Can You Get Social Security Disability If You're Working?

If you became disabled and had to leave your job, it's still possible that there may be other jobs that you can perform. Taking a new job can be a smart financial decision, but part of figuring out if it's a smart financial decision is understanding how it can affect your Social Security Disability Benefits.

Who Qualifies for Social Security Disability?

Social Security Disability is meant for people who aren't able to work at all. You will need to submit medical records when you apply to prove your inability to work.

This is not just your current job but any job. For example, if you can no longer do physical labor but can move into an office role, you would likely not qualify for Social Security Disability.

What if You Have a Reduced Income?

Social Security Disability doesn't protect your income. It provides a basic level of income to those who are unable to work. Therefore, it does not matter if you are no longer to earn as much as you were previously able to.

There are private disability insurance products that can protect you from a loss of income. These may be offered through your job or something that you purchase on your own. However, it's important to not confuse the benefits offered by these private insurance products with Social Security Disability Insurance.

What if You Can Only Work for a Short Amount of Time?

There is one exception to not being able to work at all or in as high of a paying job. Social Security Disability allows a certain amount of average monthly work earnings that vary by year. If you make less than this amount, it is presumed that your disability is what's preventing you from working at all. Therefore, it may be possible to maintain a small part-time job while receiving disability benefits.

What if Your New Job Relates to Your Injury?

Social Security Disability also checks your disability against any work you're performing. If you change to a job that isn't physically demanding, they probably won't challenge your part-time work. However, if you take a physically demanding job that should conflict with your disability, you can expect additional questions about the nature of your disability as well as why you're able to perform that job but not your previous job.

To learn more about working when trying to qualify for Social Security Disability, contact a local Social Security Disability attorney today.