If you have an Application for Disability Insurance Benefits pending with the Social Security Administration, when you become 61and ½ years of age you can request that you be paid under the early SSA Retirement Program pending the Determination of your Disability.
Early Retirement Benefits are substantially lower than your SSA Retirement benefits would be if you retired at the maximum age, however Disability Benefits are generally greater than Early Retirement benefits or Benefits for retirement at age 65.
Many Claimants are unable to meet the COBRA payments for continuing their health insurance after leaving work without this added income. This is the only benefit that you can obtain from SSA to assist during this period of Disability Determination unless you are the Mother of an Adult Disabled as a Child and you are needed in the home to care for them.
Medicaid will reimburse your COBRA or insurance payments if you are found eligible under the Health Insurance Premium Payment Program. Be aware that many DSS employees do not know about HIPPP. File an Appeal if they do not process you immediately.
When your Disability Insurance benefits are determined, your Early Retirement benefit amount will be “offset”, SSA will reduce the amount they owe you for the DIB period by the amount they have already paid to you under Early Retirement. If you have a Representative, the fee that you will owe your Representative, based on a fee agreement meeting the statutory requirements, would normally include the Early Retirement Benefits paid as part of the Back Award.
After you have Notice that your Disability has been proven, your eligibility for Medicare will be determined by your Disability Onset date, not by your age as under Early Retirement.
If you are Eligible for Medicaid because your household income is below the income limits set, when you become 62 and you have SSA Retirement Benefits that you could apply for, your Medicaid will usually be terminated if you do not apply for the early Retirement Benefits. Virginia Medicaid requires that you Apply for all benefits for which you COULD be eligible. Your Medicaid may be stopped due to excess income after you begin your Early Retirement Benefits or it may continue under a Medicaid spend down.
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