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Social Security Disability Benefits are calculated as though an individual attained full
retirement age and quit working on the day he or she became disabled. Hence,
once you reach full retirement age, it is no longer relevant to establish
medical disability. Full benefits are payable to you just by virtue of your
age.
The Social Security Amendments of 1983 (H.R. 1900, Public Law 98-21) contained two provisions which
may have an impact on when an individual decides to retire or when they must
become disabled. The two provisions are an increase in the retirement age that
can first affect individuals retiring in 2000 and an increase in the delayed
retirement credit for those who work beyond full retirement age. (Delayed
Retirement Credits are not discussed here, since they do not affect Social
Security Disability Benefits.)
Increase in Retirement Age
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For persons born in 1938 or later, their Social Security benefit may be affected by a provision that raises the age at which full Social Security benefits are payable.
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The age for collecting full Social Security retirement benefits will gradually increase from 65 to 67 over a 22-year period beginning in 2000 for those retiring at 62.
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The earliest a person can start receiving reduced Social Security retirement benefits will remain age 62.
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Social Security Disability benefits may be payable at any age prior to attainment of the Full Retirement Age in the following chart
Increase in Age for Receiving Full Social Security Retirement Benefits
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Year of Birth
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Full Retirement Age
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1937 or earlier
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65
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1938
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65 and 2 months
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1939
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65 and 4 months
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1940
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65 and 6 months
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1941
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65 and 8 months
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1942
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65 and 10 months
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1943 - 1954
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66
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1955
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66 and 2 months
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1956
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66 and 4 months
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1957
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66 and 6 months
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1958
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66 and 8 months
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1959
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66 and 10 months
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1960 and later
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67
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Background
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The 1983 Amendments phased in a gradual increase in the age for collecting full Social Security retirement benefits. The retirement age will increase from 65 to 67 over a 22-year period, with an 11-year hiatus at which the retirement age will remain at 66.
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The original Social Security Act of 1935 set the minimum age for receiving full retirement benefits at 65.
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Congress cited improvements in the health of older people and increases in average life expectancy as primary reasons for increasing the normal retirement age.
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Since the program first began paying monthly Social Security benefits in 1940 the average life expectancy for men reaching age 65 has increased nearly 4 years to age 81; for women reaching age 65, their average life expectancy has increased nearly 6 years to age 84.
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The average age for men retiring in 1998 was 64. The average age for women retiring in 1998 was 64. In 1998, nearly 69% of men and women retired and started taking Social Security benefits before age 65.
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