The Social Security Administration (SSA) has created special rules to encourage recipients of Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) to return to work.
In order to be eligible to receive DIB benefits you must have a medical impairment(s) that prevents you from maintaining substantial gainful employment (SGA) for at least 12 months. In 2013, the SSA values SGA at $1040 gross income (before taxes) per month.
One the SSA’s special rules for DIB beneficiaries attempting to return to work is called a Trial Work Period. The SSA gives you nine months to test your ability to work. During this period you will continue to receive your full monthly benefit amount if your medical impairment(s) continue, even if your earnings are above SGA.
If your benefits stopped due to you returning to work but you are again unable to work above SGA, you can ask the SSA to reinstate your benefits without filing a new disability application. This is called an Expedited Reinstatement and in order to be eligible you must make the make the request within 5 years from the month your benefits ended. Your impairment(s) preventing you from working must also be the same or related to the impairment(s) as what you were previously awarded for.
If you return to work above SGA you may still be eligible to receive Medicare benefits. If your impairment(s) continue you can continue to receive Medicare for 93 months after your DIB benefits stop without paying a premium and after this coverage ends you may be eligible to buy Medicare coverage.
If you do return to work you must report your earnings to the SSA. Failure to report earnings could result in an overpayment.
For more information on these work incentives and other work incentive programs, please view the SSA’s webpage “Work Incentives.”
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