Social Security Disability Benefits
Employment Supports

Social Security Disability Benefits have employment supports that provide help over a long period of time to allow you to test your ability to work or to continue working, and gradually become self-supporting and independent.

You have at least 9 years to test your ability to work while living on social security .

This includes full cash payments of your social security disability benefits during the first 12 months of work activity.

A 5 year period in which your cash disability and benefits can be restarted again without a new application.

Your medicare continues during this time or even longer.

This section applies to Ticket to Work holders we spoke about under Social Security Social Security Wage Limits .

You must start with the Trial Work Period which allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months.

During your Trial Work Period, you will receive full Social Security Disability Benefits regardless of how high your earnings might be as long as your work activity has been reported and you have a disabling impairment.

The EPE is a period of 36 consecutive months following the TWP When, if you qualify, your benefits may restart without a new application, disability determination, or waiting period. Your benefits start immediately. There is no waiting period.

The EPE begins the month after the Ticket To Work period ends, even if you are not working that month.

The first 36 months of the EPE is the re-entitlement period. During the re-entitlement period, benefits are paid for months your earnings or work activities are below the substantial gainful activity level ($1000.00 per month in 2010) as long as you continue to have a disabling impairment.

Benefits are suspended for months your earnings or work activities are over the substantial gainful activity level.

However, you can take advantage of AAATakeCharge which allows you to make over your SGA.

A new application and/or disability determination is not required to start your social security disability benefits again.

To summarize: There is no risk!! You can work, then not work, then work again... and never lose your benefits as long as you follow the rules.

“Unincurred Business Expenses” are contributions made by others to your self-employment business effort.

For example, if the state Vocational Rehabilitation agency gives you a computer for your business, or a friend works for your business as unpaid help, these are “unincurred business expenses”.

Most individuals with disabilities who work will continue to receive at least 93 consecutive months of Hospital(Part A); Supplemental Medical Insurance (Part B), if enrolled; and Prescription Drug coverage (Part D), if enrolled, after the 9-month Trial Work Period. You do not pay a premium for Part A. Although cash benefits may cease due to work, you have the assurance of continued health insurance.

The 93 months start the month after the last month of your TWP.

You must already have Medicare and be working at SGA, but not be medically improved.( see medicare/medicaid for details)

Medicare phone number 1-800-(Medicare).

Read Ticket to Work for further details on getting started and also: Social Security Secrets on how to earn more income through Social Security..