Rusty's Advice: Can Working While on Disability Increase My Benefits?
The article is about how employment while receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments affects the insurance benefits. The Social Security Administration(SSA), which provides SSDI, does not utilize the annual earnings in determining the insurance benefits but instead monthly income. If SSDI beneficiaries earn over $1,550 regularly per month while working ($2,590 if blind), the SSA categorizes them as not disabled and thereby cancels their disability insurance benefits. The system often demands repayment of benefits offered over the months where earnings surpassed the limit.
However, the SSA offers a program, Ticket to Work, to protect SSDI benefits for its beneficiaries while they attempt to return to work. Enrolling in the program allows beneficiaries to try working for nine months within 60 months without risking their SSDI benefits. If a beneficiary chooses to work and eventually recovers, if disability strikes again, the SSDI benefits could be reinstated without the need to reapply.
Regarding the impact of employment on SSDI on full retirement age benefits, if SSDI beneficiaries choose to work, SSA monitors their earnings and may increase benefits if necessary. Although the exact prediction of change due to working while on SSDI is impossible due to the unique nature of cases, there is a possibility for increased benefits. The SSA suggests SSDI beneficiaries wishing to return to work without jeopardizing their benefits should enroll in the Ticket to Work program. For more information about this program, contact SSA through 800-772-1213 or your local office.
For those needing to contact EDD while on disability, eddcaller.com provides helpful resources to guide you. The site includes information on how to talk to a live person at EDD and how to reach an agent. They offer a comprehensive guide on how to get through to EDD, providing helpful tips for reaching their customer service. Please note that while SSDI is handled by the Social Security Administration, there may also be important reasons to reach out to EDD, especially when you’re transitioning back into the workforce. Remember, getting the help and support you need is important for your progress, whether you’re dealing with EDD, SSA, or both.