Q. My doctor says that I will become disabled by my rheumatoid arthritis. It’s just a matter of time. Will a pension from my employer preclude me from receiving Social Security disability benefits?
A. There is no cap on combined pension and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or on pension and retirement benefits. Social Security is supposed to be complemented by pension benefits and other retirement savings.
The Social Security Act does have a cap on the combination of Social Security Disability benefits and Workers Compensation. Social Security is reduced if the combined benefits from Social Security and Workers Compensation exceed 80 percent of pre-disability Social Security covered earnings. The cap is removed at full retirement age when Disability Insurance benefits are automatically converted to retirement benefits.