SS Disability

[georgelesley]

Just talked to a friend of mine that just started drawing normal SS at age 62 last December. He is fully retired and has been for over 5 years. Unfortunately, he now has cancer. He has been told by a friend that works in the SS system that he should apply for SS Disability.

He asked me what I thought. I told him I would be amazed if he had any possibility of a claim since he was already drawing the normal age 62 amount. He asked if he should see one of the disability lawyers and I told him sure, nothing to lose but maybe a few hundred bucks, but I cannot conceive how he might be eligible. So he is going to see a lawyer soon.

Why not, I guess but wonder if anyone here has had a similar experience?

[dons2346]

Why doesn't he contact SS? Why waste good money on a lawyer?

[wnytaxman]

I would agree with just contacting SS and getting the scoop from them. I have found the SS folks very helpful and informative on issues like the OP's. Save the money and get the use of your tax dollars and go to Social Security directly.

[Rollin101]

Drawing SS has nothing to do with drawing disability. I will tell you this the disability is same as drawing SS at age 65, however every month you draw regular SS will reduce what you will get, because you’ve already drawn some.

[arcaguy]

From my understanding you can only draw social security disability until you are 62, the SSA then automatically switches you to regular social security. You don't have any choice. The last person that I knew that got SSDI only drew about $700 a month so you're not going to get rich. I also agree with the folks that said talk to social security, I have always found them to be extremely helpful to the point of tell a friend of mine that if he wanted to get on SSDI to contact his Congressman. That's what got him his disability, not lawyers needed.

[twinboat]

Had a coworker who retired to SS and had heart issues. Applied and received SS Disability.

You can work on SS. You can't make meaningful money on SS Disability.

SS lawyers don't charge you. They get a % of the settlement per month, up to $5500. To get that much it takes 2 years.

You wonder why all cases take two years ?

Been there done that.

[Spoonsize]

SS for my age group kicked in at 65. If I had started collecting disability at 55 the amount would be same amount I would get if I were 65 at that time, which would be lower than what I would get at age 65, 10 years later. There would be an increase in the disability amount each year until I reach 65 and then I would collect my normal amount which is the same amount as disability. Clear as mud, I know.

[twinboat]

I went on disability at 55 and collected what I would have at 65 or 72, don't remember.

It switched to regular SS at 65 and stayed the same amount.

My DW also collects on my record, at the higher rate I'm getting.

[Rollin101]

Originally Posted by Spoonsize

SS for my age group kicked in at 65. If I had started collecting disability at 55 the amount would be same amount I would get if I were 65 at that time, which would be lower than what I would get at age 65, 10 years later. There would be an increase in the disability amount each year until I reach 65 and then I would collect my normal amount which is the same amount as disability. Clear as mud, I know.

You are correct disability switches to regular SS at 65 and you keep drawing the same amount.
However, like I said above if you start drawing SS at age 62 and then at a later time apply for disability your monthly amount will be reduced, on a scale, by what you’ve already drawn on your regular SS. In other words if you waited until 64 years 11 months to apply for disability you wouldn’t get any increase because you’ve already drawn your regular SS for three years.
It is imperative, if you’re going to apply for disability and you’re already drawing regular SS at 62 that you apply as soon as possible so not to reduce your disability.
It happened to me. I drew regular SS for 9 months and then received disability. Because I’d already drawn regular SS for 9 months it reduced my disability by about $50 a month.

[Persistent]

Originally Posted by dons2346

Why doesn't he contact SS? Why waste good money on a lawyer?

I agree, I have found the SS office here in Wisconsin to be professional and competent. They know the rules and apply them well even if their answers are short and a little curt.

Has anything here changed since Trump?

[georgelesley]

Originally Posted by Spoonsize

SS for my age group kicked in at 65. If I had started collecting disability at 55 the amount would be same amount I would get if I were 65 at that time, which would be lower than what I would get at age 65, 10 years later. There would be an increase in the disability amount each year until I reach 65 and then I would collect my normal amount which is the same amount as disability. Clear as mud, I know.

Thanks for the explanation. I had forgotten that is exactly what happened to me when I filed for SS Disability at 61 after I had a stroke and could no longer work. I had not started drawing any SS at that time. And at 66 it switched to retirement with no change in benefits. The difference with my friend is that he is already drawing retirement SS. It does sound like he might also get disability if he files. I never would have guessed it.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by georgelesley

Thanks for the explanation. I had forgotten that is exactly what happened to me when I filed for SS Disability at 61 after I had a stroke and could no longer work. I had not started drawing any SS at that time. And at 66 it switched to retirement with no change in benefits. The difference with my friend is that he is already drawing retirement SS. It does sound like he might also get disability if he files. I never would have guessed it.

No 'also get'

He will get SS Disability in place of the SS he is already drawing
AND that Disabilty amount will be offset by the amount of monies he has received from drawing SS at 62

[georgelesley]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

No 'also get'

He will get SS Disability in place of the SS he is already drawing
AND that Disabilty amount will be offset by the amount of monies he has received from drawing SS at 62

Thanks for correcting my misstatement. I knew what I meant but did not say it right.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by georgelesley

Thanks for correcting my misstatement. I knew what I meant but did not say it right.

That's OK
Just wanted to be on the same page