When you’ve been disabled for a year, Social Security is here to help you explore going back to work. Here’s what you need to know:

• • Trial Work Period (TWP): You get nine months to test the waters of working—those months don’t even have to be in a row!

• • Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE): This runs for a full 36 months (or three whole years!). During and after this time, there are helpful programs like:
    
    • • Impairment Related Work Expenses
    • • Subsidies and Special Conditions
    • • Cessation and Grace Period: When your benefits end, Social Security will pay you for your cessation month and the next two months of a grace period. During these 3 months, you retain your monthly SSDI cash benefits.
    • • Expedited Reinstatement (EXR): If your benefits stop but you need them back, no worries! The Social Security Administration will pay you provisional benefits for six months while they process your EXR application. Even if Social Security denies your application for EXR, you will not need to pay back any provisional benefits paid while your application is pending.

SSI Eligibility: Here’s What You Need!

To qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must:

• • Be 65 or older, blind, or disabled

• • Be a U.S. citizen

• • Have limited income

• • Have limited resources 

That’s the scoop! Social Security is here to help make your work journey as smooth as possible.