You can stop receiving SSDI at any time by notifying Social Security in writing

If you want to end your SSDI benefits, you do not need permission from Social Security. You straightforward tell them you want to stop. The process is straightforward: send a signed letter to your local Social Security office stating that you want to terminate your benefits, include your name and Social Security number, and keep a copy for your records. Social Security will stop your payments the month after they receive your request.

The reason you want to quit matters less than you might think. Social Security does not require you to explain why. You might be returning to work, moving to another country, receiving other income that makes SSDI unnecessary, or straightforward changing your mind about the program. None of these require justification. What matters is that your request is in writing and reaches your local office.

Before you send that letter, however, there are several things you should understand about what happens next—to your health insurance, your family members' benefits, your tax situation, and your ability to return to SSDI later if circumstances change.

Key Takeaways

  • You terminate SSDI by sending a signed, written request to your local Social Security office; your benefits stop the month after they receive it.
  • If you are under 65, your Medicare coverage ends two years after your SSDI payments stop, so plan for health insurance before that important date.
  • Family members receiving benefits on your record—spouses, children, ex-spouses—lose their payments when you terminate, and they cannot restart those benefits later.
  • If you return to work and later become disabled again, you can reapply for SSDI, but you will start from the beginning of the approval process.
  • Terminating SSDI may affect your Supplemental Security Income (SSI), your tax filing status, and any work incentive programs you are using.

What happens to Medicare when you stop SSDI

Your Medicare coverage does not end the same day your SSDI payments do. If you are under 65, you keep Medicare for 24 months after your last SSDI payment. This is called the Medicare continuation period, and it is automatic—you do not have to do anything to keep it. After those 24 months end, you lose coverage unless you are 65 or older, have End-Stage Renal Disease, or have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

This matters because many people who quit SSDI do so because they are returning to work. If your new job offers health insurance, you may not need Medicare during those 24 months. But if it does not, or if the coverage is expensive, you will need to find another plan before the continuation period ends. You can buy a plan on the ACA marketplace, look for coverage through a spouse's employer, or explore Medicaid in your state—rules vary by state, and some states cover working adults with disabilities.

Do not wait until month 25 to figure this out. Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or visit Medicare.gov three months before your continuation period ends to understand your options.

Family members lose their benefits permanently when you terminate

If you have a spouse, ex-spouse, or children receiving benefits on your SSDI record, those payments stop when you terminate. This is permanent. They cannot restart those benefits later, even if you reapply for SSDI and are approved again. This is one of the most important consequences of quitting, and it affects people other than you.

A spouse or ex-spouse aged 62 or older, or any age if caring for your child under 16, receives a percentage of your benefit. Children under 19 (or up to 22 if in school full-time) receive their own percentage. When you terminate, all of those payments end when ready. If you later reapply and are approved, only you receive benefits—your family members do not automatically get payments again.

Before you send your termination letter, talk to anyone who depends on your SSDI benefits. They may have other options—your ex-spouse might be able to claim on their own work record at 62, or your children might be covered by Medicaid separately—but you should not make this decision alone.

Reapplying for SSDI after you quit is possible but starts over

If you terminate SSDI and later become disabled again, you can reapply. Social Security will not hold your previous approval against you. However, you start the process from the beginning: you submit a new process, Social Security reviews your current medical evidence, and you wait through the approval timeline again, which typically takes three to six months for an initial decision (longer if you are denied and appeal).

You do not get to skip the waiting period or use your old approval. The five-month waiting period before benefits begin also restarts. This means if you quit SSDI in January, become disabled in March, and reapply in April, your benefits would not begin until September at the earliest—even though you previously received SSDI.

One exception: if you quit SSDI to work and you return to work within 12 months, you may be able to use a work incentive called expedited reinstatement. This allows you to restart benefits without a new process if your work attempt fails and you become unable to work again. But you must request reinstatement within 60 months of your last payment, and you must have worked during that time. Talk to a work incentive planning specialist before you quit if you think you might return to work temporarily.

How to submit your termination request

Write a letter on plain paper. Include your name, Social Security number, and a clear statement that you want to terminate your SSDI benefits. You do not need to explain why. Sign and date it. Make a copy for yourself.

Mail it to your local Social Security office. Find the address at SSA.gov/locator or call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the mailing address. You can also deliver it in person if you prefer. Ask for a receipt showing the date they received it—this matters if there is ever a question about when your request arrived.

Social Security will send you a written confirmation that your benefits have been terminated. Keep this letter. Your last payment will arrive the month after they receive your request. If you have direct deposit, the payment will appear on your regular schedule; if you receive a check, it will arrive by mail.

Termination and your taxes, SSI, and work incentives

If you are receiving both SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), terminating SSDI does not automatically end SSI. SSI is a separate program based on financial need, not disability status. However, losing your SSDI payment changes your household income, which may affect your SSI amount or your continued SSI may be able to access. Contact your local Social Security office to understand how termination affects SSI before you quit.

If you are using a work incentive program—such as Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE), or Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE)—terminating SSDI ends those work incentives as well. If you later reapply for SSDI, you can set up new work incentives, but the ones you had are gone. If you are close to a work goal, talk to a work incentive planning specialist before you terminate.

For tax purposes, SSDI is not taxable income. Terminating SSDI does not change your tax filing status or create a tax liability. However, if you are returning to work, your new income will be taxable, and you may owe taxes or need to adjust your withholding.

What to do before you send your termination letter

Make a checklist. First, understand what your SSDI payment covers: your own living expenses, your family members' benefits, or both. Second, confirm your Medicare continuation period and plan for health insurance after it ends. Third, talk to anyone who receives benefits on your record. Fourth, if you are returning to work, ask about expedited reinstatement and work incentive programs. Fifth, if you receive SSI as well, confirm how termination affects it.

If you are working with a disability advocate, lawyer, or work incentive planning specialist, tell them before you quit. They may see options you have not considered, or they may help you structure your termination in a way that protects your family members or preserves your ability to return to SSDI later.

Once you send your termination letter, the process is final. Social Security will not ask you to reconsider or offer you a waiting period. Plan carefully, and make sure this is what you actually want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take back my termination request after I send it?

If your letter has not been processed yet, you may be able to withdraw it by contacting your local Social Security office when ready. Once Social Security has processed your termination and sent you a confirmation letter, you cannot undo it. You would have to reapply, which starts the process over.

What if I want to stop SSDI but keep Medicare?

You cannot keep SSDI benefits and drop Medicare, or vice versa. However, you can terminate SSDI and keep Medicare for 24 months if you are under 65. After that, you lose Medicare unless you are 65 or older or have a may have access to condition. Plan your health insurance before the continuation period ends.

Do I have to tell my employer or doctor that I am quitting SSDI?

No. Your SSDI termination is between you and Social Security. You do not have to notify your employer or your doctor. However, if you are using work incentives or if your doctor is helping with your disability case, it may be helpful to tell them so they understand your situation.

What happens if I move to another country?

SSDI payments stop if you leave the United States for more than 30 days in a row. You do not have to formally terminate; Social Security will stop your payments automatically. If you return to the U.S. and want to restart benefits, you would have to reapply. Contact Social Security before you leave to understand the rules for your specific situation.

Can my family members keep their benefits if I terminate mine?

No. When you terminate SSDI, all benefits on your record end, including payments to your spouse, ex-spouse, and children. They cannot restart those benefits later, even if you reapply and are approved again.