If I go over my $1220 for one month will my social security benefits stop

Hi,

I assume that you're referring to Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. A single month of earnings in excess of the monthly substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit, which in 2019 is $1220, may or may not cause your SSDI benefits to stop.

When you first begin working after you start to draw SSDI benefits, you get a 9-month trial work period (TWP) during which your SSDI benefits would not be affected no matter how much you earn. After the TWP is completed, Social Security looks at your average monthly earnings when determining whether or not your work is SGA. If it is, your period of disability is determined to have ceased. Your benefits would then be suspended or terminated after a 3 month grace period. However, you get at least a 36 month extended period of eligibility (EPE) starting with the end of your TWP during which your SSDI benefits can be paid for any months in which you earn below the SGA limit.

If your period of disability has been determined to have ceased and you then earn above the SGA limit in even a single month after your 36 month EPE has ended, your SSDI entitlement would be terminated and your benefit payments would stop immediately (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10095.pdf).

Best, Jerry