Believe it or not the short answer to this question is that \”Yes\” you can work and collect Social Security disability payments, but only under certain circumstances. You can of course decide to simply \”game\” the system and claim disability while still working off the books, but you will get caught and it will result in a prosecution by the courts and a possible jail sentence.
However let\’s assume that you are working within the legal employment framework of the United States and that you are genuinely wondering if you are entitled to still work while claiming disability payments.
Although some media pundits would argue otherwise the fact is that most people do actually want to go out to work and earn their living each day. There\’s obviously that growing segment of society which has a disgusting sense of self-entitlement, constantly feeling that the world owes them a living and a pay check without them having to do anything, but the majority of people are looking for work if they don\’t already have it.
If you find yourself in a situation where you can no longer perform what is referred to as \”substantial gainful activity\”, then you may be entitled to Social Security disability payments, depending on the type of disability you have. You may also be entitled to work while receiving these same payments under certain circumstances:
- You must be out of work for at least the last 12-months – this is part of something called an Unsuccessful Work Attempt (UWA)
- Your disability must not prevent you from being able to actually work
- You must limit the amount of time you spend working to less than 90-days – if you work for longer than 90-days it can negatively impact your ability to meet the 12-month unemployment requirement for being able to claim disability payments
So although you might be in the middle of making a Social Security disability claim the Social Security Administration understands that you will obviously need to continue working where possible so that you can pay your bills and feed your family.
There is also another way for somebody claiming disability to return to the work force and it\’s called the \”Trial Work Period\”. Under this program you can attempt to return to work, because like most normal people you actually want to work. The Trial Work Period provides encouragement and assistance for a disabled person returning to work by maintaining your Social Security disability payments for the first 9 months of you returning to work.
If you\’re successful in remaining employed under the Trial Work Period then your Social Security disability payments will cease after 9 months. If, however, you are unable to continue working due to your disability your disability payments will simply continue as they had before.
The long-term goal of the Social Security Administration is to provide you with the help and support you need to return to the work force if at all possible, while still offering you the financial safety net of ongoing monthly disability payments if you are simple unable to work due to your current medical, physical or neurological disorder. This includes allowing you to earn a living and get your life back on track while still receiving disability payments.