Q. My wife retired nine years ago at age 62. She has since become disabled. A. Disability Insurance is available only to wage earners who have not yet reached full retirement age. In effect, Social Security Disability Insurance is an early retirement benefit for persons no longer able to work due to severe disabilities. When retirement age is reached, a disability benefit automatically converts to a retirement benefit.
Monthly checks continue unchanged.
In 1997 I was put on Social Security Disability Insurance. I have bad legs and back problems plus extreme pain. It was work related. I get full disability from Social Security and a company disability check. Recently, they sent a paper and called.