Can I Work While Receiving SSDI Benefits?

One of the most frequently asked questions from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients concerns their ability to work while receiving benefits. The short answer is yes, but with significant limitations and requirements you must understand to avoid jeopardizing your benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has established specific rules governing work activity for SSDI beneficiaries, and understanding these regulations is essential for Idaho residents who wish to maintain their disability benefits while attempting to return to work.

Understanding Substantial Gainful Activity

The key concept that determines whether you can work while receiving SSDI benefits is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). The SSA defines SGA as work activity that involves performing significant physical or mental duties for pay or profit. For 2024, the monthly SGA limit is $1,550 for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for statutorily blind individuals. These figures are adjusted annually for inflation.

If your earnings exceed the SGA threshold, the SSA generally considers you capable of substantial gainful activity, which could result in the termination of your SSDI benefits. However, the calculation is not simply your gross earnings. The SSA may subtract certain expenses when determining whether your work constitutes SGA, including:

• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) - costs for items or services you need to work because of your disability
• Unincorporated business expenses if you are self-employed
• Subsidies or special assistance from your employer
• Work expenses for blind individuals

For Idaho residents engaged in agricultural work or seasonal employment, which is common in the state, understanding how these earnings are calculated becomes particularly important. The SSA may average your earnings over multiple months to determine if you have engaged in SGA.

Trial Work Period: Testing Your Ability to Work

The SSA provides SSDI beneficiaries with a Trial Work Period (TWP), which allows you to test your ability to work for at least nine months without losing your benefits. During this period, you can earn any amount without your earnings being considered SGA. The nine months do not need to be consecutive, but they must occur within a 60-month rolling period.

For 2024, any month in which you earn more than $1,110 or work more than 80 self-employed hours counts as a trial work month. This provision offers SSDI recipients valuable protection as they explore returning to work. Idaho workers in industries with fluctuating income, such as farming, construction, or tourism-related businesses, should carefully track their monthly earnings to understand how the TWP applies to their situation.

Once you have used your nine trial work months, you enter what is known as the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the 36-month EPE, your SSDI benefits will continue for any month your earnings fall below the SGA level. If your earnings exceed SGA, your benefits will be suspended but not terminated, allowing you to potentially have benefits reinstated if your earnings drop below SGA within the EPE.

Reporting Requirements and Consequences

When you receive SSDI benefits and begin working, you have a legal obligation to report your work activity to the Social Security Administration promptly. Failure to report work activity can result in overpayments that you will be required to repay, and in serious cases, allegations of fraud.

You should report the following to the SSA:

• When you start or stop working
• Changes in your work duties or hours
• Changes in your pay or work-related expenses
• Any changes in your disability condition that affect your ability to work

Idaho SSDI recipients can report work activity through their online my Social Security account, by telephone, or by visiting their local Social Security office. Boise has a Social Security office, as do Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Coeur d'Alene, and Pocatello, among other locations throughout the state.

Work Incentives and Support Programs

The Social Security Administration offers several work incentive programs designed to help SSDI beneficiaries transition back to work without immediately losing benefits or Medicare coverage. Understanding these programs can make the difference between successfully returning to work and losing crucial support.

Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) allows you to have your benefits quickly restarted if your disability causes you to stop working within five years of your benefits ending due to work activity. You do not need to file a new application or go through the entire approval process again.

Continued Medicare Coverage is available for at least 93 months after the trial work period ends if you are working and have a disabling impairment. This extended Medicare coverage can be essential for individuals with ongoing medical needs.

The Ticket to Work program is a free and voluntary program that provides SSDI beneficiaries with career development, job placement, and support services from approved Employment Networks. Idaho has multiple Employment Networks participating in this program that can assist with vocational rehabilitation and job training.

Special Considerations for Idaho Workers

Idaho's economy includes substantial agricultural, manufacturing, and service sectors. Workers in these industries face unique considerations when attempting to return to work while on SSDI. Seasonal work, which is prevalent in Idaho's agricultural sector, requires careful attention to how earnings are averaged and when trial work months are triggered.

Self-employment is also common in Idaho, particularly in farming, ranching, and small business operations. For self-employed individuals, the SSA applies different rules to determine SGA, focusing on work activity and the value of services performed rather than just income. If you are self-employed and receiving SSDI, consulting with an attorney experienced in Social Security disability law can help you understand how to structure your work activity appropriately.

Remote work opportunities have expanded significantly, offering Idaho residents in rural areas new possibilities for employment. Remote work is treated the same as any other employment for SSDI purposes, but it may offer more flexibility for individuals with disabilities to manage their work environment and schedule.

The decision to return to work while receiving SSDI benefits involves complex regulations and individual circumstances. While the SSA provides work incentives and protections, navigating these rules requires careful planning and documentation. Before making significant decisions about employment, SSDI beneficiaries should thoroughly understand how their work activity will affect their benefits, Medicare coverage, and long-term financial security.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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