Many people in San Diego may think if they get disabled, then they are not allowed to ever work again, if they want to keep their benefits. There is some truth to this in that Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits typically get awarded once a Californian is unable to hold a job due to an illness or injury. However, this does not mean that a person can never work after receiving disability.
In fact, the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a number of options for people who wish to return to work that do not involve the loss of benefits. For example, for those drawing Social Security Disability Income, or SSDI, the SSA is able to offer a trial work period. What this means is that during any 5-year period, a person can in any 9 months earn more than $880 a month by working. Of course, the person will still have to continue to qualify as disabled in other respects.
Moreover, even after a trial work period, a person receiving SSDI can have an additional 3 years in which they can work. They may continue to draw benefits for any month in which they do not earn substantial earnings, that is, earnings that are greater than $1,220 a month, the equivalent of $14,640 of a year. Those who are legally blind, and thus disabled, are eligible for a higher income threshold.
The bottom line is that those who are disabled should not fear that they will never have an opportunity to work again. In fact, Social Security benefits can offer the financial relief a person may need in order to get by as they work to overcome their condition and get back on their feet.