You’re getting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) but you’re also thinking about going back to work if possible. You’d like to. Unfortunately, you heard that even trying to work again means you’ll instantly lose your access to Medicaid or Medicare.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) notes that this is one of the most common myths that they hear. It is simply not true on a number of levels.
First and foremost, if you get any amount of money through a benefit check — even if the amount changes — you get to retain your health insurance. You do not instantly lose it.
So, what if you make so much that they stop sending the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) checks? Even in that situation, you can still get Medicare benefits for as long as the next 93 months. That’s nearly eight years.
If you’re getting Medicaid, your eligibility isn’t even linked exclusively to your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. If you work and earn enough that you lose the benefits, you can still meet the requirements for Medicaid and continue to use it. It all depends on things like how much you earn. Again, it is not instantly taken away.
Don’t buy into myths like this. People often do, sometimes because they are — understandably — nervous about making a crucial mistake. They let that fear guide them, and they get advice from the wrong sources. That can lead to many issues and mistaken ideas about the SSDI program. Take the time to really dig into any questions you have so that you know exactly how it works.
