Markhoff & Mittman Blog

Can I Work and Still Receive Social Security Disability Benefits?

Are you receiving Social Security disability benefits and want to go back to work?  Are you concerned that if you discover that it is still too difficult to work that you will have to go through the entire approval process for disability income?  Social Security has incentives for individuals who are interested in going back to work, while still receiving Social Security disability benefits.  These incentives provide a solution for individuals who are not sure if they can handle working with their disability.

Social Security provides continued cash benefits for a certain amount of time while you go back to work and continued Medicare or Medicaid benefits.  In addition, Social Security offers education, training and rehabilitation to start a new job.

Under the work incentives created by Social Security, you are given a trial work period that will give you the opportunity to test your ability to work.  The trial work period lasts for nine months and during that time, you will receive your full disability benefits.  After you have worked nine months within a 60-month period, the trial work period will end.  However, you are then given a 36-month extended period of eligibility.

During the 36-month extended period of eligibility, you will receive disability benefits for any month your earnings are not “substantial.”  Substantial earnings are $940 or more, which is based on 2008 figures and this amount can change.  You are able to deduct work expenses that are related to your disability, such as transportation costs, a wheelchair or money paid to a personal attendant.  These deductions can help you stay below the substantial earnings limit.

If you find that you cannot continue working because of your disability, you have five years to request that your benefits begin immediately.  You will not have to file a new application.

The Social Security disability system can be complex and an experienced New York Social Security disability lawyer can help you navigate through it.  Contact the New York Social Security disability attorneys at Markhoff & Mittman, P.C. at (914) 946-1452 or (866) 205-2415 for assistance with obtaining Social Security disability income.

The article, Working While Disabled in New York, has more information on this topic. 

Labels: social security disability social security disability attorney social security disability benefits work incentive