How Long Does Social Security Disability Last?

Social security disability is a form of social protection insurance that pays you income if you become disabled. If you are receiving social security disability you may wonder how long does social security disability last.  This is an important consideration, since you may be dependent on this income to pay your bills when you cannot work.

How Long Do You Receive SSA Disability Benefits?

Generally, you receive social security disability benefits as long as you remain sufficiently disabled. This means as long as your disability prevents you from working in your job or from being able to work in a comparable job, you are eligible to continue receiving SSA disability benefits.

The SSA may conduct periodic reviews of your case to determine whether you are still eligible for disability benefits. If the SSA finds you are no longer considered severely disabled, your benefits may be discontinued. You generally must also report changes in your condition to the SSA, even if those changes would result in the cessation of your benefits.

When Benefits Stop

There are three separate occasions when social security disability benefits stop. The benefits stop:

• When you are no longer disabled. If your condition changes such that your disability is no longer considered to be severe or debilitating enough to preclude you from working, your benefits will end. If your condition changes, you are required to report those changes to the SSA
• If you reach retirement age. When you reach the age of 65, your social security disability benefits stop and you automatically begin receiving SSA retirement benefits instead. The specific amount of money you receive each month generally remains the same, unless you are also receiving widow/widower benefits in retirement or other such additional benefits..
• If you begin earning money, your benefits may stop. Generally, the SSA will allow you to try to work for a limited period of time without altering your benefits, so you can test yourself to see whether you can in fact work with your disability. This program lets you try to work for 9 months and during that time, you can earn between $720 and $1000 without your benefits being affected. If you earn over $1000 in the month, your benefits may be reduced. The program that allows you to earn money or try to work while on SSA disability is referred to as ticket-to-work. It is designed to help you to try to get back to work without taking the risk of losing your benefits. 

Ticket to Work

In addition to allowing you to work without losing benefits, the ticket-to-work program will also provide you with training to help you find a job you can do, even while disabled.

Getting Help

If you are considered about how long does social security disability last, or if you want to find out whether you are in danger of losing your benefits, you should contact an experienced disability attorney. He can assist you in  speaking with the SSA and in protecting the benefits you are depending upon.