[wdwgranny]

ok i am 51 and at 55 i can take an early prsion , IF i di ever get approved for ssdi will the take my pension / i would like to take it early at 55 cause i havent been able to work in almost 2 yrs? thank you

[Koala77]

I'm on disability, but I live in Australia so I can't comment on the way the USA assesses pensions, but I'll tell you how it works here.

We're permitted lots of assets, like one house, one car, one caravan, etc.... and we can have a certain amount in the bank (I think it's about $70,000 but I could be wrong). Also we're allowed to earn $62 without penalty, before our pension is cut. After that our allowance is then reduced by 50 cents for each dollar above $62, up to and including $250, then 60 cents for each dollar over $250.

Even though the numbers will be different, I wonder if your pensions might be assessed in a similar manner.

I'll be taking out my superannuation in about 18 months and it depends what I do with it as to whether my pension suffers or not. If I make money off it (like interest) my pension would suffer, but if I spent it all as in paying off the mortgage, my disability wouldn't suffer at all.

I'm hoping some-one with more relevant American information will step in.

[finz]

You can collect a pension and SSDI with no problems.

People who receive SSDI and WC or short/long term disability can't go over 80% of their pre disability wages for their total amount of benefits. If your total benefits (including family benefits) add up to more than the 80%, SSDI decreases your benefit to be inline with the 80%.

[legalmania]

You might want to read this.

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1

[plgerrard]

The above link refers only to individuals who have worked for a federal, state or local government and have a government retirement (most government employees do not pay into Social Security, but pay into a government pension program).

If you have not worked for the government and have a private pension plan, the link you want is this one:

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1

[finz]

Yup

This link says the same........http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10018.html

Summaried as......"Disability payments from private sources, such as private pension or insurance benefits, do not affect your Social Security disability benefits."

[legalmania]

Originally Posted by plgerrard

The above link refers only to individuals who have worked for a federal, state or local government and have a government retirement (most government employees do not pay into Social Security, but pay into a government pension program).

If you have not worked for the government and have a private pension plan, the link you want is this one:

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1

Not quite if you read it properly it says the following:

If you worked in a job that was not covered under Social Security, e.g., some Federal, State, or local government employment, the pension you get based on that work may reduce your Social Security benefits. Your benefit can be reduced under one of two provisions.
The link you used is for retirement. At 51 or even 55 I don't think she is qualified to retire.
e.g. stands for exemplum gratia latin meaning for example.

[legalmania]

Originally Posted by wdwgranny

ok i am 51 and at 55 i can take an early prsion , IF i di ever get approved for ssdi will the take my pension / i would like to take it early at 55 cause i havent been able to work in almost 2 yrs? thank you

wdgranny what kind of pension are you talking about? This may apply to you.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10045.html#who

[legalmania]

Originally Posted by finz

Yup

This link says the same........http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10018.html

Summaried as......"Disability payments from private sources, such as private pension or insurance benefits, do not affect your Social Security disability benefits."

The Disability payment is only the first paragraph. The rest has to do with workers comp, which it does affect your benefits.

However, workers’ compensation and other public disability benefits may reduce your Social Security benefits. Workers’ compensation benefits are paid to a worker because of a job-related injury or illness. They may be paid by federal or state workers’ compensation agencies, employers or by insurance companies on behalf of employers.

[plgerrard]

wdwgranny, you asked a good question, that seems to have stirred up some controversy between the responders. Maybe the better links for you to check would be these, where attorneys answer your question.

Law Info

In this next link, the opening paragraph is: Ordinarily, disability payments from other sources do not affect your Social Security disability benefits. But, if the disability payment is Workers Compensation or another public disability payment, you and your familys Social Security benefits may be reduced.

Then scroll down to the paragrah "What Payments Do Not Affect your Social Security Disability Benefits?". One of the payments that does not affect SSDI benefits is 'Private pensions or insurance benefits'.

Illinois Social Security Disability Assistance Center

.