You can work if your health enables it and does not deteriorate your health. We are not able to advise individuals on their ability to work. That is a conversation for you and your doctor.
Social Security sets an amount every year that they designate to be substantially gainful activity (SGA). If individuals earn higher than that amount (gross) for a prolonged period of time it can impact their eligibility for benefits. Generally speaking, if a person is able to hold a job for more than 6 months above SGA they will no longer qualify for benefits. There are some exceptions to this, like if a job is subsidized by the employer.
Please call us if you have questions about how working can impact a person’s eligibility for disability benefits. We are big-time believers in the idea that people who can work, should. We don’t want our clients to stop working just to “prove their disability case.” However, we do want them to understand the rules that govern work activity.
You should be aware that any job-like activity you engage in, whether for compensation or as a volunteer, may have an impact on how the SSA assesses your ability to work and, as a result, whether you fulfill their disability requirements. If the Social Security Administration declares you disabled, you must show that you have been or will be unable to work a full time job for at least one year owing to one or more physical or mental health conditions. In making this judgment, the SSA considers how successfully you conduct activities of daily living, such as home duties, shopping, and so on.