Can You Get Approved For Disability While Working

Other Sources Of Disability Benefits

You may also be eligible for benefits from the Canada Pension Plan and the Quebec Pension Plan to add to your income when you’re unable to work.

The CPP disability benefit and QPP disability benefit are available to people who have contributed to those plans and aren’t able to work regularly at any job because of a disability.

Does Social Security Make Exceptions To The Sga Limit

Some argue that the monthly SGA earnings limit is an arbitrary amount with no real basis and is unfair, and to some extent that is true. For instance, someone making the federal minimum wage can work 32 hours per week and have their earnings come under the SGA amount, while someone who makes significantly more can work only five hours per week without becoming ineligible for benefits.

In actuality, Social Security can look at things that affect the “worth” of an individual’s work that might influence whether or not an individual is engaging in SGA-level work activity, even if the individual is earning over the monthly earnings limit. For example, Social Security claims representatives must investigate whether an individual is performing work activity that is actually worth what they are being paid. They must consider the fact that some employers will subsidize disabled employees’ work by paying them their full wage even though the employees are not performing up to the value of that wage because of their disability. If an employer considers an employee’s work to be worth half of the actual pay, then Social Security could just count half the amount of earnings toward the SGA determination.

You Have Been Convicted Of A Crime

Certain conditions related to conviction of a crime or imprisonment will prevent you from receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits. They are as follows.

• You are in prison after being convicted of a felony, unless you are in a court-approved rehabilitation program that is likely to result in your getting a job when you get released, and your release is expected to occur within a reasonable amount of time.
• You were injured while committing a felony and were convicted of the crime. The impairmentor the worsening of an existing impairmentthat you suffered during the commission of a felony cannot be used as a basis for applying for disability benefits.
• You were injured while in prison. The impairmentor the worsening of an existing impairmentthat you suffered while you were in prison cannot be used to obtain benefits. But you can generally receive benefits after being released from prison.

However, it’s worthwhile to apply for SSDI benefits even if one of the above situations apply to you, because even if you can’t get cash benefits, you may be granted a period of benefit-free disability that will “freeze” your earnings record, keeping your eventual disability, retirement, or dependents benefits from decreasing.

Note these situations do not prevent you from receiving SSI disability benefits, although being incarcerated does keep you from collecting SSI benefits.

Also Check: California Biweekly Pay Calculator

How Many Work Credits To Qualify For Ssdi

The number of work credits youâll need to qualify for SSDI will depend on your age. The older you are, the more work credits are required.

There are two ways that the SSA qualifies you for work credits. The ârecent workâ test and the âduration of workâ test.

The recent work test

The first test looks at your work history immediately prior to when your disability began.

Here are some of the guidelines based on when your disability began.

Under the age of 24â You can qualify if youâve earned 6 credits in the 3 years previous to when your disability starts. 6 credits could be approximately 1.5 years of work, assuming you earn the max 4 credits per year .

Between the ages 24 to 31â The general rule is that you had to have worked half the time between since you turned 2, and when you apply for disability.

For example, if youâre 28 when your disability began, thatâs 7 years since you turned 21. So that means you should have worked 3.5 of those years to be able to qualify for SSDI. You should also have around 14 credits

Age 31 or olderâ After the age of 31, it is expected that you have 20 credits accumulated in the previous 10 years. Thatâs 5 out of the 10 years since you turned 21, at 4 credits per year.

The duration of work test

In addition to the recent work test, you will also need to pass the duration of work test to qualify for disability benefits through SSA.

For this test, the work does not need to fall within a certain window.

The Ssa Giveth And The Ssa Taketh Away

Getting approved for benefits had come as such a relief. James had heard horror stories of how it takes some applicants months or even years to get approved.

He qualified for benefits because his condition is permanent. It affects his speech and fine motor skills. He says those deficits, combined with the stereotypes about people with disabilities, have left him unable to secure a full-time job despite having a masters degree in instructional technology.

If you receive SSI or SSDI, did not file taxes in 2019 and did not receive a stimulus check this year, you can still use the IRS Non-Filer Tool until Nov. 21, 2020.

So James does gig work because not working at all goes against his nature. Thats not who I am, he says.

But navigating Social Securitys work-related rules is very, very frustrating.

Disability benefits experts say discrimination, confusion regarding the rules and fear of benefits being cut at any time are all too common. And thats despite the official Social Security position that people on disability should work to their fullest potential.

You May Like: How To Tell If Your Child Has A Learning Disability

Is Mental Health Covered With Short

What if its not something physical that takes you away from the demands of your job? What if youre struggling with depression or some other mental health issue that makes it nearly impossible to fulfill your work responsibilities?

Mental health can be covered by many short-term disability plans . However, youre going to need to have proof that this is an issue youve been struggling with for some time.

You should be talking with a psychiatrist before your leave, says McDonald. There should be a really solid foundation of what the problems are.

So Sorry To Hear About Your

So sorry to hear about your situation Cathy. You& #039 ve been given some good advice, but some of it isn& #039 t 100% accurate. I was in an accident back in 2013 that left me with lower back issues, so I& #039 m VERY familiar with the whole process. Firstly, at this point the deadline for filing a personal injury suit has definitely passed, so unfortunately in that regard to my knowledge there& #039 s nothing you can do, but I recommend calling some personal injury attorneys just to be sure. Secondly, as far as insurance is concerned, your insurance would give you a difficult time in covering anything since you were in a freind& #039 s car at the time. Your friend& #039 s insurance is who you should get in contact with, as insurance coverages have amounts for passenger coverage. Had you been in your vehicle, that would be entirely different, it would have been a no-fault claim provided that evidence indicated that the person who hit would was entirely at fault. However, no-fault works on a state by state basis so if that were the case, your insurance company may not even provide no fault coverage.

You May Like: How Much Does Disability Pay In California

The Retroactive Lump Sum Payment From Cpp Disability May Cause An Unexpected Tax Bill

If you win CPP disability benefits, you will get a one-time retroactive lump sum payment in addition to ongoing monthly CPP disability payments. For example, it is common for people to get CPP retroactive payments of $10,000 to $20,000. This retroactive payment is taxable income. If the full amount is applied to your taxes on the year you get it, it is possible you will have a tax bill.

Even worse, you will owe most of the retroactive payment to the insurance company, so you could be left with no money to pay the taxes owing! This doesnt happen often, but can happen if you have other sources of income or if you have a large retroactive payment for past CPP disability benefits.

Read on below to see how you can avoid to fix this tax problem.

So should you avoid these problems by simply not applying CPP disability? That would be BIG MISTAKE for you. Here is why

About A Disability Grant

If you have a physical or mental disability which makes you unfit to work for a period of longer than six months, you can apply for a disability grant.

You get a permanent disability grant if your disability will continue for more than a year and a temporary disability grant if your disability will last for a continuous period of not less than six months and not more than 12 months. A permanent disability grant does not mean you will receive the grant for life, but that it will continue for longer than 12 months.

How do you know if you qualify?

To qualify, you must:

• be a South African citizen or permanent resident or refugee and living in South Africa at the time of application
• be between 18 and 59 years old
• not be cared for in a state institution
• have a 13-digit, bar-coded identity document
• not earn more than R86 280 if you are single or R172 560 if married.
• not have assets worth more than R1 227 600 if you are single or R2 455 200 if you are married
• undergo a medical examination where a doctor appointed by the state will assess the degree of your disability
• bring along any previous medical records and reports when you make the application and when the assessment is done.

The doctor will complete a medical report and will forward the report to South African Social Security Agency .

The report is valid for three months from the date you are assessed.

How much will you get?

The maximum is R1 890 per month.

How will you be paid?

When may your grant be suspended?

Read Also: How Much Does A Va Disability Lawyer Cost

You Earn Less Than Substantial Gainful Activity

By itself, having a recognized disability isnt enough to qualify an applicant for social security disability benefits. You must also be able to demonstrate that the disability interferes with your ability to work. More specifically, the disability must make you unable to participate in what the SSA calls substantial gainful activity . For 2020, that means being able to earn more than $1,260 per month, or $2,110 if you are blind .

Just like having a disability that is included in the SSA Blue Book isnt an automatic guarantee of eligibility for disability benefits, having monthly earnings that fall below the SGA threshold doesnt guarantee that your application will be approved. Neither does having earnings that exceed that threshold serve as an automatic disqualification.

If your monthly earnings exceed SGA, but you were provided special accommodations, worked irregular hours, or required frequent breaks to work, the SSA may still rule that you are eligible for disability benefits. Certain payments considered income for income tax purposes, such as alimony payments, are not counted as income for purposes of determining monthly income for SSD purposes.

Likewise, you can be ineligible for benefits even if you earn less than SGA. For example, if the SSA finds that you could perform other work, or could continue in your current job with accommodations. But earning less than the SGA when you apply for disability is a good indicator that your application will be approved.

Your Disability Won’t Last Long Enough Or Isn’t Severe Enough

To qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits, the Social Security Administration must believe that your impairment is severe enough to last at least 12 months or result in your death. The only exception to this duration requirement is for blind SSI applicants.

Many claimslike those based on bone fractures resulting from acute trauma, such as automobile or motorcycle accidentsare denied because they are not likely to cause disability for 12 months. Almost all bone fractures heal in less than a year. However, if you have severe bone fractures that aren’t healed after six months, the SSA is then likely to think your impairment will last a year. Each case is evaluated on an individual basis.

In addition, your medical condition must cause you severe limitations to qualify for SSDI or SSI. Most claims are denied simply because the applicant’s impairment was not severe enough .

Don’t Miss: How To Calculate Disability Retirement Pay

Hi My Name Is Titshaun I

Hi my name is Titshaun I& #039 m legally blind in my right eye and I have limited sight in my left eye I suffer with diabetes high blood pressure anxiety and depression I have migraine headaches and mild degenerate muscle decay in my right hip and leg I applied for disability in June I went to see the disability doctor I also let disability know when I spoke to them that I still work and I can& #039 t quit until a decision is made I can& #039 t afford to be homeless I have no where to go I& #039 ve been on my own since 14 it& #039 s hard because I am being told that my case is still pending what can I do

Will My Loved Ones Still Be Compensated If I Die Waiting

In some cases, it may be possible for a spouse or an adult child to continue pursuing the deceased claimants right to benefits after his or her death. If this happens, the SSA might award money to the surviving relatives based on an underpayment of benefits during life.

SSA can also pay benefits to surviving spouses or children, provided they qualify. If this happens, and a claim is approved after death, the money is disbursed in a manner similar to the way a probate court would distribute the funds. There is an order in which the SSA will pay the funds.

Recommended Reading: Is A Food Allergy Considered A Disability

Am I Eligible For Va Disability Compensation

You may be eligible for VA disability benefits or compensation if you meet both of the requirements listed here.

Both of these must be true:

• You have a current illness or injury that affects your mind or body, and
• You served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training

And at least one of these must be true:

• You got sick or injured while serving in the militaryand can link this condition to your illness or injury , or
• You had an illness or injury before you joined the militaryand serving made it worse , or
• You have a disability related to your active-duty service that didnt appear until after you ended your service

Presumed disabilities

• Veterans
• Qualified dependents

Seriously Do You Really Need To Understand Your Short

Heres the short answer: yes. While its not exactly a fun topic to think about, its important that you familiarize yourself with the details of your planso you dont have to get up to speed when you actually need the benefit.

However, wading through our own plan documents is a step that most of us skip. That informational booklet is immediately relegated to our desk drawer or filing cabinet.

Do you remember the first day you started your job? Its kind of a firestormyou cant focus well or often, says McDonald. So we dont spend a lot of time achieving clarity about the benefit in the beginning. We only acquire an understanding of it when we are in deep need of the benefit.

But particularly if you have an existing problem or condition, youre going to want to know the ins and outs of the benefit thats available to you.

Anybody who goes into a new job and has any kind of serious medical condition that could at some point in time render them unable to work, I think its a good idea to be able to see the actual short-term and long-term disability plan documents to see how they define disability and how they handle pre-existing conditions, adds Bartolic.

Ideally, youll never have to take advantage of your short-term disability benefits. But in the event that the unexpected happens, youll be glad that you took the time to understand whats offered to you. This explainer is a good place to start, but you also need to read through the details of your specific plan.

Recommended Reading: How Much Is The Average Disability Check

How Fast Can You Get Approved For Disability

Some people may qualify for Social SecurityDisability benefits in as few as 30 days or less. Forothers, it can take more than two or even three years tocomplete the disability application process and beapproved for Social Security Disabilitybenefits.

Thereof, how fast can you be approved for disability?

Generally, all initial disability applicationapprovals are processed in ninety days or less. If an individual’sinitial disability claim is denied but approved ontheir reconsideration appeal they are still likely to beapproved in less than six months.

how many times can you get denied for disability? In most cases, claimants who have their initialappeal denied will appeal twice: they will file arequest for consideration only grants about five percent of these requests), and theywill go to an administrative law judge hearing.

Likewise, can you work while waiting for disability approval?

It is possible to work and also file fordisability benefits, though this is a tricky matter. Anywork you do must not be the type or volume that willdisqualify you for benefits. With Social SecurityDisability Insurance , you cannot earnmore than what is considered substantial gainfulactivity or SGA.

How much does disability pay per month?

You May Like Also