Will my disabled adult child lose SSDI and Medicare permanently if he works over SGA limit?

my brother gets DAC on my dads record and ya if they work over the limit those benefits get terminated. not sure about getting back on but i think its possible if they call it an 'unsuccessful work attempt'?? someone else prolly knows more details

OK so my situation is a little different but I was on SSI not SSDI and I tried working and it messed EVERYTHING up!! I went over the limit for just THREE MONTHS and they cut me off completely and I had to reapply from scratch which took over a year and I lost my medicaid and everything. The system punishes people for trying to work its ridiculous. DONT LET HIM DO IT!!!!

There's actually good news here. Your son CAN return to DAC benefits if his job doesn't work out, as long as he still meets the disability requirements and hasn't married. This is covered under what's called the "Extended Period of Eligibility" (EPE) and reentitlement provisions. If your son works above SGA, here's what happens: - His DAC benefits will be suspended (not terminated) after a Trial Work Period - His Medicare continues for at least 93 months after the Trial Work Period - If he stops working or drops below SGA within 5 years, he can be automatically reinstated without a new application SSA actually has specific provisions for DAC beneficiaries returning to benefits. You should look into the Ticket to Work program which can help him test his ability to work while providing protections. One important thing though - make sure he reports his work activity to SSA right away. Not reporting can create bigger problems later.

I went thru this with my daughter!! Its super confusing and the SSA people tell u different things every time u call! The key thing is the trial work period - your son gets 9 months (don't have to be consecutive) where he can earn any amount and still keep benefits. After that if he earns over SGA they'll suspend payments but like someone else said he can get back on if he stops working without having to reapply as long as its within 5 yrs. BUT!!!! Make sure u keep ALL paystubs and documentation because they will audit and if the numbers don't match up they'll claim overpayment and demand money back!!!!!

so did anyone tell the OP about the work incentives like IRWE and subsidy that could let the kid earn more without losing benefits? my cousin deducts transportation costs and special equipment as IRWE and it keeps her under the limit even though her actual paycheck is higher

I've been trying to reach SSA for weeks about a similar situation with my nephew and it's impossible! Always busy signals or disconnects after waiting for hours. I finally used a service called Claimyr that got me through to a real agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU and their website is claimyr.com if anyone else is struggling to get through. The agent I spoke with confirmed that DAC benefits can be reinstated if work is unsuccessful, but they recommended scheduling an appointment with a Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselor for personalized guidance.

what about him trying part time work first? might be safer to stay under the limit while he sees if he can handle working

Just to clarify some details with accurate numbers for 2025: - The SGA limit is $1,550/month for non-blind individuals - The Trial Work Period (TWP) threshold is $1,110/month - During the TWP (9 months within a rolling 60-month period), your son can earn any amount without affecting benefits - After TWP completion, if earnings exceed SGA, benefits are suspended but can be reinstated within the Extended Period of Eligibility (36 months) - After EPE, expedited reinstatement is available for 5 years Medicare continues for at least 93 months after the TWP ends, regardless of whether he's receiving cash benefits. The key advantage for DAC beneficiaries is that they can return to the higher benefit amount based on the parent's record even after attempting work, provided they still meet the disability criteria and haven't married.

Also DONT FORGET about the medicaid buy-in program if hes over the limit!!! In most states if ur working with a disability u can buy into medicaid even if ur over income limits!!! They DONT TELL U this stuff on purpose!!!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of getting everything in writing from SSA. When your son starts working, I'd recommend requesting written confirmation of his Trial Work Period status and how many TWP months he's used. SSA's internal systems sometimes don't track this accurately, and having documentation can save you major headaches later if there are disputes about benefit suspensions or reinstatements. Also, consider reaching out to your state's Protection and Advocacy organization - they often have specialists in disability benefits and work incentives who can provide free guidance. Many people don't know this resource exists, but they can be incredibly helpful in navigating these complex situations and ensuring SSA follows their own rules correctly. Your son is lucky to have such a thoughtful parent advocating for him. The fact that you're researching all this beforehand puts you way ahead of most families who end up scrambling after problems arise.

As someone new to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful information! I'm in a similar situation with my adult daughter who has autism and receives DAC benefits. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational. I especially appreciate the specific numbers and timelines that were provided - the Trial Work Period, Extended Period of Eligibility, and the 93-month Medicare continuation. It's reassuring to know there are actual safety nets in place, even though the system seems so complicated. The suggestion about getting everything in writing from SSA is something I never would have thought of, but it makes perfect sense given how inconsistent their representatives can be. And I had no idea about WIPA counselors or the Protection and Advocacy organizations - I'll definitely be looking into those resources. One question I have is about the reporting requirements. How quickly do we need to report work activity to SSA? Is there a specific timeframe, or is it just "as soon as possible"? I want to make sure we don't accidentally create problems by not reporting quickly enough. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge. It's communities like this that make navigating these complex systems a little less overwhelming!

I'm new here but wanted to share some additional perspective as someone who works in disability advocacy. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the importance of documenting your son's current functional limitations and how they relate to his disability. If he does attempt work and it doesn't go well, SSA will need to verify that his disability still meets their criteria for benefits reinstatement. I'd recommend having his doctor document his current limitations and how they might impact sustained work activity. This creates a paper trail that can be crucial if you need to prove his disability persists during any reinstatement process. Also, while everyone's mentioned the great safety nets, it's worth noting that even during the Trial Work Period, SSA can still review whether someone's medical condition has improved. It's rare, but they could theoretically find him "no longer disabled" even if he's earning under SGA. Having current medical documentation helps protect against this possibility. The work incentives and protections everyone described are real and helpful, but going in with thorough documentation makes the whole process much smoother. Your instinct to research this thoroughly before he starts working is exactly the right approach!