur.

When your benefits are under review, it also matters. The SSA will discontinue your benefits if it determines that you no longer have a disability.

You could get a review every 18 months, three years, or seven years. If a medical professional expects you to show medical improvement, the SSA will review your case more often than others on SSDI.

If you are in jail for over 30 days, the SSA will suspend your SSDI benefits. However, you might be able to restart your benefits after you get out of jail.

Going Back to Work on SSDI

After being on SSDI for a certain amount of time, you might decide to continue working. Working will affect your SSDI. In fact, if you start earning substantial wages, the SSDI might not consider you disabled anymore. After a trial work period, your benefits will stop.

A lawyer can explain the income limit for SSDI.

If you go back to work, you can still get the retirement benefits you deserve after you reach age 67. If you return to work but find that you cannot continue working, you can continue receiving SSDI benefits.

Do SSDI Benefits Always Change to Retirement Benefits at Age 67?

If you were born after 1960, your SSDI benefits would change to retirement benefits at age 67. However, when your benefits convert depends on your birth year.

Here is when SSDI benefits switch to retirement benefits based on birth years:

• Born in 1943-1954: 66
• Born in 1955: 66 years and two months
• Born in 1956: 66 years and four months
• Born in 1957: 66 years and six months
• Born in 1958: 66 years and eight months
• Born in 1959: 66 years and 10 months
• Born 1960 or later: 67 years

Unlike SSDI, your income will not play a role in restricting your Social Security retirement benefits. The SSDI rules will no longer count for your retirement benefits. A lawyer can give you more information about how Social Security Disability benefits change at retirement age.

What About Childhood Disability Benefits?

Some children can receive disability benefits. If you received these benefits as a kid, the SSA would need to go over your case two months before your eighteenth birthday.

The review will see if your medical condition qualifies for adult disability benefits. If you are eligible, you can receive SSDI as an adult for as long as you’re disabled.

Talk to a Social Security Disability Lawyer for Free Today

So, at what age does Social Security Disability end? In most cases, these benefits end by transforming into retirement benefits at age 67.

Many people struggle to get the disability benefits they deserve. Thankfully, help is available. At John Foy & Associates, we have been assisting SSDI applicants for over 20 years.

Our lawyers know what the SSA is looking for to approve an application. We also know how to help you with any benefits-related problems.

Contact us today, and we’ll discuss the details during a FREE consultation.