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The Daily Insight

What happens when you stop getting Social Security disability?

Author

James Craig

Published Mar 01, 2026

If your Social Security disability benefits stop because of your earnings, but you’re still disabled, your free Medicare Part A coverage will continue for at least 93 months after the nine-month trial work period. After that, you can buy Medicare Part A coverage by paying a monthly premium.

Can you switch from social security to disability?

If you become disabled after filing early for retirement benefits, you may be able to change to Social Security Disability Insurance(SSDI). Similarly, if you retire early but belatedly discover that an existing condition might have qualified you for a higher disability benefit, you may be able claim it retroactively.

What can I do with social security while disabled?

• Cash benefits continue, for a time, while you work • Medicare or Medicaid benefits continue while you work • Help with education, training, and rehabilitation to start a new line of work Social Security and SSI have different rules. We describe the rules under each program in this booklet. Social Security incentives begin on page

How are Social Security benefits determined if you are on disability?

Retirement benefits are based on your 35 highest-earning years, but people on disability may have had much less time in the work force. In such cases, your SSDI benefit is determined by your inflation-adjusted average earnings from age 21 until the year you became disabled.

Can you get Social Security if you are on partial disability?

Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability. We consider you disabled under Social Security rules if all of the following are true:

What do I need to know about SSA disability benefits?

There are also a number of special rules, called “work incentives,” that provide continued benefits and health care coverage to help you make the transition back to work.

Can a disability cause an employee to stop working?

Second, if the person’s disability forces them to stop working, their employer’s benefits package can be a critical resource as they adapt to living with a long-term disability. Among the questions Gada recommends employees facing severe disabilities ask their employers: