Say you have been disabled and are eligible for Social Security disability benefits. You’ve been receiving them for a while, and you are likely thinking you will get them for life.

But, like almost everything, Social Security disability benefits are subject to change and yes – they can be terminated.

However, your Social Security disability benefits likely won’t be gone immediately and any changes to your benefits can usually be appealed. There are reasons they are terminated and those reasons are generally pretty clear cut.

So, how can your Social Security benefits be terminated?

First, we need to understand the two programs. There is Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, and your eligibility for those benefits are contingent upon you paying enough taxes, or working long enough, to reach the threshold.

The other program, Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is need-based. That means, you don’t have to have ever paid taxes or worked to be eligible. However, there are very strict income/asset limits to this program.

In this blog, we’ll talk about reasons why your SSDI benefits could be terminated.

Read on:

Health Changes

One of the main reasons your Social Security disability benefits would be terminated is that your health improves – for the better! – and Social Security believes you can return to work.

As a side note, Social Security does have a program to help you transition back to full-time employment as your health improves. You can to try to go back to work for what’s called a ”trial work period” to see if it’s possible to do some type of work that pays over $1220 per month. You’d keep receiving your benefits during the trial work period. If you can continue working after the trial work period ends, your benefits will stop. If you can’t keep working due to your disability, your benefits will continue.

The bottom line is, if Social Security believes you can return to work and earn more than $1220 per month your benefits will be terminated.

Retirement age

One of the quickest ways to have your Social Security disability benefits terminated is to reach what’s called the full retirement age (which is 66). At that point, your disability benefits will stop when your retirement benefits begin because you can’t get both Social security disability benefits AND Social Security retirement benefits at the same time.

Incarceration

If you are convicted of a crime and incarcerated, you will not receive your benefits while in prison. However, you can get them back after your release.

Connor Kimmet and Hafenstein LLP

If you or someone you love has questions about Social Security disability benefits, contact us today for a consultation. We will make sure your rights are protected and you get the help you deserve.