Working While Disabled — Social Security Can Help
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: July 15, 2021
For millions of people, work isn’t just a source of income. It’s a vital part of who they are – it gives them purpose and pride. It’s a connection to community. We’re here to help you get back to work if you’re disabled.
If you’re getting Social Security disability benefits, we have good news for you. Social Security’s work incentives and Ticket to Work programs can help you if you’re interested in working. Special rules make it possible for people receiving Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work – and still receive monthly payments.
The Ticket to Work program may help you if you’d like to work. You can receive:
- Free vocational rehabilitation.
- Training.
- Job referrals.
- Other employment support.
You can read more about working while receiving disability benefits on our Ticket to Work Program page.
Work incentives include:
- Continued cash benefits for a time while you work.
- Continued Medicare or Medicaid while you work.
- Help with education, training, and rehabilitation to start a new line of work.
If you’re receiving Social Security disability benefits or SSI, let us know right away when you start or stop working. This is also important if any other change occurs that could affect your benefits.
If you returned to work, but you can’t continue working because of your medical condition, your benefits can start again. Plus, you may not have to file a new application.
You can learn more about the Ticket to Work program by reading our publication, Working While Disabled: How We Can Help.
Part of securing today and tomorrow is giving you the tools to create a fulfilling life. Getting back to work might be part of that. We’re here with a ticket to a secure tomorrow.
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Tags: Disability, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security benefits, social security disability benefits, SSI
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Linda T.
If I decide to work, how much can I make per month so my benefits will not be affected? Can you tell me the exact amount? Thx
Vonda V.
Hi Linda, thank you for your question. Social Security has special rules that make it possible for people with disabilities receiving Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments. These are called work incentives.
For SSDI beneficiaries, there is a Trial Work Period (TWP) and then an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). The TWP allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months. During this period, you will receive your full disability benefit regardless of how much you earn as long as your work activity is reported and you continue to have a disabling impairment. In 2018, any month in which earnings exceed $850 is considered a month of the 9-month trial work period.
Once you’ve completed your TWP, you get a 36-month safety net called the EPE. During the EPE, you get benefits for all months your earnings or work activities are below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level as long as you continue to have a disabling impairment. Social Security will suspend cash benefits for months earnings are over SGA and start benefits again if earnings fall below the SGA level. In 2018, you are earning SGA if your earnings, after any allowable deductions, are more than $1,180 in a month.
See Social Security’s Red Book for descriptions of the many work incentives.
debbie t.
How long can you work on disability or do you lose you check
Vonda V.
Hi Debbie, thank you for your question. Social Security has special rules that make it possible for people with disabilities receiving Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments. These are called work incentives.
For SSDI beneficiaries, there is a Trial Work Period (TWP) and then an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). The TWP allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months. During this period, you will receive your full disability benefit regardless of how much you earn as long as your work activity is reported and you continue to have a disabling impairment. In 2018, any month in which earnings exceed $850 is considered a month of the 9-month trial work period.
Once you’ve completed your TWP, you get a 36-month safety net called the EPE. During the EPE, you get benefits for all months your earnings or work activities are below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level as long as you continue to have a disabling impairment. Social Security will suspend cash benefits for months earnings are over SGA and start benefits again if earnings fall below the SGA level. In 2018, you are earning SGA if your earnings, after any allowable deductions, are more than $1,180 in a month.
See Social Security’s Red Book for descriptions of the many work incentives.
Betty J.
How do we make sure this is a webpage that is safe to click on the links. With all the “hacking” and identity theft going on, I’m not sure what is safe.
Thank you.
Vonda V.
Hi Betty, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. Links, logos, or pictures in the body of an official Social Security email will always direct you to an official Social Security website. Rather than relying on the way a link looks, please follow these steps to confirm a link’s authenticity:
◦To verify the web address of a link or picture, hover over it with your mouse until a text box appears with the web address. This is the actual address you will be directed to and it should always end in “.gov/” A forward slash should always follow the “.gov” domain.
◦Example – https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
◦Links to the official Social Security website will always begin with https://www.socialsecurity.gov/ or https://secure.ssa.gov/.
Click HERE for more on Internet Phishing.
Lynda J.
I believe a 9-month trial work period was applied to my application for disability at the time of my hearing in 2008.
The Judge ruled that I am 100% disabled.
Am I allowed to have a second 9-month work trial period now or is a person only eligible for one work trial period?
Lynda Jacobsen
Social: xxx-xx-1341
Vonda V.
Hi Lynda, thank you for your question. The Trial Work Period (TWP) continues until you accumulate nine TWP service months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-month period. After you complete your TWP, you begin your Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, we evaluate your work and earnings to decide if you can work at the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level.
See our Frequently Asked Question for more details.
John T.
5 stoke, ss 2100-ss 1850——??????. i am 6 yrs 1850. No dissuled,
Soley
Something is not right with the the individuals handling the payouts…once you’ve been awarded benefits.
Anonymous
It has been a huge challenge returning to work or even holding down a job for long periods of time since becoming disabled, I thought it was somewhat biased because my mental and physical disability is not visible.
I’ve had tried the ticket to work program only to be miss informed by those advocating for me; and ended up earning more than is allowed by SSA causing more mental and physical hardships.
I would like balance in my relationship with Social Security and any income that I make…
Andy B.
I tried to work, but it only lasted 6 most because of my back. I’m looking for work from home jobs now, but it is difficult because I do not have a computer
Craig R.
Who cares about Jim Borland?
Laura S.
I’m 64 now & on SSDI. Could I get more money from changing to plain SS retirement? Would I lose Medicare coverage?
Kenny O.
Hi Laura. Great question! Once you reach your full retirement age, we automatically convert your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to become retirement benefits. However, your benefit amount and Medicare coverage will relatively remain the same. Your full retirement age is determined by your year of birth. To determine your full retirement age, visit our Retirement Age Calculator web page. We hope this helps.