Can I Work and Still Receive Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security’s “Substantial Gainful Activity” Determination and Your Michigan Social Security Disability Benefits Case
There is no doubt that the world of Social Security Disability can be a confusing one for many Social Security Disability applicants in Michigan and throughout the United States. Facing potential or current financial struggles, severe impairment, and a process with many steps, deadlines, and rules and regulations, applying for Social Security Disability benefits on one’s own can seem like a real challenge, on top of all of the other life challenges a person faces when they are impaired or disabled. One of the questions that may arise in a Michigan Social Security Disability applicant’s mind is “Am I able to work at all while applying or receiving Social Security Disability benefits?” The question is an important one, and the answer may surprise many Social Security Disability applicants in Michigan. Accordingly, to help Michigan Social Security Disability applicants better understand the level of work that one can do while applying or receiving Social Security Disability benefits, we explore that question here.
Social Security Disability Benefits and “Substantial Gainful Activity”
The truth of the matter is that Social Security Disability benefits are not granted to applicants who do significant work earning a significant income. Under the Social Security Administration’s rules and regulations, the Social Security Administration will look at how much a person works and their earnings in order to determine whether their work rises to the level of “Substantial Gainful Activity” (“SGA”). If a person’s work activity is at the SGA level, the person will most likely be denied Social Security Disability benefits. Thus, the Social Security Administration advises applicants that, “We generally use earnings to evaluate whether your work activity is SGA. If you are working in 2024, and your earnings average more than $1,550 ($2,590 if you are blind) a month, you generally cannot be considered to have a disability.” In sum, in order to be granted Social Security Disability benefits, an applicant must be deemed unable to work. An applicant is deemed to work to a disqualifying level for the purposes of Social Security Disability benefits if they meet the SGA requirements under the Social Security Administration’s guidelines.
Legal Help for Social Security Disability Applicants in Michigan
No Michigan Social Security Disability applicant should have to go through the complex and challenging Social Security Disability process alone. If you are in Michigan and you need help with your Social Security Disability case, contact the experienced Michigan Social Security Disability lawyers at Nationwide Disability Law. The experienced Michigan Social Security Disability lawyers at Nationwide Disability Law offer a free and confidential consultation to learn about your disability case and to see if they can help fight to get you Social Security Disability benefits due to you. Contact the experienced Michigan Social Security Disability lawyers at Nationwide Disability Law today and speak to a lawyer about your rights and options in your case for free.
Source:
ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html
