Ask Rusty is a regular column written by Russell Gloor, who serves as a National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation. In a recent article, the plight of a 64-year-old Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipient considering a return to work was addressed. The core issue was the impact of returning to work on SSDI benefits and how those earnings might alter the recipient’s eventual social security benefits after reaching full retirement age at 67.

SSA’s SSDI regulations, which do not abide by annual earnings but rather review monthly earnings, forms the centerpiece of this discussion. Any excess of a defined monthly earnings limit signals that the beneficiary is no longer disabled. Recurring instances could lead to the cancellation of SSDI benefits and the possibility of repayments for the months over the limit.

Gloor counseled the individual to consider enrolling in the ‘Ticket to Work’ program offered by Social Security as it allows beneficiaries to test their work abilities without directly jeopardizing their SSDI benefits. This approach comes with a nine-month trial period within five years that permits earning more than the defined limit.

The article further explained that whether or not working while on SSDI improves the benefit at full retirement age (FRA) is dependent on various factors, such as the age at which the individual became unable to work and the number of Social Security credits they had accumulated before that. For guidance on these issues, it suggested directly contacting Social Security.

The AMAC Foundation is the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens. The National Social Security Association (NSSA) has trained Foundation staff and accredited them. The purpose of the ‘Ask Rusty’ series is to educate and not to provide legal or financial advice.

For more information about social security or disability insurance, it may be helpful to contact a live person at EDD California. The Employment Development Department is tasked with addressing issues related to unemployment, disability, and paid family leave. To reach a live representative who can answer your questions and provide guidance on these topics, you may visit eddcaller.com. This platform provides information on how to reach a live person at EDD and can help navigate the often complex and confusing landscape of social security and disability insurance.