Working While Receiving SSDI Benefits in Utah

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides crucial financial support to individuals who cannot work due to a qualifying disability. However, many recipients wonder whether they can engage in any work activity while receiving benefits. The answer is nuanced: you can work while on SSDI, but strict limitations apply. Understanding these rules is essential to avoid jeopardizing your benefits.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes that some disability beneficiaries may want to test their ability to return to work or engage in limited work activity. The agency has established specific programs and thresholds to accommodate this while protecting your benefit status. For Utah residents receiving SSDI, both federal regulations and practical considerations come into play when considering employment.

Substantial Gainful Activity: The Critical Threshold

The most important concept to understand is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). This is the monthly earnings level that the SSA uses to determine whether your work activity is substantial enough to indicate you are no longer disabled. For 2024, the SGA threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for those who are statutorily blind.

If your monthly earnings consistently exceed the SGA limit, the SSA may determine that you are engaging in substantial gainful activity and are therefore no longer eligible for SSDI benefits. This determination does not happen immediately, however. The SSA provides a trial work period that allows you to test your capacity for work without immediately losing benefits.

It is important to note that the SGA calculation includes only earnings from work, not unearned income such as investment returns or rental income from properties you own. The SSA looks at gross earnings before taxes and deductions, though certain disability-related work expenses may be excluded from the calculation.

The Trial Work Period: Testing Your Ability to Work

The Trial Work Period (TWP) is one of the most valuable work incentives for SSDI recipients. This provision allows you to work and earn any amount for up to nine months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-month period without affecting your SSDI benefits. During 2024, any month in which you earn more than $1,110 or work more than 80 self-employed hours counts as a trial work month.

The trial work period provides a safety net for Utah residents who want to return to work but are uncertain whether they can sustain employment given their medical condition. During these nine months, you continue receiving your full SSDI benefit amount regardless of your earnings level.

After you complete your trial work period, the SSA evaluates whether your work constitutes substantial gainful activity. If your earnings remain below the SGA threshold, your benefits continue. If you exceed SGA, you enter what is known as the Extended Period of Eligibility.

Extended Period of Eligibility and Beyond

Following your trial work period, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During this phase, you receive SSDI benefits for any month your earnings fall below the SGA level, and benefits are suspended (but not terminated) for months when earnings exceed SGA.

This provides significant flexibility for individuals whose work capacity fluctuates due to their disability. For example, if you are a Utah resident with a condition that causes periodic flare-ups affecting your ability to work consistently, you might have some months above SGA and some below during the EPE. You would only receive SSDI payments for the months when your earnings are below the threshold.

If your SSDI benefits are suspended due to earnings above SGA, you do not need to file a new application if you become unable to work again within five years. Instead, you can request expedited reinstatement of benefits, which is a streamlined process compared to applying for SSDI initially.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses and Subsidies

The SSA allows certain deductions when calculating whether your earnings constitute substantial gainful activity. Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) are costs you incur for items or services needed to work because of your disability. These might include:

• Medical devices or equipment necessary for work
• Medications required to control your disability while working
• Attendant care services needed during work hours
• Transportation costs if your disability prevents you from using standard public transportation
• Modifications to your vehicle that accommodate your disability
• Residential modifications necessary for you to get to work

Additionally, if your employer provides special accommodations or you receive assistance that effectively subsidizes your work, the SSA may reduce the amount of earnings counted toward SGA. For example, if you work reduced hours, receive extra supervision, or have certain duties eliminated due to your disability, the value of this assistance may be subtracted from your gross earnings when determining SGA.

Utah residents should maintain detailed records of all disability-related work expenses and any workplace accommodations provided by employers. This documentation becomes critical if the SSA reviews whether your earnings exceed substantial gainful activity levels.

Reporting Requirements and Practical Considerations

If you receive SSDI and begin working, you have a legal obligation to report this work activity to the Social Security Administration promptly. Failure to report work can result in overpayments that you must repay, sometimes with penalties. You should report:

• When you start or stop work
• Changes in your work hours or earnings
• Any work-related expenses due to your disability
• Changes in your work duties or responsibilities

Utah SSDI recipients can report work activity online through their my Social Security account, by phone, or by visiting a local Social Security office. The nearest offices serving Utah residents are located in Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden, and St. George.

Before accepting employment, consider consulting with a disability attorney who understands both federal SSDI regulations and how they apply in Utah. An experienced attorney can help you structure your work activity to maximize both earnings and benefit retention, ensure proper reporting, and calculate whether specific job offers would jeopardize your benefits.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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