October 26 – SSI and Early Retirement
Question: I am working with a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiary who just turned 62 years old. She got a letter from Social Security saying she is eligible for retirement and has to take it. Is that right?
Answer: Yes. SSI beneficiaries are required to file for and accept other benefits; SSI is intended to be a benefit of last resort. See details about this requirement in POMS SI 00510.001 and SI 00510.005. When a person reaches age 62 they can draw a reduced Social Security retirement benefit if they have reached insured status. A person born after 1928 will reach insured status when they have earned 40 credits.
You may be wondering why the person in question isn’t receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) considering they have reached insured status. Remember, to reach insured status for SSDI the person must not only have sufficient credits, they must have earned a certain number of those credits just prior to the disability onset. The person in question likely had little to no work just prior to becoming disabled, as a result they failed to meet the disability insured status criteria. But, this person clearly has earned the required 40 credits over their lifetime for retirement insured status, which is why Social Security has contacted them about applying for this benefit.
Would you like to find out more about WIPA and your benefits? Contact your statewide WIPA Program-Project 20/20 if you have questions like our Daily Tips or want to learn more about working while receiving social security disability benefits. Call our North Augusta office at 803-279-9611 or the Ticket to Work Helpline at 1-866-968-7842. You can also complete a Contact Us or Self-referral Form.