Can You Work While on Disability? Facts to Know

The Social Security Administration, or SSA, provides monthly support to individuals who qualify for disability. According to the SSA, an individual is disabled if he or she has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents the individual from doing any substantial gainful activity. If you are receiving disability benefits but are transitioning back to work, you may ask whether you can work while on disability.

Notify the Social Security Administration

If you have accepted a job and are returning to work, you must notify the SSA as soon as possible. Inform the SSA if you start or stop a new job or there are any changes to your work status. You can communicate with the SSA in person, by phone, or by mail. After the SSA receives the information, they will confirm by sending you a receipt. It is important that you retain the receipt in your records. If you lose your job, notify the SSA immediately to see if the SSA can reinstate the disability benefits.  

Trial Work Period

If you are thinking about transitioning back to work, consider the SSA’s trial work period. The trial work period allows a person receiving disability benefits to return to work for nine months. While you are participating in the trial work period, you will continue to receive full disability benefits no matter how much you earn as long as you still have a disability. You can work as many hours per week as you like, and there are no requirements that you work in a particular field or for a certain employer. If you take time off after going back to work, you can still participate in the trial work period. The trial work period continues for 60 months. After you work nine months within that period, the trial work period ends. If you lose your job during a trial work period, it will not affect your disability benefits.

Extended Period of Eligibility

After you work for nine months, you can extend the ability to work and collect disability benefits for 36 months. However, to continue to collect disability, the individual cannot earn more than $1,000 a month as of 2011 or the disability benefits will cease. Each year the SSA updates its earnings requirements. The SSA does allow work expenses due to the disability to be deducted toward earnings. Work expenses could include items necessary to assist you with work, special transportation or medication. You do not need to fill out any additional forms to participate in the extended eligibility. However, keep the SSA informed of your working situation. If you cease working within five years, you do not need to file a new application with SSA to begin receiving benefits again.

Getting Legal Help

If you have questions about whether you can work while on disability, contact an experienced disability attorney in your state. An attorney can advise you on how to get back to work after receiving disability benefits.