If you are injured or disabled and it is affecting your ability to earn a living working, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides financial compensation to individuals who, as a result of a disability, are unable to earn what the state classifies as Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) each month. Under Minnesota law, SGA is considered to be $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 a month for blind individuals.
But what if you are able to work in a limited capacity despite your disability? Can you still collect social security disability benefits, or will your ability to work in a modified capacity end up affecting these benefits? In today’s blog, we explain if you can continue to work while also collecting social security disability benefits in Minnesota.
Collecting SSDI While Working
The state wants people to be able to work, even if that’s in a limited capacity, so they won’t terminate your social security disability benefits the moment you start earning a paycheck again. However, there are limits and time constraints that you’ll want to be aware of so that your benefits don’t come to a surprising halt. Here’s how the process is handled in Minnesota:
The Social Security Administration offers what’s known as a Trial Work Period where individuals collecting SSDI benefits can test their ability to work without losing their benefits. You are allowed to return to work and earn a paycheck for a total of nine months over a five-year period without it having any effect on your social security disability benefits. It doesn’t matter how much you earn during this nine-month work stretch; you will still be entitled to your full SSDI benefits.
After the Trial Work Period expires, you’ll enter the Extended Period of Eligibility, which allows you to earn up to the Substantial Gainful Activity level for 36 months without any impact on your social security disability benefits. Again, that’s up to $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,950 per month for blind individuals.
If, during this time period, your monthly earnings exceed this amount, you’ll be above the SGA level and your SSDI benefits may be impacted. We say may because there are certain deductions and exclusions that may be available to injured individuals that allow them to exceed the SGA limit without having their social security disability benefits impacted. These exceptions are dependent on the specific situation, so in order to know if you may be eligible for any deductions or exclusions, you’ll want to connect with an injury lawyer like Dean Margolis. He can ensure you have access to any exemptions that you qualify for so that you can keep the benefits you’ve earned as a result of your disability.
Remember, you can apply for social security disability benefits at any time, so you don’t need to wait until you reach retirement age in order to be eligible for benefits. If you meet the SSA’s classification of disabled and you are not making enough money to get above the SGA level, you can qualify for benefits. These benefits will also be backdated to the date you applied, so you’ll be compensated for the time it takes to process and approve your application as well.
If you need help applying for social security disability benefits, or you are looking for help with an injury claim or understanding any possible deductions or exemptions as it pertains to your earnings and SGA level, we’re here to help. In the greater Twin Cities area, let Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm be your guide to the injury benefits you deserve. For more information, contact our firm today at (952) 230-2700.
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