Do I Have to Quit Work to Get Disability?

If you are earning more than $1,010 per month, then yes, you'll have to quit your job (or work less) to be considered for disability benefits. Social Security considers anything above that amount to be substantial gainful activity, or SGA. The SGA amount is adjusted each year according to the current price/wage index,

Making Less Than SGA

Keep in mind, however, if you are able to work a significant amount of time, that even if you are earning less than the SGA amount, Social Security will take this into account when deciding if you are disabled. For instance, if you make $9 per hour and you work 25 hours per week, your monthly income would be $967, under the SGA limit. But when Social Security sees that you have been able to work 25 hours per week, it is unlikely to find you disabled, unless, perhaps, you have a serious or terminal medical condition that automatically qualifies for disability benefits (such as esophageal cancer or ALS).

Making More Than SGA

If you earn more than the SGA, you will not receive any Social Security disability benefits (under the SSDI or SSI program), even if you have a documented medical condition that has caused you to earn substantially less each month, or caused you to go from full to part-time work. The same is true if you are still working your job despite the fact that you are suffering incredible pain or fatigue at work.

However, if you require numerous accomodations to help you do your work (such as assistive devices or help from other workers), this may affect how Social Security counts your earnings, meaning that your earnings may fit within SGA even if the monthly dollar amount is more than $1,010. For more information, see our article on part-time work and disability.

Length of Time Not Working

You don't have to have quit work for 12 months before you can file for disability, however, as some people erroneously believe. Your disability has to be expected to last 12 months, or have lasted 12 months.

Exceptions for the Self-Employed

If you are a small business owner or otherwise self-employed, Social Security uses different rules to decide if you are doing substantial gainful activity. (For more information, see our article on SGA.)