Disability Retirement soon

by Vickie

I am 61 and will be leaving my full time job due to health issues. I plan on filing for SS Disability. If not approved by the time I am 62, can I file for my early Retirement benefits so I have some income coming in until it is. Will this hurt my disability claim. I understand that if not approved, I will continue to receive reduced benefits.

Also, when I leave my job, I will be able to ask for my pension and draw a check each month. Will I be allowed to do that, or will that cause a problem; will it be considered income. It will only be about $400 for a specified # of months, but between that and my reduced benefits I will have something until my disability is approved. The disability benefits would then suffice when my pension stops in a 3 years.

Thanks for your help! Also, I have a friend who currently works for SS, can she be my Representative on an appeal.

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Wendy: Social Security Disability is a pain to get approved. IF you have a real documented disability (ask your doctor, he'd know if if you have a chance in getting approved), keep trying for SS Disab. It will pay you approximately the full SS amount.. well worth trying.

If you get a SS Attorney, instead of going it alone, he will take part of your back pay but often takes the case at no cost, up front -- BUT you'll have a higher SS payment for life. Be sure its a SS Attorney, someone who specializes, they know their SS.

Finally, pension won't harm SS. Most of the disabilities I worked with DID have a pension -- and filed for SS Disability waiting for the final decision. You worked for it, you earned it, now you simply must qualify... that's the tough part, but an Attorney will get you through the system much quicker!

Hope this helps!