Will attempting to work end my SSDI benefits?

Sitting at home when you are used to working for a living can be frustrating. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits will not provide the standard of living you had before. If you start to feel better, you may decide to try for a job. Your family might warn you against it. They fear you will lose your right to SSDI and will need to go through the whole application process again if you cannot continue with the work.

There is a way to try working again without losing your SSDI

The Social Security Administration (SSA), which assesses SSDI claims, wants people to go back to work where possible. That is why it can be challenging to file a claim. If the SSA believes you can work again within a year, they will reject your initial claim. However, once you are receiving SSDI, you can have a trial run at working without risking your benefits.

How long is the trial work period?

You have nine months to test your ability to work. If you reach a point where you have worked nine of the last sixty months, the SSA can consider you fit to work and end your right to SSDI.

How does the SSA define a month of work?

The SSA defines a trial month by the amount you earn, not by how many hours you do. For 2021 they count any month where you make over $940. You can still keep your SSDI payments during the nine trial months. Earning your way again can be liberating. If you have any doubts about the rules surrounding a trial work period, it is wise to seek help. Understanding the system is crucial to navigating it.