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What Does The SSDI Review Consist At 62?

Last updated: April 21, 2023

The application process for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is not straightforward. In fact, 63-74% of initial SSDI applications are denied, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Because obtaining these benefits is so difficult in the first place, many people worry they will ultimately lose them.

It is especially true for people nearing retirement age. Will your SSDI benefits cease once you retire? How much will you receive every month? How will your benefits change after retirement? Keep reading to find out what happens during your SSDI review at 62. 

What Happens To Your Benefits As You Approach Retirement? 

In addition to administering SSDI benefits, the SSA is also responsible for managing retirement benefits. The SSA won’t stop paying your benefits upon retirement age as long as you are receiving SSDI benefits. However, your SSDI benefits will convert to retirement benefits upon reaching retirement age.

Therefore, what happens when you reach the age of 62 is largely dependent on the type of disability payments you get. When you reach that age, you are entitled to apply for early retirement under normal conditions. 

However, you haven't yet attained full retirement age, which is determined by your birth year. For those born in 1960 or after, the full retirement age is 67.

Check out the full retirement ages for other birth years below:

-1937 or earlier: 65 years old
-1938: 65 years and 2 months old
-1939: 65 years and 4 months old
-1940: 65 years and 6 months old
-1941: 65 years and 8 months old
-1942: 65 years and 10 months old
-1943-1954: 66 years old
-1955: 66 years and 2 months old
-1956: 66 years and 4 months old
-1957: 66 years and 6 months old
-1958: 66 years and 8 months old
-1959: 66 years and 10 months old

At full retirement age, you are eligible for 100% of the payment that Social Security calculates based on your lifetime earnings. As a result, if you retire early, your monthly benefit will be lowered for the remainder of your life. The amount by which your monthly benefits are reduced is determined by the remaining months until you reach full retirement age.

If you are going through an SSDI review at 62 and intend to retire, you must file for early retirement through Social Security. Then, you will begin receiving retirement benefits at the lower rate indefinitely. If you wait until you reach full retirement age, your SSDI payments will automatically convert to retirement benefits, requiring no extra action on your part and maintaining your current monthly benefit level.

Will Your Retirement Benefits Affect Health Insurance?

After 24 months, everyone accepted for SSDI compensation becomes eligible for Medicare. That means you will be qualified for free Medicare Part A. Part A of Medicare, generally known as hospital insurance, covers inpatient hospital treatment and a limited number of additional services.

Additionally, you can enroll in additional forms of coverage, such as Medicare Part B or medical insurance. Part B of Medicare provides outpatient treatment, home health care, some preventive services, and physician services. You will, however, be forced to pay a subscription fee for Medicare Part B and other forms of coverage.

But don’t worry; you will still retail your healthcare coverage once your SSDI benefits are changed to retirement benefits. This conversion will have no effect on the coverage provided by your health insurance.

What Else Should You Expect After Your Review At 62?

If you are authorized for SSDI payments, the SSA will perform periodic evaluations of your illness to determine if you remain disabled and eligible for benefits. This is referred to as a "continuous disability review," and it occurs about every three years. 

The SSA will conduct more regular examinations of SSDI claimants whose conditions are projected to improve more quickly. They may perform these reviews only every five to seven years if your condition is not projected to improve.

The goal of this evaluation is to ascertain if your impairment has improved to the point of no longer being eligible for payments. If the SSA concludes that you are no longer handicapped following a review, your coverage will be terminated.

After converting your SSDI payments to retirement benefits, the SSA will no longer be required to conduct continuous disability evaluations. This is because you are no longer required to fulfill the Social Security Administration's definition of handicapped to continue receiving payments. Your candidacy for benefits will no longer be contingent on your ability to return to work due to your debilitating condition. This is one less concern for beneficiaries once they attain full retirement age and begin collecting retirement payments.

Conclusion

Because applying for SSDI benefits is such a nerve-wracking experience, many people worry that they’ll commit one wrong move and end up losing their benefits. That’s primarily why they don’t apply for retirement benefits. Thankfully, this is something the Social Security Administration converts on its own. 
Are you interested in finding out more about the various programs that can help you with your disabilities, whether you’re of retirement age or not? Check out Disability Help’s blog about VA disability benefits for migraines.

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Zoey Appleton
Zoey has worked with Cheri for years and has been creating the best articles not only for Disability Help but for our readers. Her job hits close to home for she has a brother with special needs. She hopes to see science and technology pave the way for a better life, with Disability Help to cover it and share it with those that need it.
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