Working & Keeping Benefits
Keeping benefits and testing a return to work safely: the trial work period and SGA, Ticket to Work and other work incentives, continuing disability reviews, overpayments and waivers, expedited reinstatement, and what you must report to Social Security.
All Working & Keeping Benefits guides
- Working While on Disability: Trial Work Period and SGA
Yes, you can try working on SSDI or SSI without an instant cutoff. Here's how the trial work period, EPE, and SGA framework actually work.
- Impairment-Related Work Expenses and PASS Plans
How IRWEs and PASS plans let SSDI and SSI recipients deduct disability-related work costs and keep more of their benefits.
- Self-Employment and Disability Benefits
How Social Security judges self-employment work activity using three tests, not just net profit, and how to protect your SSDI or SSI.
- Expedited Reinstatement If Your Benefits Stopped
How expedited reinstatement (EXR) lets you restart SSDI or SSI within about 5 years of benefits stopping, without a new application.
- Unsuccessful Work Attempts, Explained
If you tried to work and had to stop because of your condition, Social Security may disregard those earnings as an unsuccessful work attempt.
- Reporting Changes and Staying Eligible for Disability
What you must report to SSA on SSDI or SSI, when to report it, and how timely reporting prevents overpayments and protects your benefits.
- Volunteering, School, and Hobbies While on Disability
Can you volunteer, take classes, or enjoy a hobby on SSDI or SSI? Generally yes - here's how SSA actually looks at these activities.
- Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR), Explained
How SSA's periodic disability reviews work, what triggers one, the medical-improvement standard, and your appeal rights and deadlines.
- Section 1619(b): Keeping Medicaid While You Work
How SSI's section 1619(b) lets you keep Medicaid after earnings zero out your cash payment, and what to do to protect coverage.
- Subsidized Work and Special Conditions: How SSA Discounts Your Earnings
Social Security can discount your gross pay for a subsidy or special conditions before comparing it to the SGA limit. Here is how that rule works and how to document it.
- Disability Overpayments and How to Request a Waiver
SSA says it overpaid you? Learn why, your appeal and waiver options, deadlines, and how to negotiate repayment.
- Work CDR vs. Medical CDR: What's the Difference?
SSA runs two different reviews on disability cases. Here's how a work CDR (earnings-based) differs from a medical CDR (health-based), and the deadlines that matter.
- How to Report Work and Wages to SSA (and Avoid an Overpayment)
How and when to report work and wages to SSA for SSDI/SSI, and how to keep proof that protects you from a surprise overpayment.
- Ticket to Work and Return-to-Work Incentives
Free SSA work incentives that let SSDI/SSI recipients test working without an automatic medical review or sudden loss of benefits.
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Getting Back to Work
State vocational rehabilitation, Ticket to Work, free WIPA benefits counseling, and CDR protections can help you try working without gambling with your Social Security benefits.