What to know about disability benefits and Medicare when turning 65

For most people, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not change when they turn 65 years old, but it will change to retirement benefits when they turn 66 or 67. They will be eligible for Medicare by or before they turn 65.

When a person has received SSDI benefits for 24 months, they are eligible to enroll in Medicare even if they are under 65 years old.

However, if they have been receiving disability benefits for fewer than 24 months by the time they turn 65, they are then eligible to enroll in Medicare.

Read on to learn more about when disability benefits change to retirement benefits. This article also looks at when and how to enroll in Medicare.

When do disability benefits end?

A person will receive SSDI until they reach full retirement age. The amount they receive each month will remain the same.

The full retirement age was previously 65 years. It changed in 1983.

For most people, the full retirement age is now between 66 and 67 years. However, for people born before 1943, their full retirement age is around 65 years. Their disability benefits will change to retirement benefits at this point.

The table below provides more information about the full retirement age based on a person’s year of birth.

Are retirement benefits the same as disability benefits?

The retirement benefits are the same amount as disability benefits. The amount a person receives with SSDI will be the same when they begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits.

How long do Social Security disability benefits last?

A person will continue to receive SSDI if their condition does not improve and if they remain unable to work.

Once a person reaches full retirement age, the benefits will automatically change to retirement benefits.

When is a person with SSDI eligible for Medicare?

Usually, a person must be at least 65 years old to enroll in a Medicare plan. However, anybody receiving SSDI will be eligible for Medicare after they have received disability benefits for a 24-month period.

However, if a person with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or end stage renal disease (ESRD) is receiving SSDI, they may be eligible for Medicare enrollment sooner.

For people with ALS, Medicare coverage can start the same month they receive disability benefits.

Coverage for a person with ESRD can vary. For example, it may begin in the fourth month after a person begins dialysis. In some cases, it may begin during the first month.

If a person receiving SSDI is in the 24-month waiting period for Medicare, they may be eligible for Medicaid coverage. A person can contact Medicaid to find out more.

Learn more about Medicare and disability.

Does a person receiving disability benefits need to enroll in Medicare?

Once a person has received SSDI for 24 months, they will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance).

If they turn 65 years old before the 24-month period is up, they will automatically be enrolled sooner.

The individual will receive a welcome package in the mail 3 months before their coverage begins.

A person can also choose to enroll in Medicare Part D, which provides prescription drug coverage.

If a person enrolls in Medicare before age 65, they do not need to reenroll when they turn 65.

However, if a person goes back to work before age 65 or if their disability benefits stop for some other reason, they will no longer be eligible for Medicare.

This means that, when they turn 65, they will need to reenroll in Medicare during the initial enrollment period. The initial enrollment period begins 3 months before the person turns 65 and ends 3 months after.

Learn more about enrolling in Medicare.

Summary

A person’s Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) will change to Social Security retirement benefits when they reach full retirement age. For most people, this is between 66 and 67 years old. However, for people born before 1943, their retirement age is 65.

A person receiving SSDI will automatically be enrolled in Medicare once they have received benefits for 24 months or when they turn 65, whichever is sooner.

If the individual is enrolled in Medicare before age 65, they will not need to reenroll once they turn 65. However, if they are no longer eligible for SSDI before their 65th birthday, they will no longer be enrolled in Medicare. They will need to reenroll during Medicare’s initial enrollment period.

View the original article on Medical News Today