Income limits for SSDI

[happyslug]

7. Are you on RSDI or SSI, when it comes to SSA, they is no such thing as SSDI

Retirement, Survivors, Disability Income, RSDI, is what Social Security calls not only Social Security Disability but also Social Security Retirement. This is paid for with Social Security Taxes,

Supplement Security Income, SSI, is for those people who are disabled as that term is defined in the RSDI program, but do NOT have sufficient time working to get RSDI. This is paid for by Income Taxes but run by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

In both programs, when it comes to the issue of you being disabled, you have the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) test. When SSA determines you are disabled, they is a five step Sequential process. Step one is the SGA test. If you are earning more then SGA, which is $1070 a month in 2014, you are NOT disabled and SSA does not look any further. If you are earning less then SGA you go onto the other tests (Which it appears you pass, so only the SGA test is relative here).

SGA tables:
http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html

Now, SSI has an additional test. SSI is more like a Welfare program then RSDI (which is more like an insurance program). As a welfare type program, when Congress set up SSI Congress said anyone eligible for SSI will have their SSI amount reduced by any other source of income. Dollar for Dollar if the other income is from NON-Earned income , and by the amount of earned income reduced by the $30 and a third rule for earned income.

The $30 and a 1/3 rule is the rule that any earned income is first reduced by $30, then 1/3 of the remaining is subtracted from the total income. Then what is left is used to reduce SSI dollar for dollar until the SSI reached Zero.

SSI is $721 a month in 2014, plus whatever state supplement your state agrees to pay. This a person on SSI but who is earning $1111 will up receiving no SSI for that month. $1111 less $30 is $1081. $1081 times .667 is $721. SSI is $721 less $721 equals zero.

http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/quickfacts/prog_highlights/RatesLimits2014.html

I bring up SSI in your case for a lot of people confuse SSI with the Disability portion of RSDI. It appears that you exceed the SSI amount, and thus the reduction is SSI do to your income does NOT affect you, but I mention it if you are are on SSI

You seem to have been quoting me as to the $1000 rule, but as you can see that is a SSI rule NOT a RSDI rule.

In simple terms $1070 is a number that you can NOT go over if that is EARNED INCOME. Once over you are NOT disabled and thus NOT eligible for RSDI benefits. Remember also it is GROSS income that counts NOT take home pay. Thus if Gross pay is $1071, even if your take home pay is only $900, you are earning to much. Also remember this is EARNED income, income from any other source does not count.

Now after reading the actual Trial Work Period regulations, it appears what Social Security is shooting for is nine months in a 60 month period where you are earning more then the amount set forth in the regulations (The $770 you mention) even if the amount earned is less then SGA. When you have had nine months such months within a 60 month period, you are transferred to the "Extended Period of Eligibility" where for 36 months you get your full Social Security Check except in those months that you earn more then the SGA Level. SSA will also Expedite your application for benefits if you lose that job of other fall below SGA.

My understanding of the Trial Work Period is it must be pre approved by SSA, but that is NOT mentioned in the regulations.

http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-1592.htm

http://www.ssa.gov/redbook/eng/ssdi-only-employment-supports.htm#a0=0

http://www.ssa.gov/redbook/eng/ssdi-only-employment-supports.htm#a0=1

In short, as long as you are below SGA, do not worry about the nine month trial work period. The real test remains SGA which is $1070 in 2014.