Opinion

Dear Rusty: Should I take my Social Security now at age 62, or wait till I am 65? I’ve been collecting SS disability due to health issues and was curious if I should wait or claim my regular Social Security retirement benefits now. Signed: Disabled but Wondering Dear Disabled but Wondering: If you are now collecting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and you are still disabled, it would be a disadvantage to claim your SS retirement benefits at this time (age 62), or even at age 65. That’s because your SSDI benefit is the same as your full retirement age (FRA) amount, as calculated for you at the point you became disabled. Born after 1959, your FRA is age 67, but you are already receiving your FRA benefit while on SS disability even though you have not yet reached your full retirement age. That full SSDI benefit will automatically convert to become your SS retirement benefit when you reach your full retirement age.