Working a part-time job can help a disabled person emotionally and financially. The "Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research" confirms the positive psychological impact of receiving disability benefits and working part-time at the same time, but many individuals receiving disability have concerns that receiving any income from a job will disrupt their benefits. Most disability plans permit a disabled person to work either part or full time as long as the job does not aggravate his condition and he remains within income limitations stipulated in the plan.
Social Security Disability Benefits
The Social Security Administration allows individuals receiving benefits to work as long as their income stays below a certain amount. Called the SGA, for "substantial gainful activity," the limit in 2020 was $2,110 per month for blind recipients and $1,260 for other disability recipients. According to Nolo, you should use caution if you are working while waiting for benefit approval. While working is not a reason for denial, so long as you remain within SGA limits, working might give your claim examiner reason to believe that your disability does not preclude your making an income.
Workers' Compensation Disability Benefits
After an on-the-job injury, you may receive temporary or permanent disability benefits if you are unable to work. Workers' compensation laws about working while receiving benefits vary depending on your state. For example, Louisiana forbids you to get another job while receiving WC benefits. However, in Massachusetts if you already have another job, you can continue to work as long as long as your duties do not conflict with your injury and you report the income to your workers' compensation benefit provider. Contact the claims adjuster managing your case if you have any questions about obtaining or retaining a part-time job.
Private Disability Insurance Rules
Private and employer-sponsored group plans vary regarding working while receiving benefits, according to HCV Advocate. With some policies, you can receive some benefits if you are receiving wages, but with others, benefits end when you get a job. Read your contract or contact your provider to determine if you can continue receiving benefits if you get a part-time job. Typical policies allow you to work, but reduce your benefit by the amount you earn. While this may seem to defeat the purpose of working, it can extend your benefit if your policy has a cap on its lifetime benefit amount.
SSA Trial Work Period
The Social Security Administration permits you to attempt to return to work with its trial work period. This program allows you to work for nine months in a five-year period while continuing to receive your full benefit. Your nine months do not have to be consecutive and months when you earn less than the threshold amount. The SSA will reevaluate your claim and stop your benefits if you average more than SGA in the nine applicable months. In the first three years after successfully completing a trial work period, you can still receive your disability check if your income falls below the SGA.
Can I Work Part-Time And Still Get Disability?
Filing a successful claim for disability benefits is often a challenging and lengthy process. Once a disability attorney helps you secure benefits to sustain your livelihood, you must abide by certain rules to keep your government payments intact. While you certainly don’t want to jeopardize losing disability benefits, you may miss the social interaction that you had when you still worked. Because of that, some Social Security disability beneficiaries wonder if they can work part-time and still receive benefits. This blog will explain your options if you are considering entering the workforce on a part-time basis.
Social Security Disability Lawyer
The Social Security Disability lawyer at Watson & Carroll, P.C., L.L.O. can help you secure needed benefits to support yourself. Our experienced disability attorney can offer support and advice as it pertains to your debt and circumstances. Call us today at 402-234-8787. You also can share your story here.
What is SGA and How Does it Affect Me?
It’s important that you understand the meaning of “substantial gainful activity” (SGA), as it is called by the SSA. These figures periodically change, but as of 2021, SGA is defined as earning more than $1,310 per month as a disabled individual or $2,190 per month if you are blind. If your monthly earnings exceed SGA, your disability benefits will stop. There are some exceptions, however.
The SSA offers work incentives, which are trial periods and programs that allow Social Security disability recipients to transition back into the workforce. You can do this for a limited time without giving up your disability benefits. One program is called Ticket to Work, which offers job training, work experiences, and various services to help them once again return to the workforce and be self-supporting. Program participants get waived SGA limits, so they can continue receiving disability benefits while participating in a trial work program with an employer that participates in the program.
If you make it through the trial program and get a job through the program, you will give up your disability benefits. But if your medical condition returns, or if it worsens, you can give up your job and start receiving disability benefits once again. The Ticket to Work program is available to both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients.
If you receive SSDI benefits, you can take a trial period of 9 months to see if you are able to return to the workforce. During those 9 months, you can receive your SSDI benefits while you work. Those 9 months can be spread out over a five-year period, and regardless of what you earn during a trial month, you can keep your disability benefits. After those 9 months, if you can return to work you will lose your disability benefits.
Working Part-Time
If you work part-time, you do not want to exceed the SGA limits. The SGA limits are adjusted each year based on the average wage changes. You should also be attentive to the hours that you work. If you work a part-time job that pays less than SGA, but that requires 30 hours per week, when your case is up for review your disability examiner may think that you could work enough to exceed the SGA limits and you could lose your disability benefits.
Speak With a Disability Attorney
If you are receiving disability benefits and you are interested in returning to work part-time, you should speak with your disability attorney. Our disability team works to help disabled workers get approved for the benefits they need. Call our office for a consultation today.
About Watson & Carroll
Watson & Carroll, P.C., L.L.O., is not a high-volume law firm that only speaks with clients when it is absolutely necessary. For us, it’s personal. Our team works closely with our clients and their loved ones – not only so that we understand their challenges and concerns, but so we can tailor our approach to address those factors, aggressively pursue results, and secure peace of mind. Whether it is a workers’ compensation case, a personal injury claim, a medical malpractice case, or advocating for disability benefits, we work to protect our clients and make sure their rights are upheld.
Our firm can help. Call 402-234-8787 or email . You also can fill out our confidential contact form.