Some people may think all the work is over when they receive notice that they have qualified for Social Security disability benefits, but that is not the case. Simple things like working or receiving other financial assistance can impact your Social Security benefits. Many people learn this the hard way because they were unaware of how certain aspects of life and impact their Social Security benefits and run the risk of losing their benefits all together. Below, we go into detail about some life events that could have a significant impact on your Social Security disability benefits.
How do other payments affect my benefits?
If you’re getting other government benefits (including those from a foreign country), the amount of your Social Security disability benefits may be affected. For more information, you should see the following:
- How Workers’ Compensation And Other Disability Payments May Affect Your Benefits (Publication
No. 05-10018);
- Windfall Elimination Provision (Publication No. 05-10045); and
- Government Pension Offset (Publication No. 05-10007).
You can get these publications from Social Security’s website, or you can contact the agency to request them.
What do I need to tell Social Security?
If you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest you must tell Social Security if you have an outstanding arrest warrant for any of the following felony offenses:
- Flight to avoid prosecution or confinement;
- Escape from custody; and
- Flight-escape.
You can’t receive regular disability benefits, or any underpayments you may be due, for any month in which there is an outstanding arrest warrant for any of these felony offenses.
Tell Social Security right away if you’re convicted of a crime. Regular disability benefits, or any underpayments, that may be due aren’t paid for the months a person is What do I need to know about working?
After you start receiving Social Security disability benefits, you may want to try working again. Social Security has special rules called work incentives that allow you to test your ability to work and still receive monthly Social Security disability benefits. You can also get help with education, rehabilitation, and training you may need to work.
What do I need to know about working?
After you start receiving Social Security disability benefits, you may want to try working again. Social Security has special rules called work incentives that allow you to test your ability to work and still receive monthly Social Security disability benefits. You can also get help with education, rehabilitation, and training you may need to work. If you do take a job or become self-employed, tell us about it right away. We need to know when you start or stop work and if there are any changes in your job duties, hours of work, or rate of pay. You can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213.
Understanding these rules and regulations is important so you do not collect benefits when you are not supposed to. If Social Security determines you were paid benefits and did not inform the agency of certain circumstances you could be required to pay back Social Security.
