How can I check the status of my SSDI claim online in Illinois?
By Hogan Smith
Updated 12/11/2025
Can SSDI benefits be taken away if I go back to work in Maryland? In Maryland, your SSDI benefits may be affected if you return to work, but they are not automatically taken away. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has specific rules, like the Trial Work Period, which allow you to test your ability to work without losing benefits immediately. However, if your earnings exceed certain limits consistently, your benefits could be suspended or stopped. Understanding how working impacts your benefits is crucial to avoid unexpected disruptions.
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Step 1: Understand Maryland’s Work Incentives
Maryland follows SSA rules that include:
- Trial Work Period (TWP): Allows you to work 9 months with no benefits impact regardless of earnings.
- Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA): If your earnings exceed the limit ($1,470 in 2024), benefits may be suspended.
Step 2: Monitor Your Earnings Carefully
It’s important to track how much you earn:
- Monthly earnings above SGA can lead to benefit suspension after the TWP ends.
- Some expenses related to your disability can be deducted to lower your countable income.
Step 3: Use the Extended Period of Eligibility
After TWP, Maryland SSDI recipients have:
- 36 months where benefits are only paid if earnings are below SGA.
- This gives you a chance to adjust to work while possibly keeping some benefits.
Step 4: Reporting Work Activity Is Critical
You must inform the SSA about:
- Any change in your work status or income promptly to avoid overpayments or penalties.
- Keeping detailed records can help if questions arise.
Common Reasons Benefits Are Reduced or Stopped
Be aware of these triggers:
- Consistent earnings exceeding the SGA level beyond the trial period.
- Failure to report change in employment or income to the SSA.
- Use of work incentives incorrectly or missing deadlines.
How Hogan Smith Can Help
At Hogan Smith, we help Maryland residents with managing their SSDI benefits when returning to work by:
- Explaining how Maryland’s specific rules and SSA work incentives affect your benefits when you resume employment.
- Assisting you in reporting your income accurately to avoid improper benefit termination or overpayments.
- Guiding you through the Trial Work Period and other programs designed to help you transition back to work safely.
- Advocating on your behalf if the SSA attempts to stop benefits incorrectly due to work activity.
Contact Hogan Smith Today
If you have questions about whether your SSDI benefits in Maryland could be taken away when you go back to work, contact Hogan Smith today for a free consultation. Our expert team will help you understand your rights, protect your benefits, and assist you in reporting work activity properly to maintain as much income as possible.
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