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Social Security Disability and Working

by Ryan Kinnar5 min read
Social SecurityDisability and Working
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One of the most frequently asked questions when a person claims Social Security Disability is whether he or she can start working and still get their monthly benefits.

Social Security Disability and Working

 

Social Security Disability and Working

The SSA allows for Social Security Disability and working at the same time to encourage people to return to normal.

As a general rule, you cannot receive disability benefits and be involved in Substantial Gainful Activity(SGA). As of 2017, SGA translates to you being able earn more than $1,170 in a month (or $1,920 if you’re blind). The conditions that govern SGA are numerous and not meant for this article.

The main point you need to understand here is that if you’re making the minimum SGA amount, then you will not qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.

There is an exception to this rule – Social Security Disability and working is possible if you’re trying to rehabilitate yourself. This means you are trying to get back on your feet.

 

Work Incentives

If you’re trying to get back to work, then the Social Security Administration will help you as much as possibleto become independent once again. Social Security Disability claimants are allowed work while they still get their monthly Social Security Disability benefits.

However, while you test your ability to get back to work, the SSA imposes a set of rules called “work incentives”.

 

Trial Period

The SSA will continue to pay out your monthly benefits – for a certain period of time, that is. This period is called the trial period and during this time you can even earn more than the minimum SGA amount and your SSD benefits will not be impacted. This trial period lasts for 9 months.

 

Extended Eligibility Period

After the trial period, the SSA will continue to support you by giving you Social Security Disability payouts on the months where you don’t meet the minimum SGA amount. This support will continue for up to 36 months and is known as the extended eligibility period.

During the extended eligibility period, if you lose your job, you can call the SSA and have your disability benefits reinstated. If you lose your job during the 9-month trial period, nothing is impacted and your monthly payouts continue normally.

 

Expedited Reinstatement

If you income after the extended eligibility period is more than the minimum SGA, then your SSD benefits will stop. However, if you’re forced to stop working due to your disability in a 5 year period, then your Social Security Disability monthly benefits can be restarted through a process called Expedited Reinstatement. You do not need to re-apply for Social Security Disability in that time.

 

Continuation of Medicare

Once you are working and your Social Security Disability payouts have been stopped, you are still eligible for free Medicare if you’re still disabled. You Part A coverage in Medicare will continue for 93 months after the trial period is over. If however, you have Part B Medicare coverage, then you would need to pay for the premium.

 

Work Expenses Related to Disability

If your disability requires you to spend extra money to be able to work (like having to go for therapy sessions or counselling services, or having to spend extra for traveling to work), then the SSA will deduct the amount you spent from your total earnings and then decide whether you meet the minimum SGA criteria.

For more details on how the Social Security Administration can help you return to a normal a life as possible, please read their publication, Working While Disabled: How Can We Help.