Can worker on disability still collected Social Security?

My husband had a major cardiac episode last year, and then a seizure at work. He’s under the care of a neurologist and a cardiologist, still undergoing testing and new treatments. The doctors say he can no longer work in his line of business. He applied for Social Security Disability in July. While waiting for a decision on that application, he turned 62. When his disability claim was denied, he went to our local Social Security office. They told him that his records were sent from the doctor’s office too soon, and advised him to file an appeal. They also advised that since he’s now 62, he should apply for his regular Social Security benefit. Will he still be eligible for SSD if he’s collecting regular Social Security?

Your husband’s “regular Social Security” is his retirement benefit. If he applies for that benefit now, he’ll get less than his primary insurance amount — in other words the amount he’d receive if he delayed his application until his full retirement age. But if he later qualifies for Social Security Disability, regardless of his age he’ll receive a disability benefit that’s equal to his primary insurance amount.

At 62, he’ll receive a retirement benefit equal to 73.3 percent of his primary insurance amount. He can collect that reduced retirement benefit while his disability appeal is pending, says Linda Lauria, a Social Security Administration spokeswoman. If his appeal is successful, he’ll stop receiving his reduced retirement benefit and instead start receiving his disability benefit — an amount equal to his primary insurance benefit. (He can’t collect them simultaneously.)

He’ll also receive a retroactive payment for the difference between his disability benefit and the reduced retirement benefit he started collecting at age 62.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Social Security retirement benefits and Social Security Disability benefits are governed by different rules.

MORE INFORMATION

nwsdy.li/DisabilityBenefits

nwsdy.li/FileAppeals