Review on Wages and SSA

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI-Title II)

Earn less than SGA per month and your earned income will NOT affect your SSDI check.
Earn over TWP per month and your earned income will earn you a Trial Work Period month (TWP, 9 months, over rolling 60/months), and the amount of your SSDI check will NOT change and your SSDI check continues.
When you have completed the 9th month of TWP (earning over Annual TWP or more per month for total of 9 months within a period of 60 rolling months), and earning income of more than annual Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), you are no longer eligible to receive your SSDI monthly check. IF YOUR SSDI CHECK CONTINUES TO COME, DO NOT SEND IT BACK TO SSA AND DO NOT SPEND IT! Instead, hold onto it and call SSA immediately. Also, remember to report wages every month!
When you have completed the 9-month TWP, you then enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE).
During the EPE, if earnings are below annual monthly SGA, or you stop working (for any reason) during the EPE, you are eligible to receive your SSDI monthly check (without reapplying).
Grace Period: The first month a person earns SGA will be called a grace period. There are three months in the grace period during which you will receive your SSDI check. Following the 3-month grace period (used in a row), if you are still earning SGA, you will then lose your benefit check.
The EPE is 36 months in a row, and will continue even if you stop working. During the EPE you will continue to be eligible for Medicare even though you may not be receiving a monthly SSDI check.
When the EPE is over if you continue to be eligible for SSDI monthly benefits you will continue to be eligible for Medicare. If you are not receiving a cash benefit, you will continue to receive Medicare Part A free for another 4 ½ years and continue to pay for Parts B and D. You will have the opportunity to buy into the Medicare Program once your 93 months end. MAKE SURE YOU ARRANGE TO MAKE PREMIUM PAYMENTS.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI-Title XVI)

There is a standard formula that will be used each month wages are earned. For every $2.00 a person earns per month, $1.00 of SSI will be deducted from the monthly benefit check (after exclusions).

Example: $ 785.00/Gross Earned Income
– 20.00/General Exclusion
– 65.00/Earned Income Exclusion and General Exclusion
$ 700.00
÷ by 2
$ 350.00 Countable Earned Income

$ 771.00 SSI Monthly Benefit (2019 FBR)
$-350.00 Countable Earned Income
$ 421.00 New SSI when you earn $ 785.00/wages

Total Monthly amount = $785.00 Gross Wages
+ 421.00 New SSI
$1,206.00 Total Gross

• You will continue to receive Medicaid
• If wages exceed formula above and your SSI goes to $0, Medicaid could continue under a Federal Work Incentive called 1619 (b).
• If earnings stop/change, report to SSI immediately and your SSI benefit will be adjusted and/or reinstated. If you are under the 1619 (b) program you maintain your SSI eligibility even though not receiving a cash payment.

When you receive both benefits (SSI/SSDI) (Dual Eligible) BOTH sets of rules above apply (A and B)