Is it Possible to Apply For Social Security Benefits and Work?

When you decide it’s time to apply for Social Security disability benefits, it may be because you are unable to work and need the money to provide for your family or pay your bills. Although applying for Social Security benefits can be complicated, it is easier for some to determine that they need to begin the application process because they are simply unable to work. However, what if you can work? Will this impact whether you apply for benefits? Attorneys have helped many clients who have applied for Social Security benefits and know that if you can work, even part-time, it can impact your application and the outcome. Call us now to see how we can be of assistance to you during this time. 

How does work impact my application?

Whether you can work has an impact on your application. In fact, if you can work full time and decide to apply for Social Security disability benefits, the Social Security Administration will not accept your application because they will not view you as “disabled.” When you read Social Security’s definition of disabled, however, you will see that part of their definition of having a disability is that it impacts your ability to work full time. While this can be very frustrating for people who need to work full time to take care of their family but are choosing to work through the pain, your application would have a higher chance of being accepted if you did not work full time. 

What if I am working part-time?

Working part-time is a different story than working full time, and it is possible for you to successfully apply for benefits if you do work part-time. The big indication of whether your application will be successful is how much money you make a month. The number for how much you can make while still needing benefits typically goes up annually. For example, the Social Security Administration would still consider you as having a disability if you earn $1,220 a month or lower. This is the most recent number from 2019. The only exception to this is if you are blind, in which case you can make $2,040 per month. This number is referred to as the “substantial gainful activity” limit (SGA). Unfortunately, even if you are making under those numbers but close to them, Social Security will likely look over your application to see if you can work full time. This can be a difficult situation to be in and you need to be honest with your Social Security attorney when it comes to what you’re making. 

Should I bother working?

This will depend on how much you make, but our attorneys may encourage you not to work or to work part-time because you would likely have a better shot at having Social Security accept your application.

For more information on working while applying for Social Security disability benefits, please speak with an attorney, like a social security lawyer in Memphis TN.

Thank you to Darrell Castle & Associates, PLLC for their information on applying for Social Security benefits and working.