STILL WORKING BUT CONSIDERING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY?

Here are things that individuals need to consider as they think about Social Security disability while they are still working:

First, there is no disability benefit available from Social Security if you are working and earning more than $1,090 per month. You must have stopped working to apply--or at least be earning less than $1,090 per month if working part-time.

Second, Social Security does not pay a benefit for the first full 5 months of disability.  At a minimum, you must be prepared for at least 6 months of no income after you stop working.  Getting approved within 6 months is, honestly, pretty much of a miracle.  It often takes much longer.

Third, not being able to perform your past work is not enough, in most cases, to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.  If you are under age 50, Social Security will look at your ability to perform other work, including jobs that are unskilled, sedentary and simple, routine jobs.  For example, they may find that you could perform such jobs as a food and beverage order clerk, a sack mender, a garment tagger or a silverware wrapper.

Finally, you must be able to support the functional limitations that prevent you from working with significant medical evidence, preferably from your treating doctor(s), and preferably one of those doctors will be a specialist.

Social Security disability today is a hard row to hoe.  If you are working, I would encourage you to continue working as long as possible.  When you come to the point where you can no longer work because of medical reasons, only then is it time to apply for Social Security disability.