Tucson Social Security Disability Blog

Am I Too Old To Collect Social Security Disability?

Posted by

Twice in the past 24 hours, a man has asked me if he can apply for Social Security disability benefits even though he is already retired and collecting Social Security retirement benefits. In both cases, the answer was no. The reason had nothing to do with any medical impairments either of these gentlemen had. The reasoning is much simpler than that: they were just too old.

Damn You, Ponce de Leon!

Understanding FRA

Social Security does not consider anyone disabled who is above full retirement age (FRA).  FRA is the point at which you are entitled to the full amount of your retirement benefits. If you were born in 1960 or after, your FRA is 67. You can retire anywhere between age 62 and age 70. Retire before FRA and Social Security will penalize you. Retire after FRA and Social Security will reward you. 

Upon reaching FRA, you are no longer eligible for Social Security disability benefits. In fact, Social Security will switch those people receiving disability benefits to retirement benefits at FRA.

Retiring Does Not Automatically End Disability Eligibility

This does not mean you cannot apply for Social Security disability simply because you are collecting Social Security retirement. If you start taking Social Security retirement at 62, you could apply for disability for those years between when you were no longer able to work and FRA. In fact, you can apply for retirement and disability at the same time.

Eh, Who Needs It?

If you have reached FRA, congratulations.  Enjoy your retirement and all the Social Security benefits you have earned. But, forget about Social Security disability.

Hearing scheduled? Call Today.

If Social Security has scheduled your disability case to be heard by one of their judges, call me immediately. Unlike many large law firms, I can move quickly to get your case ready to be won.

Recent Posts


About The Author

Since 1992, I have been helping the people of Southern Arizona get the benefits they are due. Before devoting all my efforts to assisting people with Social Security disability claims, I also handled such complex lawsuits as medical malpractice and products liability. I brought to my Social Security cases all the skills and attention to detail that I developed in the courtroom. I approach each Social Security disability case as if it were a million-dollar lawsuit. For the people trying to get Social Security benefits, their claim is every bit as important. Because I have personally handled so many Social Security cases, I have refined the skills I need to win your case for you. I have helped people win cases for every kind of ailment from arthritis to valley fever. At present, I am focused on helping those persons with neurological and orthopedic disorders. Because claims for people over age fifty bring additional complications, I particularly seek out those cases to work on. I regularly write about back and spine conditions on my blog. I actively seek out the latest information about orthopedic and neurological disorders to ensure I can represent my clients as effectively as possible. Because of my current focus, I regret that I am not able to take any cases for mental disorders. If you are over age fifty and suffer from any orthopedic or neurological disorder, please contact me at once.