what happens if i start working disability lawyer

by Reynold Lueilwitz 10 min read

When should I hire a disability lawyer?

May 11, 2012 · If you begin working, you must immediately tell your Section 8 caseworker about your job. You will not lose your Section 8 assistance just because you are working, but you may see an increase in your share of the rent because of an increase in your total income. Other Things To Keep in Mind

Can I still work if I'm on disability?

Even if an individual is working on a cash basis, those earnings count for disability eligibility purposes. Disability Reviews. There are times that Social Security finds work activity during a routine disability review, or CDR (CDR stands for continuing disability review). For instance, during a CDR, Social Security may see a doctor's note ...

What can cause my disability benefits to stop?

You start a job earning $915.00 per month. Social Security will subtract $85.00 from $915.00 which leaves $830.00. Social Security will then subtract $415.00 [which is half of $830.00] from $674.00. The difference is $259.00 per month which is the amount of SSI you will receive if you earn $915.00 per month.

Does working count as work activity for Social Security disability?

In most cases, you will continue to receive benefits as long as you have a disability. However, there are certain circumstances that may change your continuing eligibility for disability benefits. For example, your health may improve or you might go back to work. The law requires that we review your case from time to time to verify that you ...

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Is it OK to work while on disability?

The short answer is yes. You can work part time while on Social Security Disability. You just have to make sure your income doesn't exceed the limitations for substantial gainful activity, or SGA.Dec 6, 2021

What should you not say in a disability interview?

The following five statements should never be announced at your disability hearing.“I can't work because no one will hire me.” ... “I don't know why I'm here. ... “I don't do chores because my significant other, friend or family member does them.” ... “I have never used drugs or alcohol in my life.”More items...•Oct 17, 2014

How would you describe pain to a disability judge?

Pain is often hard to describe, but you should do your best to relate your pain as specifically as possible to the judge. This would include telling the judge what type of pain you experience (burning, stabbing, etc.), how often you experience it, and how you would quantify it (for example, on a scale of 1 to 10).

Is anxiety a disability?

Is Anxiety Considered a Disability? Anxiety disorders, such as OCD, panic disorders, phobias or PTSD are considered a disability and can qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Those with anxiety can qualify for disability if they are able to prove their anxiety makes it impossible to work.

What happens if you overpay Social Security?

If you have an overpayment with Social Security, your benefits may be suspended until they collect all the money owed, or you may be allowed to make a payment arrangement with Social Security to pay back any money owed. Reporting all work activity will prevent overpayments and will allow you to receive information that may prevent your disability ...

What about working under the table?

What about working "under the table"? Social Security often becomes aware of an individual's work activity through a tip from someone (generally Social Security finds individuals working for cash from individual reports ). Often, individuals are reported by friends, family members, ex or estranged spouses, co-workers, supervisors, or even neighbors.

What does CDR mean in Social Security?

There are times that Social Security finds work activity during a routine disability review, or CDR (CDR stands for continuing disability review). For instance, during a CDR, Social Security may see a doctor's note recording that you had been doing some work or something that sounded like work activity. Other times, an allegation that an individual ...

How much is Social Security deductible?

The first $85.00 you earn will be deducted from your gross monthly earnings. (Your gross monthly income is the amount you make before taxes and other deductions are taken out). After deducting $85.00, Social Security will then subtract from your regular monthly SSI benefit, half of what's left from your earnings.

What is Supplemental Security Income?

Printer-friendly version. Supplemental Security Income [SSI] The amount of SSI you get is based on the amount of income you receive. Generally, when you begin to receive other income, your SSI benefits go down, according to a formula.

What is Section 8 rent?

A Section 8 voucher holder generally pays the highest of: the minimum rent for the area [usually $50.00 per month]. If you begin working, you must immediately tell your Section 8 caseworker about your job.

Does Kentucky have medicaid?

Medicaid. Kentucky Medicaid allows people who are eligible for Medicaid based on disability to return to the workforce without losing their Medicaid coverage as long as they still have a disabling medical condition.

What happens if you go back to work?

If You Go Back To Work. If you're like most people, you would rather work than try to live on disability benefits. There are special rules that help you keep your cash benefits and Medicare while you test your ability to work. We call these rules "work incentives.".

Can you continue to receive disability benefits?

In most cases, you will continue to receive benefits as long as you are disabled. However, there are certain circumstances that may change your continuing eligibility for disability benefits. For example, your health may improve to the point where you are no longer disabled or you go back to work.

If you work after your disability onset date or application date, your benefits might be at stake

Many disability applicants do some amount of work after filing for disability or becoming disabled, since it often takes months or even years to get a disability approval, and they have no other way of making ends meet. Sometimes this work can cause a problem with getting benefits, sometimes not.

What Happens After the Medical Approval?

After a claims examiner or administrative law judge (ALJ) grants you a medical "allowance" (approval), your file will be set back to the district office.

Work Within One Year of Disability Onset or Application Date

If you started working within 12 months of the onset date of your disability as set by the claims examiner or judge (your " established onset date "), and you are still working (above the SGA amount), your claim will be denied. (The SSA will take this to mean that you didn't meet the 12-month durational requirement for Social Security disability.)

Work Before Application Date

If you applied for SSDI and you worked before your application date, but after your disability onset date, and you are not still working, here's what might happen.

Work One Year or More After Disability Onset or Application Date

SSDI. If you started working after your first 12 months of disability, according to your established onset date, the SSA field rep will determine whether your work falls under a trial work program exception. This is true whether or not you've received an approval of benefits.

What to Do If You Worked After Your Disability Began

If you have been medically approved for benefits, but you worked above the substantial gainful activity after the date you applied for benefits or the date you alleged you became disabled, you should consider contacting a disability lawyer.

How long do you have to appeal a disability claim?

You have 60 days to request an appeal, which consists of a relatively informal hearing before a Hearing Officer. At this hearing, you can present additional evidence, call witnesses, and testify about your condition. If the Hearing Officer finds that your disability has ended, you have 60 days to ask for a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Note that you have only ten days from the Hearing Officer's decision to ask that your benefits continue while your ALJ hearing is pending.

What happens if you go back to work?

If you experience medical improvement that would allow you to go back to work, Social Security may decide to terminate your disability benefits. The SSA makes this determination through a process known as a Continuing Disability Review (CDR). If you're selected to undergo a CDR, you'll receive a notice in the mail from Social Security stating ...

How long is the trial period for SSDI?

Individuals receiving SSDI are allowed one nine-month trial work period (TWP) to experiment with working while still drawing their full monthly benefits. In 2021, monthly earnings over $940 will trigger a trial work period month. The nine months occur over a 60-month period, but the months need not be consecutive.

When will Social Security stop SSI?

Social Security will automatically review the cases of children receiving SSI when they turn 18. Benefits will be discontinued when the beneficiary fails to meet the adult standards of disability, although this decision may be appealed.

Can you get Social Security after death?

However, if an individual was receiving SSDI and left a surviving spouse, children, or even dependent parents, survivors benefits may be available . (For more information, read Social Security Survivors Benefits After Death of a Disabled Worker .)

How long does it take for a judge to review a case?

Sometimes when an Administrative Law Judge awards benefits, the judge will recommend a review of a case after a certain length of time (often 12 months) because medical improvement is expected.

Does Social Security reduce your disability?

Once you reach full Social Security retirement age, your disability benefits are automatically converted into Social Security retirement payments. Any earnings during or after the month you reach full retirement age will not reduce your Social Security retirement benefit .

How long do you have to work to get SSI?

Both SS and SSI benefits have the same requirements for disability--the inability to work at a suitable job for a continuous period of twelve (12) months or more. SS benefits (also called Title II) are based on the amount of SS taxes you have paid in the system for the ten (10) year period before you became disabled.

How long do you have to appeal a Social Security case?

Due to the large number of appeals in Social Security cases, it is often many months before each level of an appeal is decided. You are generally given several months notice prior to a hearing before an ALJ and you will be expected to attend that hearing unless you have an extraordinary reason why you cannot attend.

Is age considered a factor in disability?

A. Yes. While age is an extremely important consideration in deciding disability cases, the SS office will also look at education, job experience, and vocational possibilities in a national job market. Naturally, the younger claimants are considered employable for more types of jobs requiring retraining, classes, relocation, and other adjustments than older claimants. Don’t give up if you feel your mental and/or physical disability keeps you from working at “substantial gainful activity” for a period of twelve (12) months or more.

Can I get Social Security if I can't work?

A. Yes. If you are unable to work at any job for a period of twelve (12) months or more AND have financial need, you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is a special program of the Social Security Administration that provides benefits to individuals who have not worked on a full time basis.

When do you get your first Social Security check?

According to the Social Security Administration, claimants who win Social Security disability approval get their first payment during the sixth full month after the date their disability began . For example, if your disability started on June 1, you should get your first check in December – six full months after the condition’s onset.

Does Medicare cover older people?

The federal government manages Medicare to specifically cover individuals aged 65 and older. In addition, Medicare also provides healthcare coverage for younger people with qualifying disabilities.

Is disability insurance difficult?

For many Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) applicants, the claim process can be challenging. But upon receiving your Social Security disability approval, it’s important to have a good understanding of next steps. From knowing when your benefits will begin to knowing what types of medical coverage you may receive, ...

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Issues

  • Many disability applicants do some amount of work after filing for disability or becoming disabled, since it often takes months or even years to get a disability approval, and they have no other way of making ends meet. Sometimes this work can cause a problem with getting benefits, sometimes not.
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Results

  • After you are found medically eligible for benefits, a Social Security Administration (SSA) representative will check to see if you have done any type of substantial work since applying for disabilityor since becoming disabled. The question is, did you work so much that Social Security won't consider you disabled, or was there some type of exception to the work rules that allowed …
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Risks

  • If Social Security finds you've been doing work above the SGA level, you could be in trouble. What happens when you've done what's considered substantially gainful work depends on when you started and ended working, the circumstances under which you worked, and whether you were approved for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) or SSI.
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Example

  • If you started working within 12 months of the onset date of your disability as set by the claims examiner or judge (your \"established onset date\"), and you are still working (above the SGA amount), your claim will be denied. (The SSA will take this to mean that you didn't meet the 12-month durational requirement for Social Security disability.) If you applied for SSDI and you work…
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Significance

  • If the claims examiner changes your onset date to a later date (meaning you'll get less in SSDI backpay/retroactive benefits), you can appeal the decision of the DDS examiner to a hearing in front of an ALJ. If you can convince the judge that the work you did was an unsuccessful work attempt, your disability onset date could stay the same.
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Cost

  • With SSI's earned income exclusion, the limit in states that don't pay a state supplement to SSI recipients is about $1,500 (although your SSI benefit will start to be reduced before that amount). The limit in states that do pay a state supplement may be higher. See our article on the SSI income limit for more information, as well as our article on SSI work incentives.
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Prevention

  • If you have been medically approved for benefits, but you worked above the substantial gainful activity after the date you applied for benefits or the date you alleged you became disabled, you should consider contacting a disability lawyer. A disability lawyer may be able to prove that your work falls under the unsuccessful work attempt exception or the trial work exception. Contact a …
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