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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Robert J.
i wanna work now while i’m Disabled
V.V.
Hi Robert, 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 2020, any month in which earnings exceed $910 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 2020, you are earning SGA if your earnings, after any allowable deductions, are more than $1,260 in a month.
Check out Social Security’s Red Book for descriptions of the many work incentives.
david g.
so im lost cant get replacement ebt card
V.V.
Hi David, thank you for using our blog. If lost your Direct Express® Card, please call the Direct Express® card toll free Customer Service Department number at 1-888-741-1115. A customer service representative will assist you and a new card will be sent to you. We hope this helps.
Anna R.
Will I be able to get disability after I am already receiving Social Security?
V.V.
Hi Anna, thanks for using our blog. It depends on how old you are. When a person has reached their full retirement age (Currently 66) and is receiving Social Security retirement, they are no longer eligible for disability benefits. If you are under your full retirement age, you absolutely can apply for disability benefits.
If you have any questions or want to apply, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 or contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Jose C.
I have been working since 2006 and have 8% permanent disability.
Do I qualify to any benefits.
currently working.
and plan to continue working
DOB
05/28/1969
V.V.
Hi Jose, thanks for your question. We pay disability benefits through two programs: the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must have worked long enough and recently enough in jobs covered by Social Security (usually within the last 10 years). The (SSI) program is a needs based program that gives cash assistance to disabled individuals with limited income and resources. We pay disability benefits to people who are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last one year or more or to end in death. If you are working in 2020 and your earnings average more than $1,260 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled. If you think you may be eligible to receive disability benefits and would like to apply, you can use our online application.
If you are unable to file online, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Doreen L.
I will start working 7/21/2020 with the U.S. Census Bureau on a limited PT basis.
V.V.
Hi Doreen, thanks for using our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. To report your work activity, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Barbara M.
what is the monthly limit you must not exceed while working and on disability? Last year I think it was 1280$
in 2019.
V.V.
Hi Barbara, thanks for using our blog. Once you’ve completed your trial work period (TWP), you get a 36-month safety net called the Extended Period of Eligibility (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 2020, you are earning SGA if your earnings, after any allowable deductions, are more than $1,260 in a month.
Check out Social Security’s Red Book for descriptions of the many work incentives.
nelson E.
why if you was working with work ticket program, but for discrimination, and medical reasons you had to stop working, what happen?, also are you elegible to collect unemployment benefits. the ticket program does not protege people with disabilities, when the employer is not taking consideration of those whom can’t compete with regulars employees without dissabilities, in store like coca cola and B.J. clubs.
V.V.
Hi Nelson, thanks for your question. To report a change in your work, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal.
As for your question about unemployment insurance income, unemployment benefits do not affect or reduce Social Security retirement and disability benefits. State unemployment compensation payments are not wages because they are paid due to unemployment rather than employment. However, income from Social Security may reduce your unemployment compensation. Contact your state unemployment office for information on how your state applies the reduction.
However, if you’re receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), unemployment insurance benefits are considered unearned income. If you, your spouse, or a child living in your household have any income other than your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment, including unemployment insurance benefits, you must tell us.
To learn more about SSI and how income affects your payment, read What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
suzanne R.
My son has a brain injury, 15 yrs, and is getting a divorce after 7 years. He needs a lawyer and he is not able to navigate the system due to his injury and the added stress. I am his mother, can I find help for him? Where? He has been working part time for 2 years now, and I don’t know how that will be affected. His wife wants everything. They have a 4yr old daughter. She wants to keep the house, and he has no where to go.
V.V.
Hi Suzanne, thanks for using our blog. If your son is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), that is a needs-based program that pays benefits to disabled individuals based on financial need, he would need to report his divorce as it could mean a change in his living arrangement. Because the amount of an Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit is based, in part, on an individual’s living arrangements and the number of people in the household, it is important to let us know promptly when any change occurs.
If your son has applied for benefits and was recently denied, he can appeal that decision within 60 days.
If your son has questions related to Social Security benefits, he can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or he can contact his local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Ronald J.
Can I have a part time job while collecting disability? how will it affect my benefits?
V.V.
Hi Ronald, 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 2020, any month in which earnings exceed $910 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 2020, you are earning SGA if your earnings, after any allowable deductions, are more than $1,260 in a month.
Check out Social Security’s Red Book for descriptions of the many work incentives.
Larry E.
so if earnings are below $910 then there’s no need to report. Or are you saying ANY earnings of any amount have to be reported?
V.V.
Hi Larry. You should tell us if you take a job or become self-employed, no matter how little you earn. Please let us know how many hours you expect to work, and when your work starts or stops. Check out our publication “What You Need To Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits” for all the reporting responsibilities and ways to report. We hope this helps!
Lynda H.
Can I get a paper to say it’s ok for me to fish without licenses since I’m over 65 thru my computer