Will taking job for health insurance hurt my pending SSDI appeal after claiming early SS retirement?

This is definitely a tricky situation. For the SSDI appeal, what matters most is whether the job could be considered an "unsuccessful work attempt" (UWA). For it to qualify as a UWA, the work period needs to be 6 months or less and end because of her impairment or related issues. The good news is that taking early retirement doesn't automatically disqualify her from SSDI. If she wins her appeal, SSA will adjust her benefits accordingly. They'll essentially switch her from retirement to disability and pay any difference in backpay. The job situation is more complex. Since she's already on record as applying for retirement (not disability) when she took the job, they may not scrutinize the SGA issue as closely right now. However, when the appeal is reviewed, they will definitely examine this work period. My advice is to have her document EVERYTHING about why she can't maintain this job - every accommodation needed, every day missed, every symptom that interferes with work. This documentation will be crucial for her attorney to argue this was an unsuccessful work attempt.

OMG the exact same thing happened to my husband!!!! he was denied 2x for disability and we were totally broke so he had to take a parttime job just to keep our house. his lawyer got SO MAD and said he ruined his case but then the job only lasted like 3 months cause he just couldnt do it and the lawyer said that was actually GOOD because it proved he really couldnt work. weird system right???

She ABSOLUTELY must tell her attorney about this job immediately! Hiding this information can seriously damage her case. The attorney needs to know so they can properly prepare for how to address it during the appeal. Regarding the unsuccessful work attempt concept - yes, this could apply if: 1. The work lasts 6 months or less 2. She stops working (or reduces below SGA) due to her impairment or removal of special conditions that allowed her to work However, since she already applied for retirement benefits, there's a complication. By claiming retirement, she's essentially telling SSA she's capable of working but choosing not to. This creates a conflict with claiming disability (which means she CANNOT work). The timing here matters. If she's denied SSDI at the appeal level too, she might be stuck with the reduced retirement benefit permanently. The system is frustratingly complex.

I went through something similar in 2023-2024. Let me share what my lawyer told me that might help your sister: 1. Yes, she MUST tell her attorney about the job immediately 2. Taking early retirement while a disability claim is pending is actually fairly common and doesn't automatically hurt the disability case 3. For the work to be considered an "unsuccessful work attempt" she should: - Stay under 6 months at the job - Have the job end specifically because of her medical conditions - Get documentation from the employer about accommodations or difficulties - Keep a personal log of all symptoms and problems at work 4. Make sure her medical records clearly show she's still getting treatment for the conditions in her disability claim When I was struggling with getting medications while uninsured, I found some assistance programs through the manufacturers. Has she looked into those? One last thing - if your sister does get approved for SSDI later, they'll switch her from retirement to disability benefits and potentially pay the difference in back pay. So taking early retirement doesn't permanently reduce her potential SSDI amount.

This System is COMPLETELY BROKEN!!!! They deny everyone the first time no matter what, then make u wait YEARS hoping you'll give up or DIE before they have to pay you what u deserve!!! Its disgusting how they treat disabled people. They force people to choose between medicine and food!!!

If you're struggling to reach someone at Social Security to discuss her case, I found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an agent without waiting hours on hold. Their website is claimyr.com and you can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I used it when I needed to get information about my pending reconsideration. It was actually pretty helpful since I had been trying for weeks to get through the normal way. Your sister might want to check in with SSA about how her current work situation affects her case, and this could save her some time.

One important thing I forgot to mention - the rules about working while on SSDI vs. retirement are completely different: - For SSDI: The limit is based on SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity) which is $1,550/month in 2025 - For retirement before FRA: The annual earnings limit is $22,320 in 2025, so about $1,860/month Since she's currently receiving retirement benefits, the higher limit applies right now. But when they review her disability claim, they'll use the lower SGA limit to determine if she's disabled. This is why documentation is so important - she needs to prove she attempted to work but couldn't sustain it due to her medical conditions. Also, the 6-month timeframe for an unsuccessful work attempt is critical - if she works longer than that, it becomes much harder to claim UWA.

has she checked out the state medicaid? my sister got on that while waiting for disability and it covered all her heart meds and doctor visits. the income limits are pretty low but if shes not working much might qualify???

To address your question about whether she should have avoided applying for retirement: Unfortunately, that's a complicated cost-benefit analysis everyone in this situation needs to make individually. Pros of taking early retirement during SSDI appeal: - Immediate income - Possible Medicare eligibility after 24 months Cons: - Permanently reduced benefits if SSDI claim ultimately fails - Slightly complicates the disability case There's no clear right answer. About 45% of SSDI claims are approved at the ALJ hearing level, but that means many are still denied. The backlog for hearings is currently 12-18 months in most areas. If her condition is deteriorating without proper medical care, getting treatment through work insurance might actually strengthen her case by documenting her conditions better. Just make sure she doesn't push herself to the point of serious harm trying to maintain a job she truly cannot do.