SSDI’s Extended Period of Eligibility

Following fully completing my first Trial Work Period (TWP) service month, I had to call and report my income for the month of February 2020. The SSD wanted to know my income prior to taxes being withheld. Looking back on my first month of full-time employment since being declared disabled due to my advanced prostate cancer with extensive bone metastasis stage 4, I feel the month went relatively good. I did suffer a respiratory illness which I more than likely caught from the students that I teach.

The month of February passed really quickly as I moved rather fast back into the full duties of teaching. I did utilize common sense by making sure I kept space between myself and any student that appeared to be sick. I also used a ton of hand sanitizer.

What to keep in mind about the TWP

Once I reported my income for the month I had indeed surpassed the income limit set in place by the SSDI TWP and that means that February 2020 will count as a full-service month. I now only have 8 service months remaining within my particular TWP.

Many readers considering a TWP wish to know what happens when a person moves beyond the 9 month limit of the TWP. Following the conclusion of the TWP, a person will enter into what is termed the “36 month of Extended Period of Eligibility or EPE’.” Please remember that once a person completes the initial nine month TWP, the SSDI will no longer pay that person a monthly amount (check).

Watch your income levels while on disability

The EPE is considered a work incentive that provides a safeguard that allows the SSD to evaluate your money earned based on their SGA levels and your work to determine if you are still eligible for SSDI benefits. SGA refers to “Substantial Gainful Activity.” During 2020, the SGA is $1,260 for those who not blind and $2,110 for persons that are blind.

During the EPE, each month that your employment falls below the SGA levels and you are still considered disabled you will still receive your benefits. However, and this is very important, the first month an individual works above SGA amount in the EPE period Social Security will feel that you no longer meet the requirements for a disability due to work.

Once this happens, Social Security will find that your disability has, “CEASED!”

There is a grace period

SSDI will provide benefits for the month your current disability “ceased”. The SSDI will also provide the benefits for the following two months. This is a grace period. If at any point, your earnings fall below SGA and you are still in the 36-month re-entitlement period, SSDI can restart your benefits without your going through a new application process.

In our next installment of this series, we will take a closer look into what the SSDI refers to as Expedited Reinstatement (EXR). According to SSDI, EXR provides a safety net for individuals who successfully return to work and lose their entitlement to benefits.