I am on Social Security Disability I'm a retired respiratory therapist since 2012 and I was wanting to ask if I went back to work to help out with the coronavirus would that affect my disability

Hi,

I admire your willingness to want to use your skills to help out with the current health crisis, but Congress hasn't passed any exceptions to the normal rules regarding the limit on earnings for people who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSDI). If you return to work and you earn more than the amount that Social Security considers to be 'substantial gainful activity' (SGA), then your SSDI benefits could be suspended or terminated. In 2020, SGA is considered to be earnings that average more than $1,260 per month. However, if you haven't previously had any earnings since qualifying for SSDI then you'd initially get a 9-month trial work period (TWP) during which you could work and earn any amount without jeopardizing your SSDI benefits.

For more detailed information regarding working while receiving SSDI benefits, refer to the following Social Security publication: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10095.pdf.

Best, Jerry