Can I Work and Draw Social Security Disability Benefits?

Alabama Disability Attorneys: Can I Work and Draw Social Security Disability Benefits?

The question seems to be counterintuitive-if you are disabled, you can’t work, right? Well, not necessarily.

You can’t be able to perform what the Social Security Administration calls “substantial gainful activity,” which currently means earning more than $1,200 a month before taxes (this amount is subject to annual change and is slightly more for those who are legally blind), but if you earn less than this amount, you can still be entitled to disability benefits.

In addition, if you have already been awarded SSDI benefits, the government will allow you to earn more than this amount during a trial work period as the government wants you to feel safe in attempting to return to gainful employment. If you knew that a work attempt meant the certain stoppage of your SSDI benefits, a person would be extremely hesitant to attempt to work in fear that their SSDI check would stop and they might not actually be able to return to gainful employment. For 2013, monthly income of $750 or more is considered a trial work month or working 80 hours or more if you are self-employed. The government will allow you a 9 month trial work period; once you have completed the trial work period, you may still draw SSDI benefits for months when you do not earn substantial gainful amounts for up to 36 months.

If you are unable to hold down a full time job and are not engaged in substantial gainful activity and you have questions about your right to Social Security Disability benefits, don’t hesitate to contact and speak with one of the experienced Alabama Social Security Disability Attorneys at Powell and Denny-call today.

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Powell and Denny has been selected as one of the Best Law Firms by U.S. News and World Report for each of the last 5 years and Powell and Denny, P.C.-has been selected as one of the “Best of the Best” law firms by The American Registry.