What would cause my disability payments to stop?

Social Security Sign in Red MarkerDue to a chronic illness or disability that prevents you from being able to work, you were approved for SSDI benefits. Your condition is not expected to get better, so you assume that your benefits will continue for years to come. However, in order to stay on disability, you must remain eligible. Your benefits could be terminated by the Social Security Administration for several reasons.

Your Checks May Stop If These Things Happen

SSDI is intended to provide financial support to pre-retirement aged people who have paid into the system over their working life and are now unable to work because of a disability. These benefits will stop if:

  • You return to work. While you are allowed to engage in some amount of paid work while collecting disability, you cannot exceed a certain earning level. If you do, you will be considered ineligible for SSDI. If you are working a lot but not earning above the threshold, the SSA could determine that you are capable of substantial gainful activity (SGA) and cut off your benefits.
  • You reach retirement age. Once you reach 66 years of age, your disability benefits will stop, and you will begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits instead. You cannot collect both of these benefits at the same time.
  • You go to prison. Being incarcerated or institutionalized will also render you ineligible for SSDI benefits, as will being convicted of certain felonies even if you do not receive a prison sentence. Your benefits will be reinstated in the month after your release.

If you are a minor collecting dependent benefits under a parent, your checks will stop once you turn 18 or get married.

Worried About Losing Your Benefits? Call an SSDI Lawyer!

You count on your disability payments to support yourself and your family. If you’re worried that you’ll do something to lose your benefits, contact our Indianapolis Social Security attorney team at Keller & Keller. We can help you stop worrying and stay eligible. If you have received a letter from the SSA saying that your benefits are in jeopardy, or your checks have already stopped and you don’t know why, we can also help! Start a chat or fill out our contact form to get the answers you need.

 

James R. Keller
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Partner at Keller & Keller