Remaining completely jobless during the time that you are applying for disability benefits can be difficult. It can take as much as nine months for you to be approved, even if your claim is not denied on your first try, as many are.

Fortunately, you are allowed to work while applying for disability as long as your income doesn’t exceed a certain amount. This income cap is called the substantial gainful activity limit (SGA), which the Social Security Administration uses to determine whether you earn too much to qualify for disability. The income cap for this is $1,170 per month or $1,950 per month if you are blind.

The amount of time you spend working is also factored into your eligibility for Social Security benefits. If you work more than 32 hours a week but still earn below the SGA income limit, you will be ineligible for disability. It’s a good idea to keep your work strictly limited to part time while you are applying for disability. The claims examiner or judge working on your case may see that you are working, and this may be used to call your disability into question. For instance, they might see that you are performing challenging part-time work and are just unable to find a full-time job or assume that you could work a less strenuous full-time job.

If you’re approved for Social Security disability, the rules change a little bit. The SGA limit only applies during your first month of receiving disability payments. After that, the regular SSI limits apply. These limits boil down to one basic fact: the more you earn working while receiving disability benefits, the less your SSI payout will be.

The firm of David W. Kapor & Associates in Cincinnati, OH, focuses exclusively on Social Security disability law and can answer any questions you have about the process. Call them today at (513) 721-2820 to schedule your free consultation, or visit their website to learn more about their Social Security benefits expertise.