Sometimes when someone is receiving Social Security disability benefits, those benefits will stop for a variety of reasons. A major reason someone stops receiving either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments is that they went back to work and are no longer considered disabled by the Social Security Administration.
If Social Security has determined that your disability payments should end because you go back to work, you may be able to get those benefits reinstated if you are unable to continue to work.
The Social Security Administration has a process known as Expedited Reinstatement (EXR). This is a safety net for people who successfully return to work and lose their SSDI or SSI benefits.
Under Social Security’s EXR program, if your cash payments ended because your work and earnings, and you stop work within five years of when your benefits ended, Social Security may be able to start benefits again without the filing of a new application.
How it Works
If you have stopped receiving benefits due to your work, Social Security may be able to restart them again. The EXR provision allows those requesting to be reinstated up to six months of temporary payments while Social Security conducts a medical review of the case. Those seeking reinstatement may also be eligible to receive Medicare or Medicaid while those provisional benefits occur.
Requirements
Those seeking EXR status must have previously been entitled to SSDI benefits and benefits were terminated due to earning too much money from work, or SSI eligibility was terminated because of a combination of earned and unearned income. In addition, you are not eligible for EXR status for any months you earn too much money from work and you are unable to work at a substantial gainful activity level due to your medical condition.
