With disability claims taking 2 to 3 years to wind through the disability adjudication system, I often get the question from my clients “is it okay if I try to work” or “is it okay if I work part time?” Generally my answer to this question involves an explanation that in my view, Social Security [...]
Filed under Work attempts by 
With delays in the hearing process reaching 2 years, I frequently get questions from potential clients about the implications of returning to work. Here is a typical question: i’m 57 yrs old & have filed for ssd due to herniated discs & arthritis of the knee. what happens to my case if i return to [...]
Filed under Work attempts by
My April 26, 2008 post about attending college and applying for Social Security disability generated a large number of emails and questions. A reader sent me this question which is about the impact of a stipend and part time job on an SSDI recipient who has already been deemed disabled. I recently was injured and [...]
Filed under They're trying to stop my benefits, Work attempts by
I just got a fully favorable ruling from an ALJ, but the onset date has been amended. Without going into a huge amount of confusing detail, I was supposed to get a partially favorable for a closed period, instead I now have a fully favorable with onset date starting Nov. 15, 2007. To prevent losing [...]
Filed under Appeal issues, Disability hearings, Work attempts by
An attorney named John wrote me with the following question. The email address he used was not valid so I decided to answer his question on my blog. The question: I have a client who would like to know if he can work while waiting for his SSDI benefits to be approved? Here is my [...]
Filed under Disability hearings, Work attempts by
Should you accept unemployment benefits while your SSDI case is pending? My experience has been that Social Security judges will have concerns if you accept unemployment compensation during your wait for your Social Security hearing. Generally, when you apply for unemployment, you are asserting that you are ready, willing and able to work. You may [...]
Filed under Eligibility Issues, Strategies for winning, Work attempts by
A gentleman named Ken asks the following question about trial work for disability claimant: I am a self taught guitar player, not professional by any means, I could not do this for a living. But I do get paid periodically to play with a partner at bars and restaurants and such. This is fleeting at [...]
Filed under Work attempts by
Dear Jonathan, I had a question posted several months ago concerning working full-time after being granted SSDI, and I had another related question. I’m currently working full-time as a computer programmer, which is the type of job I had previously. If I were to stop working again because of health reasons, and return to SSDI, [...]
Filed under Earnings requirements, Work attempts by
Hi, I have been disabled for a few years now and am thinking about returning to work, I would like to stay under the amount necessary to continue my ssd ? How do I do that? and do I report the income to someone at ss?AND what if I want to TRY returning to work [...]
Filed under Eligibility Issues, They're trying to stop my benefits, Work attempts by
