A lot of people take seasonal jobs. Workers of various ages and abilities can earn extra money, get job experience or turn a temp job into a permanent position. If you are currently on SSD benefits, you need to be careful about taking a seasonal position.
SSD Work Restrictions
If you are receiving benefits, you should know the earnings limits. To be accepted for SSDI or SSI, you cannot make more than $1220 per month in 2019, or $2040 if you are blind. Once you start receiving benefits, you are still allowed to make a small amount of money per month. Usually, you will continue receiving your disability if you make under $880 dollars. PLEASE NOTE: If you exceed the SSD limits and continue to collect benefits, you maybe forced to pay back your overages.
You should realize as well that demonstrating an ability to work normal hours, with or without employer accommodations, may lead to your losing your benefits. All disability recipients receive continuing disability reviews, or CDRs, on a regular basis, although those labeled MINE (Medical improvement Not Expected) only undergo them every seven years. Others labeled Medical Improvement Possible or Medical Improvement Expected are reviewed more often, sometimes every three years. In short, you are expected to get off disability and rejoin the workforce when medically possible. Fortunately, the SSA does offer you help in making this transition.
In addition to CDRs, the SSA will hold frequent redeterminations to make certain that your financial and living situations have not changed. If you are exceeding the income limits, your benefits will be stopped. In most instances, it pays for you to try and return to work when you are medically able. Fortunately, the SSA does not cut off your benefits as soon as you are able to work. They offer you an extended period of support.
Seasonal Work and SSD
If you are ready to try and reenter the workforce, taking a seasonal job may be your best choice. Most of these jobs are just for a few months and may be part-time positions. They allow you to test your physical and mental readiness for employment without putting your health in danger. Plus, a seasonal job will not make you ineligible for your disability benefits when you are using your trial work period, a benefit offered by the SSA.
A Trial Work Period
The SSA offers disability recipients a trial work period as part of their work incentives program. You can test your ability to work for at least nine months without suffering any loss of income. During this period, you can work and still receive your full SSD benefits no matter how much you are earning. So the trial work period actually offers you a chance to get ahead financially. To remain eligible for your trial work period, you must correctly report your earnings, however.
The SSD financial limits frequently change. In 2019, a trial work month is defined as any month that you earn over $880. Self-employment rules vary slightly depending on business expenses and weekly hours worked. Your Trial work period lasts until you have used nine trial work months within a five-year period. This time period helps ensure that you don’t harm yourself by working more than you physically should.
To further help disability recipients, the SSA gives you an additional 36 months after the trial work period when you can still work and draw benefits. This provision applies to any month that you do not earn “substantial” wages. In 2019, substantial wages are considered to be $1220. You do not have to reapply to receive these benefits.
If you lose your benefits because of substantial earnings but you once again become unable to work due to your disability, you are eligible for expedited reinstatement in the following five years.
These rules are meant to make it easier for you to regain your independence and eventually get off of disability. However, you may worry that you will violate the program and lose your benefits when you still need them. That’s why it’s advisable to consult with an experienced Social Security attorney about your work schedule.
The Good Law Group
If you need help with any aspect of the SSD process, the skilled attorneys at The Good Law Group can help. They have decades of experience dealing with the ever-changing disability regulations, including work incentive programs. If you are confused by your disability status or your work earnings, they can explain how the rules apply to you. If you are wrongly dropped from the program due to a CDR or redetermination, the attorneys at The Good Law Group can work to get you reinstated. The disability programs have many rules and restrictions that can easily confuse people who have little experience interpreting them.
If you need help with your SSD status, contact The Good Law Firm by calling (847) 577-4476 or filling out their online contact form. You will receive a quick reply and a free case evaluation. The SSA is often confusing. Get the help you need to understand and follow their rules from an expert.
