Skip to main content

CAN YOU WORK WHILE GETTING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CHECKS?

Can you work while receiving Social Security disability payments?

Two important facts:

1. Any  work can draw unwanted attention from the Social Security Administration and may put your disability benefits under review. 

 2.  According to the written regulations, you are allowed to work as long as your wages or earnings fall below $1,550 (gross) per month.  That's the amount for 2024.  (In 2023, the amount was $1,470 per month).  Earn more than that and you are no longer disabled under Social Security rules.  And it doesn't matter why  you work.

The basic premise of the Social Security Administration is that benefits are only available for individuals who cannot work.  If you can't work you are disabled.  If you can work you are not disabled.

Working proves that you are not disabled like nothing else.

I counsel my clients:  If you can possibly keep working then that is probably the right path.  If you have reached a point that it's impossible for you to keep working then disability may be the right solution.

Social Security disability is not intended to supplement your work or your income.  It is intended to  replace the income you lost when you became unable to work.

So the idea of continuing to work while receiving an SSDI benefit, while possible, is really antithetical to the philosophy behind Social Security.

In Social Security's mindset there is no such thing as "I am working but I'm not "able" to work.  If you're working, you're able to work.  And Social Security will not entertain the idea of working until you can get your benefits started.  

 

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WHAT YOU WILL BE ASKED AT A DISABILITY HEARING

Most Social Security disability claims will be denied twice:  First at the end of the Application process, and again after the "Reconsideration" process.  The third stop will be a hearing before a federal Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). It is here at the hearing level that most SSDI claims are paid.  So, what do you need to know about your Social Security disability hearing?     First, the judge will follow the rules established by the Social Security Administration.  His or her job is to determine whether you meet the particular laws and rules to receive disability payments.  So, it is a legal proceeding where you must prove certain things in order to get paid. Among the things you must prove:  Your insured status with Social Security:  You have worked recently enough and paid into the Social Security trust fund to gain the required "work credits" to support your claim.  You have a severe medical or mental impairment supported by adequa...
Post a Comment
Read more

MISTAKES THAT RUIN A SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY APPLICATION

MISTAKES THAT RUIN A SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY APPLICATION  The paperwork for Social Security disability is daunting:  page after page of never-ending questions.  But, since most applications will be denied, it behooves you to complete the application correctly.  Here are some mistakes on your Social Security disability application that may ruin your claim.   Failing to Fill Out the Forms —The Social Security Administration (SSA) will send you a lot of forms to fill out. It’s up to you to make sure that you fill out every part of those forms correctly.  Don’t forget: if a question doesn’t apply to you, put “not applicable” or “N/A” in the provided space.   Do not leave anything blank. Return all forms within 10 days. If you don't your application may be discarded or withdrawn. Writing Illegibly —If your case reviewer can’t read your answers, then he/she can’t really say that you answered that question. Be sure the  answers to questions are nea...
Post a Comment
Read more

WHAT TYPE OF DENIALS DOES SOCIAL SECURITY ISSUE?

In Social Security disability, the most common denials are medical denials.  This means that Social Security doesn't believe the medical evidence in your case meets the exacting standards for an award of disability.  There are technically two kinds of medical denials: 1.  You are able to perform some of your past relevant work.  They have looked at your work history for the past 15 years and judged that your medical conditions permit you to perform one or more of your past jobs.  This is what we call a "Step 4 denial." 2.  You are not able to perform any of your past work - but there is other work in the national economy that you are able to do.  This is called a "Step 5 denial" because it occurs at the 5th and final "step" in the decision making process. There are other types of denials, not nearly as common as the two above.  We sometimes think of these as "automatic" denials or "technical denials."  They are not medical decisions...
Post a Comment
Read more