Can I Work While Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits?

 Posted on February 28, 2022 in Social Security disability

If you suffer from a disability, you may struggle to earn enough income to support yourself. Fortunately, you may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. However, even when you receive these types of benefits, you may still want to work when possible so that you can earn additional income and continue to be active. If you choose to pursue employment while you are on disability, you will want to be sure to understand how the income you earn will affect the benefits you receive.

Social Security’s Rules for Returning to Work

While Social Security will provide benefits for those who experience total disabilities that make it impossible to fully support themselves, it encourages the recipients of these benefits to return to work when possible. There are certain incentives that recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can take advantage of, and they may be able to ease their way back into the workforce while still ensuring that they will be able to receive disability benefits when needed.

You will generally be able to continue receiving Social Security disability benefits as long as the income you earn is below a certain limit. This limit is known as substantial gainful activity (SGA), and in 2022, it is set at $1,350 per month. If you plan to begin working, and you expect to earn more than the SGA limit, you can continue receiving disability benefits as you transition back to work. Social Security allows for a “trial work period” that will allow you to test your ability to work for nine months. Any month in which you earn more than $970 will count toward your trial work period, and you can continue receiving disability benefits until you have completed nine trial work months within a five-year period. If you have expenses related to your disability, such as costs for transportation, a wheelchair or other assistive devices, or accommodations in your workplace, these expenses may be deducted from your income when determining whether your earnings are sufficient to qualify as a trial work month.

While disability benefits will end following the trial work period, you will have what is known as an “extended period of eligibility” for three years. During this time, if you earn less than the SGA amount during a certain month, you will be able to receive disability benefits for that month. If your income falls below the SGA level at any point during the five years after you stop receiving disability benefits, you will qualify for “expedited reinstatement,” and you will be able to resume disability benefits without the need to file a new application.

Contact Our Waukesha County SSDI Benefits Lawyer

Social Security disability benefits can be an essential form of financial support when you are unable to earn enough income to support yourself. If you wish to continue working or return to work while you are disabled, you will want to be sure to understand how this will affect the benefits you receive. Attorney Jonathan Pearson can advise you of your rights and options, and he will help you make sure you will be able to receive the financial assistance you need. Contact our West Allis Social Security disability attorney at 414-240-4801 to set up your free consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10095.pdf

https://choosework.ssa.gov/blog/2021-03-11-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-trial-work-period-twp