SSDI eligibility after retirement

[landrover]

If one were to retire from work, not due to disability necessarily, and then began either collecting a pension or were supported by other means, would they then be eligible to apply for SSDI to supplement their income until eligible for Social Security?

[funklab]

Last I looked into this SCI (or at least paraplegia/quadriplegia) was an automatically qualifying disability. The reason why you’re not working shouldn’t matter. Just apply for SSDI when you’re out of work and you should be approved.

[triumph]

Apply ASAP after you stop working. I believe it still can take up to two months to start receiving SSDI checks. The Medicare used to be automatic after 2 years on SSDI but I don't know if that 2 yr. wait is still the case. My Medicare became "first payer", and my health insurance from my employer became "2nd payer". On a couple of occasions my retiree health insurance paid in full when Medicare did not cover an $1800 orthotic I needed, as my old one was not yet 5 yrs. old, as required by Medicare.

[landrover]

Thanks! I've got 8 years until I reach 25 and become eligible for my employer healthcare. At that time I'll be 53. At that point it'll be a matter of health and motivation if I want to continue toward age 60, which is the retirement age for my employer.

[Mike_Stan]

Your first SSDI check will be 6 months after you are approved for SSDI. You will then be eligible for Medicare 2 years from the date you receive your first SSDI check.

[crispy1981]

I'm also planning to retire at age 59 so i can focus on staying healthy for the remaining years. Do we have any retirement experts in this forum?

I was pondering going to the Italian rehab facility https://www.centrogiusti.eu/ either while still working or post-retirement (the end of this year).

Should I use 'short-term disability' first? (My employer offers 12 weeks full pay).
However I'm not expecting that my company's health insurance company will honor therapy in Italy especially if it's unorthodox (not FDA compliant). So STD might not be viable. But I'm not sure how detailed I need to be regarding the type of therapy nor if they care if i leave the country for therapy?