Working While Receiving Social Security Disability: What You Need to Know
Receiving Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits can provide crucial financial assistance to individuals who are unable to work full-time due to a disability. However, many SSD recipients wonder if they can work part-time or participate in programs like the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Ticket to Work program without losing their benefits. For individuals in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Louisiana, American Disability Action Group is here to help you explore employment opportunities while continuing to receive SSD benefits.
Working Part-Time While on SSD
The SSA recognizes that many people receiving SSD benefits may still have the ability to work in a limited capacity. As a result, the SSA allows recipients to earn income through part-time work without automatically losing their benefits. However, there are important income limits and rules that you must follow.
In 2024, if you are earning more than $1,470 per month in gross wages (or $2,460 for those who are blind), the SSA considers this “substantial gainful activity” (SGA), and you may no longer be eligible for SSD benefits. If your earnings stay below this threshold, you can continue receiving your benefits.
Trial Work Period
The SSA offers a Trial Work Period (TWP) that allows you to test your ability to work for up to nine months without losing your benefits. During the TWP, you can earn more than the SGA limit, and your SSD benefits will continue as long as you report your income to the SSA. This trial work period is a great opportunity for residents of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi to explore part-time or temporary employment while maintaining financial security.
The TWP months do not need to be consecutive, but any month in which you earn more than $1,050 (in 2024) counts toward the nine-month total. Once the TWP ends, the SSA will assess whether your income exceeds the SGA limit, and if it does, your SSD benefits may be reduced or discontinued.
Ticket to Work Program
The SSA’s Ticket to Work program is designed to help SSD recipients transition back into the workforce without the immediate risk of losing benefits. This free and voluntary program offers vocational training, job placement assistance, and other services to help individuals return to work.
Residents of Tennessee, Texas, and Louisiana can take advantage of the Ticket to Work program without worrying about losing their SSD benefits during the initial stages of employment. Participants in the program are exempt from medical continuing disability reviews (CDRs), meaning the SSA will not reassess your disability status while you are actively pursuing employment through the program.
Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
After completing the TWP, SSD recipients enter an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which lasts for 36 months. During the EPE, you can receive SSD benefits for any month in which your income is below the SGA level, even if you exceed the SGA limit in some months. This means that if your earnings fluctuate, you can still receive benefits during months when your income falls below the threshold.
Reporting Income to the SSA
It’s essential to report any income to the SSA, whether you are working part-time, participating in the Ticket to Work program, or undergoing a trial work period. Failure to report earnings can result in overpayments, which the SSA may require you to repay, or even penalties.
Seek Legal Assistance
If you are considering returning to work or want to explore your options, contact the American Disability Action Group for personalized guidance on navigating work and SSD benefits. Our Arkansas & Nationwide Social Security Disability Attorneys are here to help you understand the rules and ensure that you make the most of your opportunities while protecting your benefits.
Source:
ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html
