Social security disability benefits can supplement your income while you recover from an unexpected injury or illness. Because you rely on those funds to afford basic necessities during this time, you might have concerns about losing your eligibility.
When you know which circumstances could result in lost benefits, you can avoid anything that might jeopardize your eligibility.
Changes to your condition
Prior to granting you any type of disability benefits, federal law requires you to undergo a thorough assessment. According to the Social Security Administration, this includes a review of your medical condition and the likelihood of you making a full recovery.
As your condition improves, you will need to inform the SSA of your health. Failing to do so and continuing to collect benefits could result in immediate removal of your benefits, as well as other repercussions.
Returning to work
Another common reason your benefits could change or end is that you return to work. The SSA strongly encourages you to return to the workforce and hopes to facilitate this process through incentives. Keep in mind that you might fit the criteria to complete a trial period when you return to work. During this time, you can continue to collect your SSD benefits while also testing what it is like to be back at work.
Once you reach a certain income bracket, your benefits will discontinue indefinitely. If at any time you sustain another injury or illness, you can always reapply for more SSD benefits. Communicating regularly with SSA representatives can help you optimize your benefits while also preparing to return to the workforce.