Social Security Benefits: Working While on Disability
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by: albert.tobega
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Social security regulations are labyrinthine, and working out which social security benefits you are allowed to receive can be challenging. To make the process easier, here are answers to some of the questions frequently asked by applicants for disability benefits.
There are no partial disability social security benefits, since SSA is designed only for people who are completely disabled and who have been (or are expected to be) disabled for at least a year. If you wish to file for partial disability, you will need to do so through a state or local program. Being denied disability benefits from SSA will not automatically disqualify you from receiving benefits through state and local programs.
However, you can continue to work while receiving disability social security benefits as long as you are able to work only at a low level or for short periods of time. When you apply for disability, the state agency in charge of your case will assess your total earning capacity. If your annual earnings fall under a certain amount, you will still be considered eligible for disability. Note that the agency will consider how much you CAN earn, not how much you DO earn: If you could earn above the minimum by changing to a different job that you are trained to do and physically capable of doing, then you will be considered ineligible for social security benefits. You will not be pressured to do work you are not able to perform. The state agency takes into account applicants health, age, experience, and education when evaluating which jobs they are suited to do. If you need help moving to a better job that would enable you to support yourself, assistance is available.
Many applicants are confused and annoyed by their social security agents request to continue seeing doctors even after they have doctors statements that there is no available medical treatment for the applicants condition. If this is what you are dealing with right now, there is an explanation! First, your regular doctors may not be able to provide all of the information the state agency needs to evaluate your case. The agency will arrange for you to see a doctor who has the specialized experience or equipment necessary to complete the examination. The examination is part of your case evaluation, not a part of your treatment plan.
Second, disability is not always permanent, and even untreatable conditions can improve. It is a good idea to have regular examinations to track the progress of your condition. Your health may improve enough that you can return to work, even without medical treatment.
And third, medicine brings new miracles every year. Why let resignation steal a possible cure from you? It is a small nuisance compared to the huge lifestyle benefits you could reap.
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