Continuing disability benefits while working | USAGov (2024)

FAQs

Continuing disability benefits while working | USAGov? ›

Receiving SSI and SSDI while working

After your 9-month work trial, there's a 36-month period called an “extended period of eligibility” (EPE) where you can work and still get Disability. The EPE earnings limit in 2024 is $1,550 per month, or $2,590 if you get Disability due to blindness.

Generally, if your health hasn't improved, or if your disability still keeps you from working, you'll continue to receive your benefits. You are responsible for letting us know whenever a change occurs that could affect your benefits. For example, if your health improves or you go back to work or become self-employed.

If you have a disability, you'll also need to prove you've earned less than $1,550 from work per month in the month you're applying.

The termination of benefits in the Social Security disability program is based predominantly on four factors: conversion to the retirement program (that is, attainment of full retirement age), death, medical recovery, and work recovery.

When you work for yourself, you can work hours without receiving an hourly wage. In that case, the SSA will look at how many hours you've worked, plus your monthly income. Social Security typically allows up to 45 hours of work per month if you're self-employed and on SSDI. That comes out to around 10 hours per week.

The Social Security 5-year rule refers specifically to disability benefits. It requires that you must have worked five out of the last ten years immediately before your disability onset to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Continue Your Benefits

If you are on automatic payment, you will receive a Disability Claim Continued Eligibility Questionnaire (DE 2593) after 10 weeks of payment. You must return this form to us to certify that your disability continues. Your benefits will stop if you do not complete and return the DE 2593.

If your treating doctor says you will never recover completely or will always be limited in the work you can do, you may have a permanent disability. This means that you may be eligible for permanent disability (PD) benefits.

Will my SSDI be reduced if I work? ›

Receiving SSI and SSDI while working

But the benefit amount you receive may be reduced depending on how much money you earn from your job. As of 2024, you may stop receiving SSDI benefits if you earn over $1,550 a month.

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

Social Security disability benefits automatically change to retirement benefits when disability beneficiaries become full retirement age. The law does not allow a person to receive both retirement and disability benefits on one earnings record at the same time.

The following situations might trigger an early CDR: You've been receiving Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits for less than 24 months, and you start working again. You tell Social Security (or the SSA receives evidence showing) that your medical condition has improved.

If you are currently receiving Social Security Income (SSI), the SSA actually can check your bank account, as they have the permission to do so. SSI is a needs-based program for those that don't qualify for full social security disability benefits due to lack of work history, age, or other factors.

What Is the Most Approved Disability? Arthritis and other musculoskeletal system disabilities make up the most commonly approved conditions for social security disability benefits. This is because arthritis is so common. In the United States, over 58 million people suffer from arthritis.

If you're younger than full retirement age, there is a limit to how much you can earn and still receive full Social Security benefits. If you're younger than full retirement age during all of 2024, we must deduct $1 from your benefits for each $2 you earn above $22,320.

In 2024, if you're under full retirement age, the annual earnings limit is $22,320. If you will reach full retirement age in 2024, the limit on your earnings for the months before full retirement age is $59,520.

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

Many individuals are eligible for benefits under both the SSDI and SSI programs at the same time. We use the term “concurrent” when individuals are eligible for benefits under both programs.