As soon as you receive your first Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits check, the Social Security Administration (SSA) enters you into their trial word period. This program allows you to see whether you can handle reentering the workforce with your healing disability, all while collecting your full SSDI benefits. Specifically, you are granted nine trial work months within five years, in which your monthly gross earnings should total more than $1,110 for any nine months. But once you use up all your trial work months, you may be unsure of what the SSA expects of you next. Continue reading to learn whether you can collect SSDI benefits after your trial work period and how an experienced New Jersey SSDI benefits lawyer at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur can help you continually meet the eligibility criteria.
Can I collect SSDI benefits after my trial work period?
After your trial work period, there is what is known as an extended period of eligibility. This program allows you to still collect SSDI benefits for any month in which your countable earned income is at or below the substantial gainful activity level. That is, your countable earned income is considered your gross monthly earnings minus any relevant deductions (i.e., sick leave pay, vacation leave pay, etc). Then, the substantial gainful activity level is set at $1,550 or $2,590 as of 2024. Ultimately, this extended period of eligibility lasts for three years after your trial work period ends.
You must also understand the expedited reinstatement perk you are allotted. This program allows you to get your SSDI benefits reinstated quickly if your countable earned income ever drops below the substantial gainful activity level. You may be allotted six months’ worth of this temporary relief. Ultimately, this expedited reinstatement may apply if you collected SSDI benefits within the last five years.
Can I stay below the substantial gainful activity level during this time?
To reiterate, you must fall below the substantial gainful activity level to qualify for an extended period of eligibility or an expedited reinstatement. With this, you must understand the eligible deductions that may keep you below this threshold.
For one, you may have impairment-related work expenses. Examples of this include personal care assistance services, special equipment, and copayments for prescription drugs that you need to be able to work. Plus, you may have subsidized earnings. That is, your employer may pay you as much as they did before your disability started, even if you do not get as much work done now. This is not to mention any other relevant deductions like your sick leave pay and vacation leave pay. Of note, these deductions apply both in your extended period of eligibility and expedited reinstatement period.
What you need the most is likely strong legal representation from a skilled New Jersey SSDI benefits lawyer. Someone at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur is eagerly waiting for you to reach out to us.
