Can I return to work after receiving disability benefits?

Disclaimer: This story is based on a real case. The names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals involved. Information presented here is general in nature and should not be construed as formal legal advice or as the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Cases differ and past performance does not guarantee future results.

We told Denise that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has special rules called work incentives that allow beneficiaries to test their ability to return to the workforce while still receiving benefits. We told her it was very important to inform them as soon as she got a new job or became self-employed. We also told her that (SSA) could give her a Trial Work Period of nine months which would allow her to test her ability to work while receiving her full SSDI benefit regardless of how much she was earning on the new job.  According to the SSA, for 2017, a trial work month is any month where your total earnings are over $840. If you’re self-employed, you have a trial work month when you earn more than $840 (after expenses) or work more than 80 hours in your own business. The trial work period continues until you have worked nine months within a 60-month period.

Want to learn more? Download the Beginner's Road Map to SSDI

We helped Denise successfully navigate the Trial Work period process in her quest to return to work. She was also able to get re-training funding and was assisted in finding a full-time computer job. After a year, she successfully exited the SSDI program.