How will work affect my disability benefits?

The best, most detailed, explanation on how work will impact your benefits is provided by the Social Security Administration in their "Redbook on Work Incentives". Just put that title into your search engine to find it on SSA's website.  Also, read "What is Ticket to Work?" at the ChooseWork SSA website.

You may be pleasantly surprised at how far SSA goes in trying to make you feel comfortable about trying to work - trying being the important word.  With the Ticket To Work program, a good faith effort to work and earn enough to transition off disability cash benefits is required, but Social Security understand that not everyone will succeed, and for those that do, that it may take some time - possibly years.  To get a good general idea of how this works, watch this short video provided by SSA. 

Exactly what happens when you begin working will depend on how much you have worked before, but the Ticket To Work program is set up to prevent you from suddenly losing cash and medical support.  Your benefits will not be affected at all for your 9-month Trial Work Period, and even if you earn enough after that point to no longer receive payments, you should still be able to stay on Medicare for over 7 years!

If you've read the Redbook, watched the video, and still have questions, call your local Social Security Office and ask for someone familiar with work incentives for people on SSI or SSDI. Every person's circumstances differ. If you have a complex situation and need even more help, there are 102 Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Projects around the U.S.  Just put WIPA and your location into your search engine to find the project closest to you. These experts are funded by the SSA. Their goal is to help you make informed choices about work.