Social Security Disability benefits can soften the blow of dealing with an unexpected injury or illness. If you reach a point where you feel able to start working again, you might have concerns about what this could mean for your benefits, particularly if your earning potential is lower than before.
Knowing how your decision to return to work could impact your benefits can help you plan your next steps.
Identify a game plan
Think rationally about returning to work. If you have not yet recovered to a reasonable point, it might not be the best idea to start working again. Collaborate with your doctor to understand the expectations for your recovery and to identify at what point it is safe for you to go back to work.
If you need to find a new job, consider your options and narrow down your interest to a few promising possibilities. Consider how much work you can do and whether you will require ongoing rehabilitation to rebuild the skills you will need to perform your job effectively.
Communicate with officials
Stay in contact with the Social Security Administration. They will want to know the details of your plan to make sure you continue to meet the requirements for receiving aid. According to the SSA, to optimize your SSD benefits, you should inform them of changes to your circumstances including the following:
- You need to pay for rehabilitation or workplace modifications
- You start a new job or stop your current job
- Your pay or the number of hours you work changes
Your diligence in keeping the SSA informed can help you avoid the consequences of collecting benefits when you no longer meet disability requirements. Officials encourage returning to work when you have a solid plan.