Trudi, maybe I misunderstood, but I was told that $720 was the "cap" in a regular situation unless you were TRYING/ABLE to return to the workforce. Here is the explantion I found. Does this make any sense??

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1



Question
I am receiving Social Security disability benefits. Will I lose my benefits if I work and earn money?


Answer
Not right away. We have special rules called "work incentives" that help you keep your disability and Medicare benefits while you test your ability to work. For example, there is a trial work period during. During the trial work period you can receive full benefits regardless of how much you earn. You just have to report your work activity and continue to have a disabling impairment.

The trial work period continues until you accumulate nine months (not necessarily consecutive) in which you perform what we call "services" within a rolling 60-month period. We consider your work to be "services" if you earn more than $720 a month in 2010. For 2009, this amount was $700.

After the trial work period ends, your benefits will stop for months your earnings are at a level we consider "substantial," currently $1,000 in 2010. For 2009, this amount was $980. Different amounts apply to people who are disabled because of blindness. The monthly substantial amount for statutorily blind individuals for 2010 is $1,640; for 2009 this amount was $1,640.