Top Ways You Can Lose Your SSDI Benefits
Your Social Security Disability benefits could end for several reasons. Here are some major ones:
- Continuing Disability Review (CDR). Every three to seven years, Social Security will conduct a CDR to see if your health problems are still severe enough to prevent you from working. They may also look at changing circumstances in your finances, like a new source of income. If they decide your situation has improved enough, your disability benefits could stop.
- Working Too Much. To stay qualified for SSDI benefits, you must not work more than what Social Security calls “substantial gainful activity,” or SGA.
- Reaching Retirement Age. Disability benefits are meant for people who have to stop working because of medical conditions before they reach retirement. When you make retirement age, your disability benefits will end and your retirement benefits will begin. The monthly amount you will receive is usually about the same.
- SSI Benefits & Your Income. If you’re receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, one of the requirements, in addition to your health impairment, is that you have limited financial means. So if your circumstances change and you have new income or a new living situation, or if you’ve gained resources such as child support, alimony, free food, free rent, help with household expenses, support from parents, or unemployment benefits, you may lose benefits. Getting married can also affect your SSI benefits. And children who received SSI will have their benefits reevaluated when they turn 18.
Make sure you don’t lose Social Security Disability benefits without first checking to see if there’s anything you can change or correct to keep receiving monthly assistance.
You can have a conversation about this with the Tulsa disability lawyers at Troutman & Troutman. We don’t charge anything for an initial talk to see where you stand.
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What Can You Do to Avoid Losing Eligibility for Social Security Disability?
You could have changing circumstances but still feel that you should keep getting Social Security Disability.
You have a couple of options to protect your continuing benefits:
Trial Work Period
Social Security realized that cutting off benefits immediately for someone who goes back to work could scare people from even trying to work.
You may rightfully worry that you won’t last long on the job, because you’re not sure how your health will hold up—and then you’ll have to start over from the beginning of the long disability application process.
So now Social Security allows you to take a “trial work period,” during which you can earn more than they would normally allow and remain eligible for disability benefits. If it turns out you’re unable to keep working, you can receive your benefits again without reapplying.
Getting a Disability Lawyer
Another way to fight an end to your Social Security Disability benefits is to work with a Social Security Disability lawyer.
Your lawyer can file an appeal of your benefits stoppage. The Troutman & Troutman disability attorneys in Oklahoma, for example, could help you argue that your medical condition hasn’t improved enough for you to lose eligibility for benefits.
This requires submitting fresh medical evidence and filling out more forms. But that’s what we’re here to do.
If you’re facing disruption in your disability income, let us help you stay on track.
Contact Us Today! »Wherever You Are in the Disability Benefits Process, We Can Help
You may be trying to determine if Social Security Disability benefits are right for you. You may be facing a long, complicated benefits application. Or you’ve applied and been denied. Now what? The Troutman & Troutman Oklahoma disability attorneys can help.
Disability Attorneys Answer Your Questions about Social Security
Your life has been disrupted by health problems. You’ve had to leave work. You’re worried about money. Social Security Disability benefits can provide relief, but they’re complicated. You’ve got a lot of questions. The Troutman & Troutman Tulsa disability lawyers have answers.
SSD Questions & Answers »
