Background

• Many people drawing disability would like to return to work, as the disability benefit provides only a bare minimum of the funds necessary for independent living. In many cases, a disabled worker chooses to try working again and sees her benefits discontinued by the Social Security Administration. There is no appeal of this suspension, as Social Security imposes very strict limits on the amount of money you can earn while on disability.
  
  

Application

• If you return to work and then find that your disability prevents you from fulfilling your job duties, you may apply for expedited reinstatement from Social Security. You must contact Social Security either by calling the agency at 800-772-1213 or by visiting a Social Security office. Social Security may pay you temporary benefits for up to six months while the agency reviews your updated medical records and you wait for a decision on the reinstatement.
  
  

Ground Rules

• Expedited reinstatement is available to SSDI (disability) and SSI beneficiaries. It is available only if you stopped receiving benefits because of earnings -- not if they were suspended for an improvement in your medical condition, for misrepresentation on your application or for resources that exceed the Social Security guidelines (in the case of SSI beneficiaries). The disability that prevents you from working must be the same as that for which you were originally awarded benefits. Also, if you have reached full retirement age, your disability automatically converts to retirement benefits, and you are not eligible for expedited reinstatement.
  
  

Deadline and Temporary Benefits

• You must apply for expedited reinstatement within five years of the month in which Social Security suspended your benefits. If you apply and begin to draw temporary benefits, Social Security will not demand repayment of those benefits if ultimately it rejects your application. However, the temporary benefits end if you return to substantial gainful activity, defined in 2011 as work for which you earn $1,000 or more per month before taxes; if you reach full retirement age; or if you receive a denial of your reinstatement application.