Hi all,

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 16 years ago and my application for SSDI was approved without a hitch three years ago.

My extreme impairment and the impossibility of my working outside the home notwithstanding, I’m being pressured by my family to try and work. They are convinced that doing so would not jeopardize my SSDI benefits, as long as I earn less than a certain amount.

After reading the rules and seeing all the ambiguities in them, I am far from convinced that, even if I were capable of working, it could be done at all without jeopardizing my SSDI benefits.

So, I’m trying to gather some real-world information. Has anyone here who has a permanent disability experimented with working while receiving SSDI benefits? If so, how did it go?

Thanks for your input,
Daisy

You can do a site search for past posts on this topic-
http://www.neurotalk.org/search.php

Here is one from 2014 - has info links in some posts
Does Working Part Time Jeopardize a CDR

Since this is a board that is usually filled with posts about applicants/recipients having various problems with their SSDI benefits, I think that you will not find a large number of posters who were successful in keeping their SSDI and working. Mostly because those recipients are not looking for answers to their problems. It doesn't mean there aren't any, but they are not looking through message boards.

I think you are going to have to address your fears. If you have medical improvement or if you don't have medical improvement but earn over the SGA amounts, then benefits can be stopped or suspended. And if you work, it may or may not trigger a medical review.

The work incentives exist as a means to transition a disabled person off of disability and back into the work force without fear of immediate suspension. So yes, the goal is to get you off of disability benefits. But you still have to perform SGA during your TWP and if you never perform SGA, you will never be ceased for work.

I haven't read your medical records, but unless you have significant improvement in your medical condition, then even after a CDR, you will not be ceased.

If you need a guarantee, there isn't one. Even if you don't work, a medical CDR can be done.