Presently Social Security Disability has the policy that a person is able to work and make over 2K but not more than 6 months. What is not make clear is that the 6 months is over a five running year time frame. This means that if over a five year span that if you work a total of 6 months where you make more than 2K, you are in violation of your disability and must pay back social security. I would venture that it would be impossible for a person who want to be act and not just sit back and draw a check, for them not to accumulate 6 months over 5 years. This triggers the individual have to pay SS back for every month they drew a disability check. It make sense to have a limit as to how many months a person can make substantial money and still be on disability. But to have it over a five year running time frame is not right. For starters it is difficult to remember if you worked anything 4-5 years ago. Secondly, needs arise and the little received on Social Security Disability is not enough to live on but you are penalized if you work in order to survive. Social Security seems to double dip on the individual and their earnings AND penalize them for trying to be independent. It is proposed that Social Security remove the running five year period and simply replace it with a two year period and 10 month instead of 6.
It doesn’t work that way. The 2024 limit is $1550/mo or lose your disability…FOREVER.
Wow, I have read a lot about social security and have never heard of this. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this. I am struggling so much right now being on disability. I was wondering how much you were able to make while on disability. I have been looking but couldn’t find it and did not want to go to the SS office.
It’s complicated. You have an initial work period following disability, nine mos. I think. You can earn as much as you want. BUT if you consistently exceed the monthly threshold you will no longer qualify as disabled. You can earn the 1550 whether your disability payment is $800 or $1800 per month. At your normal retirement age you convert to soc. sec. retired as your SSD benefits are based on what you would have received at normal retirement. At that point you are subject to normal SS rules. Prior to age 55 disability is based on any occupation you are capable of. After 55 you do not have to be retrained for a new occupation (college perhaps) as the cost is prohibitive as you can retire at 62.
You are welcome. You do have an initial work period following disability but i you consistently earn over the limit you will no longer qualify as disabled so be careful. A note. I worked at a golf course for a summer where I earned tips so had to reduce my hrs. I learned after the fact that tips are not considered earned income. At normal retirement age you switch from SSD to SS retired and can earn as much as you want. Under the table is always an option.