Social Security encourages people with disabilities to work by offering work incentives, such as its trial work period and extended period of eligibility programs. If you decide to try working on a full- or part-time basis, you must comply with strict rules and regulations to avoid jeopardizing your benefits or, even worse, committing Social Security fraud.
People throughout Northern California and nationwide rely on Sackett and Associates for advice and representation in all matters related to Social Security benefits and disability benefits rules. If you plan to work while receiving disability benefits, the following information could help you stay out of trouble.
Working While On Disability
You must be disabled to qualify for disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance program. The definition of disability used by the Social Security Administration relies on the ability to do substantial gainful activity, or SGA.
A person can do SGA if they earn more than $1,620 in gross income per month in 2025. The 2025 income threshold for SGA for a person who is blind is $2,700 per month. Earning more than the SGA limits could result in a denial of benefits or a termination of benefits for an individual already approved for them.
Social Security Fraud
A person who commits Social Security fraud could face consequences ranging from loss of disability benefits to criminal prosecution. Fraud in connection with Social Security disability benefits includes:
- Making false statements on claims for benefits.
- Concealing facts affecting eligibility.
- Failing to report income or the fact that you are working.
- Providing false information or documents about income or medical condition.
The termination of benefits may be the mildest of the disability fraud penalties you could face. A judge in a criminal prosecution could impose fines and jail for disability fraud. The conviction also leaves you with a criminal record.
Being honest and reporting the fact that you work and how much you earn is the best way to avoid penalties for disability fraud. The Social Security Administration makes it easy for you to earn extra money while testing your ability to work without jeopardizing your benefits or risking criminal prosecution through a trial work period and an extended period of eligibility programs.
Protect Your Benefits With A Trial Work Period
The Social Security Administration offers several work incentives, including trial work periods, for individuals who want to attempt to work while receiving disability benefits. One of them is the trial work period.
A trial work period gives you up to nine months to work and challenge your ability to work without risking SSDI benefits, regardless of how much you earn. As long as you continue to have a disability, all you have to do is let the Social Security Administration know in advance that you want to try working during a trial period and then report how much money you earn.
Any month in 2025 that you have more than $1,160 in total earnings from working counts as one of your nine trial work months. The monthly earnings amount for a trial month changes annually. You have 60 months to use the nine trial work months.
Two methods are used to identify a trial work month for self-employed individuals. Any month in which they earn more than $1,160 after deducting their business expenses in 2025 or work in the business for more than 80 hours is considered a trial month.
You can earn as much money as you can during a trial work month and still receive your full SSDI benefits. Earning more than the SGA threshold, which normally could result in a loss of benefits, will not affect your SSDI payment. Different work rules apply for the Supplemental Security Income program, so speak to a disability lawyer at Sackett and Associates if you receive SSI disability benefits.
What Happens When The Trial Work Period Ends?
Working while receiving disability benefits may continue at the end of a trial work period with an extended period of eligibility, another work incentive program offered by the Social Security Administration. The extended period of eligibility gives you 36 months to work and continues to receive SSDI benefits, provided you do not exceed the SGA threshold.
If your monthly benefits stop because you exceeded the SGA limit, you can request reinstatement within five years without filing a new application. SSDI benefits resume without having to wait for a review of your medical condition to determine that you are disabled and unable to work.
Contact A Disability Lawyer About Working While on Disability
Avoid the risk of violating federal law and regulations if you decide to work while on disability benefits by getting advice from an experienced disability lawyer at Sackett and Associates. Contact them today for a free consultation and evaluation.
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