Ask Larry

Hi, I collect SSDI and DWB concurrently. Can I switch to RIB and WIB and collect both concurrently? Thanks

Hi. If you're between age 62 and full retirement age (FRA), you could switch to drawing Social Security retirement (RIB) benefits instead of Social Security disability (SSDI), but then your benefit rate would be reduced for age. SSDI benefits aren't reduced for age, and are calculated at 100% of your primary insurance amount (PIA). If you start drawing RIB prior to FRA, you'd be paid less than your PIA.

The only times that anyone should consider switching from SSDI to RIB prior to FRA is if a) there SSDI benefits are being offset because they're receiving worker's compensation or public disability benefits, or b) they have eligible family members who could receive a higher auxiliary benefit rate if the worker was receiving RIB instead of SSDI. In virtually all other cases, it would almost certainly be more advantageous to simply wait until your SSDI benefits automatically convert to RIB when you reach FRA.

You can't switch from DWB to regular widow's (WIB) benefits, though, nor would it change your benefit rate if you did. DWB benefits automatically convert to WIB when the recipient reaches age 60.

Best, Jerry