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What Happens to Disability Benefits at Age 65?

If you are disabled and unable to work as a result, you may be receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. If so, these benefits are probably very important to you. Being unable to work and earn an income can be very stressful financially, and these benefits can certainly make a significant difference. Depending upon your age, you may be worried about preserving and protecting your benefits as you near retirement. If this is the case, you may wonder whether your benefit amounts will change when you reach age 66. This is an understandable question to ask. Take a closer look at the law together.

What Types of Benefits Does the Social Security Administration Provide?

The Social Security Administration provides a variety of benefit programs for which individuals may apply, depending on their circumstances. These include disability benefits and retirement benefits.

Disability Benefits

Two types of disability benefits may be available, depending on your situation. These include:

  • Social Security Disability Insurance: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are provided by the Social Security Administration to applicants with a medical condition the Administration considers a disability that has rendered them disabled for one continuous calendar year or more. In addition, applicants must be “insured.” To be considered “insured” by the Social Security Administration, you do not need to have a specific insurance policy. Instead, it means you must have worked at a job for a sufficient length of time and regularly paid taxes on your salary into the Social Security system.
  • Supplemental Security Income: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are offered by the Social Security Administration to disabled individuals with income and resources below a specific annual limit. To obtain these benefits, an applicant does not need to be “insured,” because the SSI program is funded through general revenue rather than employment taxes. As with SSDI benefits, in order to seek SSI benefits, an applicant must have a disability that has rendered them unable to work for one continuous calendar year or more.

Depending on your circumstances, you may wish to seek one or both types of benefits. It’s important to be aware, however, that regardless of which type of benefit you seek, there are maximum monthly benefit amounts that may be awarded each month. These maximum monthly amounts typically change annually in accordance with a variety of economic factors. In 2025, the maximum amount of monthly SSDI benefits an individual can receive is $4,018. The maximum monthly SSI benefit an applicant can receive is $967 for an individual and $1,450 for a couple.

Retirement Benefits

The other type of benefit that the Social Security Administration provides is retirement benefits. These are benefits available to all individuals who have reached retirement age and have paid the necessary amounts into the Social Security system over the course of their employment history.

Often, applicants can begin collecting retirement as soon as age 62, but aren’t considered to have reached “full retirement age” until they are 66 or 67, depending on their birthdate. These benefits are typically paid monthly, and payment amounts are typically based on your work and earnings history.

Why is Age 65 Important?

This is a question that many people often ask. The reason that age 65 is an important milestone is that if you are collecting disability benefits, at age 65, benefits are typically no longer classified as “disability” benefits and are instead categorized as “retirement” benefits. It’s important to know that, while your benefit type may change in name, the amount you receive each month should not.

Another important change at age 65 for SSDI recipients concerns Medicare. Although SSDI recipients under 65 can begin receiving Medicare after 24 months of the start of their disability benefits, individuals 65 or older can enroll in Medicare regardless of how long they have been receiving SSDI benefits.

For those individuals who are receiving SSI benefits, turning 65 can have a different impact because SSI is a needs-based program. For this reason and many others, finding an experienced and knowledgeable disability benefits attorney can be tremendously helpful.

Call American Disability Action Group Today

An American Disability Action Group, we know that when you’re struggling with a disability, your disability benefits are probably an essential part of how you support yourself and those you love when you’re unable to work. We also know that the law can seem complicated and confusing at times, and it can be stressful to wonder if you’re doing all you can to protect and preserve your right to continue receiving the benefits you need. That’s why we’re here to help. Our knowledgeable and experienced team of attorneys knows and understands the law, and we will always pursue the best legal strategies on your behalf. If you’re ready to get started today, give us a call. Look forward to helping you soon.

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By American Disability Action Group | Posted on December 29, 2025