Social Security Bonus: No “bonus” is given to retirees by the Social Security Administration. For example, you can’t get a $5,000 bonus on top of your regular benefits just because you worked at a specific job. People don’t get Social Security money for no reason. You can’t do anything wrong to get more money from Social Security. Here’s a look at Can You Lose Your Social Security Benefits?
Instead, Social Security benefits are based on how much you’ve earned over your life. The Social Security Administration uses a formula to determine how much you’ve made. There are, however, some legal ways to get a Social Security bonus by getting the most out of the benefits you are entitled to. If you want to figure out how much Social Security you will get, here are some things to consider.
Can You Lose Your Social Security Benefits?
It is scary to think you could lose your Social Security Disability benefits. After all, it’s a lifeline for many people who can’t survive without these benefits. Would it be possible for you? There is a chance that you could lose your SSDI benefits. They can’t be guaranteed forever, though.
Many people have lost their SSDI benefits when they still need them. Sometimes a benefit loss happens because of a mistake, and sometimes it can’t be helped. How can you lose your disability benefits from Social Security? We’re talking about this vital subject today. Read on to find out why you might stop getting Social Security benefits.
1. Your Medical Condition Improves
You can only keep getting benefits as long as you are still disabled. If your condition gets better, you may no longer get help. Once you are approved for Social Security Disability, the Social Security Administration will check your case regularly. A “Continuing Disability Review” is what this is called.
During this review, the SSA decides if you are still disabled and if you are still eligible for SSDI benefits. Depending on how old you are and what’s wrong with you, the SSA might look at your case every three to seven years. But there are times when the SSA may look at your claim sooner.
For instance, they might do a review if they find out that you’ve gone back to work, if a new treatment for your condition comes out, or if there’s evidence that you’ve “medically improved.” If the SSA decides to stop your benefits because your health has improved, you can still appeal their decision if you don’t like it.
2. You Return to Work
You can keep getting disability benefits only if your health makes it impossible to do “substantial gainful activity” (SGA). What’s the meaning of that? As of 2022, the SSA says that a person is doing the substantial gainful activity if they earn $1,350 a month or $2,260 a month if they are blind. You could lose your SSDI benefits if you return to work and make more than this amount.
Are you safe if your income doesn’t exceed that limit? No, not always. Even if you only work part-time and make $500 a month, you could still lose your benefits. This could happen if the SSA looks at your job duties and decides that your health condition doesn’t stop you from working.
Take advantage of the SSA’s work incentives to test a return to work. (You can read about working while on disability in our last post.) “Ticket to Work” is an SSA program that helps people get jobs. A trial work period is part of this free and voluntary program. You would still get all of your SSDI benefits during this time, no matter how much money you made at your new job.
This program lets you try returning to work without risking your income. The trial work period continues until you’ve worked for nine months in 5 years. (There’s no need for the months to be in order.) If you make more than $970 monthly, it counts as a trial work month.
The SSA also has a program called “Extended Period of Eligibility,” which is similar to “Ticket to Work” (EPE). After you finish the Ticket to Work program, you will get this bonus. During the EPE, which lasts 36 months, you would keep getting SSDI benefits every month that you are disabled and your earnings are less than the SGA level.
If you reach the SGA level, you will no longer be eligible for benefits, and they will stop after two months. But if you earn less than the SGA cap during the 36-month EPE period, your benefits can start up again without you having to fill out a new SSDI application.
It’s essential to ensure you won’t lose your benefits if you try to return to work. Consider participating in the “Ticket to Work” program if you want to try something new without risking your benefits.
3. Your Volunteer Work Is Considered Substantial Gainful Activity
This reason might come as a surprise, but it’s a sad fact. It is possible to lose your Social Security disability benefits if you do volunteer work. What gives? Remember that the SSA looks at more than just how much money you make when they decide whether or not to provide you with benefits.
Depending on what kind of volunteer work you do, the Social Security Administration (SSA) might decide that you have “substantial gainful activity.” If that’s the case, they will stop giving you benefits because they will think you are no longer disabled. So, volunteering can make you lose your SSDI benefits, even though you’re not making any money.
You don’t have to stop volunteering, though. Many people find volunteering rewarding and a way to meet new people. Think about what kind of volunteering you would like to do to keep your SSDI benefits safe while you do it. Some volunteer jobs are more likely than others to make the SSA suspicious.
For example, jobs like keeping the books for a non-profit, stocking shelves at a food pantry, and other similar jobs can count as SGA. If possible, look at volunteer work like the following. These kinds of volunteer work are never SGA:
- Volunteers in Service to America
- University Year for ACTION
- Foster Grandparent Program
- Service Corps of Retired Executives
- Active Corps of Executives
- Special Volunteer Programs
There are many ways to volunteer that won’t get in the form of getting the benefits you need. (You can learn more about volunteering while disabled by reading our last post.)
4. You Go to Prison or an Institution
Most of the time, having a criminal record doesn’t stop you from getting SSDI benefits. But suppose you are already getting disability benefits and going to prison. In that case, a halfway house or a mental health facility run by the Department of Corrections can cause you to lose them.
You could also lose your benefits if you run away to avoid arrest or break your parole or probation. A misdemeanor conviction won’t change your help if you are only jailed for 30 days. You will lose your benefits if you are in jail for more than 30 days.
This suspension will stay in place for as long as you are in prison. In most cases, you get your benefits back the month after you get out of jail. However, if you were convicted of a felony, you might lose your SSDI benefits.
5. You Reach Retirement Age
You can’t avoid this “trap” because you can’t stop time. However, it’s essential to know about it. You can’t get benefits for both being disabled and being old at the same time. So, when you reach retirement age, your SSDI benefits will end, and your Social Security retirement benefits will begin. If you believe this is interesting, please discuss it with the other people you know. Visit Newswatchlist.com for the most recent news and updates regarding famous people.
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