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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Don B.
In 2020, I was able to make up to $1260 a month while receiving disability payments. Can you tell me what is allowed in 2021? Thank you!
V.V.
Hi Don, thanks for using our blog. The Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level in 2021 is $1,310 in a month. Check out Social Security’s Red Book for descriptions of the many work incentives.
Tesisatçı
Su Tesisatçısı – Tesisatçı
Tesisat hizmetleri ile ilgili bilgi almak için bizi arayabilir, su kaçak tespiti, musluk tamiri, klozet tamiri, gömme rezervuar tamiri, vitra servisi, grohe servisi, artema servisi, eca servisi gibi konularda özel servis hizmetlerinden faydalanabilirsiniz.
Tesisat
Tesisatçı
Jet hızı ile tesisat hizmetleri için bizi arayabilirsiniz. Su kaçak tespiti, musluk tamiri, klozet tamiri ve daha fazlası için bizi arayın.
Detaylar: Tesisatçı
Jan S.
Is there a limit on how much a spouse (not disabled) can earn from a job before the SSI benefits are effected by the disabled person receiving SSI/SSDI?
V.V.
Hi Jan, thanks for using our blog. If you’re receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits, a change in your household income can affect your benefits. This is because the amount of an SSI benefit is based, in part, on the income and resources available to the individual receiving SSI benefits and the income and resources of his or her spouse. Check out our Understanding SSI web page for additional details regarding income.
For more specifics, you can call 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.
Pamela A.
Can i be working while i file for disability??
V.V.
Hi Pamela, thanks for using our blog to ask your question.
We consider you disabled under Social Security rules if:
* You cannot do work that you did before;
* We decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); and
* Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.
If you have enough work to qualify for disability benefits, we use a step-by-step process involving five questions. The first one is “Are You Working?”. If you are working in 2021 and your earnings average more than $1,310 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled. We hope this information is helpful!
Diana
What is the maximum I can earn while on disability
V.V.
Hi Diana, 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 2021, any month in which earnings exceed $940 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 2021, you are earning SGA if your earnings, after any allowable deductions, are more than $1,310 in a month.
Check out Social Security’s Red Book for descriptions of the many work incentives.
Shelly
What is the max amount I can make, going to work, that won’t affect my SSI??
S.D.
Happy new year, Shelly, and thank you for your question. We have special rules that make it possible for people with disabilities who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to work and still receive monthly payments and Medicare or Medicaid. Social Security calls these rules “work incentives.” Some work incentives allow us to exclude some income and resources. For SSI recipients, for example, we do not count the first $65 of gross (pre-tax) earnings you receive in a month, plus one-half of your remaining earnings. This means that we count less than one-half of your earnings when we figure your SSI payment amount. Click here to see examples of the “Earned Income Exclusion”. Learn more about our other work incentives in our Red Book.
If you receive SSI, you must tell us right away when you start working, and you must report your earnings each month. This will help us avoid overpayments and underpayments. For instructions on the various ways to report your work, see Reporting Wages When You Receive Supplemental Security Income. If you need to contact your local Social Security office, you’ll find the phone number using our Office Locator.
Rick
Do I need to use a program? Can I find a PT job myself based on my limitations? What is the magic number where ssdi will begin to reduce?
Thank you in advance
Rick
specifically SSDI
Lynn B.
I have this question also.
Alexandria J.
Can I apply online for SSDI eligibility?
V.V.
Hi Alexandria. 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 think you may be eligible to receive disability benefits and would like to apply, you can use our online application. We hope this helps!
Roger D.
Can a person drawing SSDI or SSI own a property after the caretaker pass?
V.V.
Hi Roger, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs based program so a change in your assets can affect your benefits and it must be reported. You can 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.
Andrea
If I am in my EPE and voluntarily suspend my SSDI payments, will my dependent children on my record lose their benefits also?
them
Yes, their benefits will be suspended as well