People between the ages of 62 and full retirement age may be eligible for Social Security Old-Age (retirement) Insurance benefits and Disability Insurance (DI) benefits. They may also qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) alone or concurrently with other benefits.
Using Health and Retirement Study data, the report examines receipt of benefits by adults between age 62 and full retirement age who report a health problem that limits work and found:
- About 32 percent report receiving DI benefits and another eight percent report applying for DI benefits.
- About 26 percent report receiving Old-Age and Survivors Insurance benefits (and not receiving or applying for DI).
- About 11 percent report applying for or receiving SSI alone or concurrently with other Social Security benefits.
The Board recommends changes that SSA could make to improve processes for people aged 62 to FRA and to target information and outreach to reduce knowledge gaps. SSA should improve communication to older adults who may be eligible for multiple types of benefits and explore automation to ensure people do not miss benefits for which they may be eligible. The Board also recommends that SSA conduct additional research on this population to inform improvements to its administrative and outreach procedures.