Don't Lose Your Social Security Benefits: These Mistakes Will Cost You

CNET

5 days ago

Keep your Social Security benefits intact by avoiding the scenarios that put them in jeopardy.
Getty Images/Viva Tung/CNET
More than 70 million Americans currently rely on Social Security benefits, and countless more expect to take advantage of the program when it's their time to retire. Knowing when the best time to start collecting benefits is important, but once you've applied and your monthly payments start being sent, not much should change, outside of the annual COLA increase, which is a good thing for you. Something you might be less familiar with is how you can actually lose your benefits if you're not careful.
While people pay into the Social Security system most of their working lives, these benefits aren't guaranteed for life, and you could have them taken away in certain situations. In particular, there are four things that can get your benefits terminated or suspended. Below, we'll break down the ways you can lose your benefits and whether or not you can get them back afterward.
For more, don't miss the Social Security and SSDI cheat sheet.
Benefits will be reduced or stopped if you make too much money
While you can still work and receive Social Security benefits, if you begin to make more than the annual income limit, your benefits may be reduced or paused completely in certain situations. The limits change depending on certain factors, like whether you're under or over the age of 62 -- the minimum retirement age.
Below is an overview of the income limits imposed on specific benefits.
Income limits for Supplemental Security Income
Eligibility for SSI typically requires that you earn less than $1,971 per month from work. The limit is increased for couples, but if you exceed that limit, you may no longer be eligible for SSI. You should be notified of any benefit reduction or whether you become ineligible due to reaching the income limit.
Note: For every $2 you earn from work, $1 will be reduced from your SSI payment. Working includes any job you have. You're required to promptly report changes to your monthly income and living situation.
Income limits for Social Security Disability Insurance
SSDI beneficiaries have more to work with when it comes to making money from work. If you get a job while receiving SSDI, you'll be able to retain your benefits for up to nine months, which the Social Security Administration calls a "work trial period." For 2024, any month you bring in over $1,110 in gross wages will count toward this nine-month trial period. Note that months don't have to be consecutive, either, but within a rolling five-year period. During these nine months, there's no limit on how much you can earn while retaining your benefits.
After your work trial period, you'll enter into a 36-month "extended period of eligibility." During this time, if you exceed the EPE earnings limit, you won't qualify for your SSDI payment for that month. In 2024, the EPE limit is $1,550 per month or $2,590 for disability due to blindness.
If you continue to earn over the limit after your EPE is up, your SSDI payments will cease completely, but if you can't continue to work, you can restart your benefits.
Resource limits could also impact your Social Security
In addition to an income limit, to be eligible for SSI, you need to fall under what the administration calls a "resource limit." Resources that do count toward the limit include cash, bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds, US savings bonds, land, life insurance, personal property, vehicles and anything else you own that could be changed to cash and used for food or shelter, the administration said.
Resources that do not count include the home you live in and the land it is on, one vehicle (if you or a member of your household use it for transportation), household goods and personal effects and life insurance policies with a combined face value of $1,500 or less.
To be eligible, the SSI resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. If you exceed that limit, you need to spend down your resources to be eligible. According to a recent study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 70,000 beneficiaries on average lose their benefits each year because they exceed the limit. Congress has proposed legislation that would, for example, raise the limit to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples but so far, changes have not been signed into law.
Divorce will change your Social Security status
Your marital status can and will affect your Social Security benefits, and that includes getting a divorce. A few things would prevent you from collecting your ex-spouse's benefits:
You weren't married for 10 years or more.
If you remarry, you won't be able to get benefits from your previous marriage. This can change if your current marriage ends through divorce, annulment or the death of your partner.
You qualify for benefits and the amount you receive would be more than your ex-spouse's.
You can lose Social Security if you're arrested or sentenced to prison
If you go to jail or prison, your Social Security benefits can be affected. If you're incarcerated for more than 30 days, the administration may suspend your Social Security and SSI benefits.
Social Security and Social Security Disability Insurance while incarcerated
If your benefits are suspended, you can request to have them restored for the following month after you're released from jail or prison. Something to note is that even if your benefits are suspended while incarcerated, your spouse or children will continue to receive them as long as they remain eligible.
Supplemental Security Income
While incarcerated, your SSI benefits will be suspended, but payments will resume when you're released, and you won't have to wait until the following month. Your payment amount will be determined by your release date and would only be a partial payment.
If you're in jail or prison for over 12 consecutive months, the administration will terminate your SSI benefits. When you're released, you will need to reach out to the Social Security Administration and start a new application.
For more, here's the Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance payment schedules.