Until you reach full retirement age, your Social Security Disability benefits should continue for as long as you meet the legal definition of disability. The SSA reviews cases regularly to confirm continuing eligibility. Your benefits could stop if medical evidence shows that your condition has improved enough for you to resume full-time work or if your earnings exceed the substantial gainful activity (SGA) threshold. This threshold is the monthly earnings limit Social Security uses to decide whether your earnings are substantial enough to end your disability benefits.
Losing Benefits Because of Returning to Work
You can work without immediately losing your benefits, but the amount you earn matters. The SSA allows recipients to participate in trial work periods (TWPs) for up to nine months to test their working ability while still receiving full benefits. After that nine-month period, a 36-month extended period of eligibility (EPE) begins. During the EPE, your benefits can continue for any month during which your earnings are below SGA limits. If your income goes over the limit, your payments will stop, but they can restart if your earnings drop again.
Medical Improvement Reviews
The SSA routinely conducts continuing disability reviews (CDRs) for all recipients to see if their disabilities still qualify. The timing of these reviews depends on whether improvement is expected. Some people get reviewed every six months, others every three to seven years. During a CDR, the SSA reviews your medical records, treatment progress, and any work activity. If evidence shows that your condition is still severe enough to keep you from performing full-time work, your benefits will continue. Otherwise, the SSA will likely terminate your benefits.
Failure to Report Changes
The SSA requires beneficiaries to report any changes that could affect their eligibility for benefits. This includes changes like starting or stopping work, reductions or increases in pay or hours, health improvements, or new living situations. Failure to report changes could lead to overpayments that the SSA will expect you to pay back or, in some cases, suspension of benefits. Honest and timely updates can protect your record and prevent interruptions in benefit payments.
Temporary Suspensions vs. Permanent Termination
A suspension in benefits happens when a recipient’s income or work activity temporarily exceeds the applicable limits or when the SSA needs updated information. Payments can resume once the issue that led to the temporary suspension is resolved.
A termination occurs when SSA decides a recipient no longer meets disability or income requirements. Once benefits are terminated, payments stop entirely. Benefits can sometimes be reinstated after a termination, but the process is more difficult than resuming payments after a temporary suspension.
Getting Disability Benefits Reinstated
If the SSA stops your benefits payments because of work, you might be able to get them back without starting over. The expedited reinstatement (EXR) process allows you to request benefits again within five years of the original end date if the same medical condition prevents you from continuing to work. The SSA may provide temporary payments during the EXR review period. If it’s been more than five years since your last payment, you must file a new application and prove that you meet all requirements again.
How a Disability Lawyer Can Help
The Social Security process can feel overwhelming when the benefits you depend on are at stake. A disability lawyer can review SSA notices with you, prepare appeals as necessary, and present evidence that supports your continuing eligibility. They can also help you understand how work or medical changes might affect future payments.
If you need help protecting your benefits, turn to the St. Louis disability attorneys at Crowe & Shanahan. Contact us now to discuss your Social Security Disability case in an initial consultation session.