If you are looking to claim Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in Washington, it is crucial to understand that they may not last forever. You need to recognize not only when you should be entitled to them but also when you might lose them.
Here are a few things that could cause you to lose your right to these benefits:
1. You get better
You do not have to recover fully to see your benefits end. Remember, it is about how your condition affects your ability to work. If the Social Security Administration (SSA) believes your condition has improved enough to allow you to work or work more, they can stop your benefits.
SSA schedules periodic medical reviews to see how a beneficiary’s health is doing at set periods, especially where they believe the person has a high chance of recovery.
2. You start to earn more
You are generally allowed to do some work while on SSDI benefits, but there is an income limit you cannot pass called “substantial gainful activity.” If you start to earn over that amount, which the SSA adjusts yearly, the agency may decide you no longer qualify for benefits.
For 2025, this income limit is $1,620 per month (or $2,700 if you’re blind).
3. You go to jail
Imprisonment could also cause your benefits to stop if you are there for more than 30 days. If your benefits do stop, you may be able to start receiving payments soon after you get out, or you might need to go through the application process again, depending on how long you were incarcerated.
Those are just some of the things that could change your SSDI entitlement. Understand that this is a complicated subject, so it is best to seek legal guidance if you have doubts or believe the SSA has misjudged your entitlement to benefits. Keep in mind, however, that you have very little time to act on an appeal if you want your benefits restored. Act fast and ask for help to protect the benefits you are eligible to receive.