IF I AM RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILTY BENEFITS, DO I HAVE TO APPLY FOR RETIREMENT BENEFITS WHEN I REACH AGE 66?

If you are receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits, you do not want to apply for early retirement benefits at the age of 62 because your monthly benefits will be lower. If you wait until you reach your full retirement age, which is now 66 years of age, you can get your full retirement benefits which will be the same amount as your Social Security disability benefit you receive at the time.

However, if you are only receiving SSI benefits and have worked during your life, you may want to consider applying for early retirement benefits at the age of 62 because if may pay you a higher monthly amount. The drawback is that it will always be lower than the amount you might receive if you wait until your full retirement age of 66.