Can Unsuccessful Work Attempts Affect Your SSDI Claim?

Trying to Work Doesn't Automatically Disqualify You from SSDI

If you’re disabled and applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you may be afraid that an attempt to go back to work could hurt your claim. But that’s not necessarily the case.

In fact, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has a specific framework for evaluating short-term work and, under the right circumstances, an unsuccessful work attempt can sometimes strengthen your SSDI claim.

The key question is what the SSA defines as an unsuccessful work attempt. If your work activity meets certain criteria, the SSA will not count it as evidence that you’re able to engage in substantial gainful activity, so you should remain eligible for SSDI benefits.

How Does the SSA Define an Unsuccessful Work Attempt for SSDI?

The SSA recognizes that some people try to return to work out of financial necessity or genuine hope that they can hold down a job, only to discover that their condition won't allow it. That's why they've developed a framework where an unsuccessful work attempt won't disqualify you for SSDI benefits.

An unsuccessful work attempt includes a period of work that:

Lasted six months or less

The work period must have been six months or less. If your work lasted more than six months, the SSA generally won’t classify it as an unsuccessful work attempt, even if it eventually ended due to your condition.

Ended due to your impairment

Your work must have ended or been significantly reduced because of your disabling condition, not for unrelated reasons like a layoff or personality conflict. The connection between your impairment and your inability to keep working is what may strengthen your SSDI claim.

Was reduced below SGA due to your impairment becoming apparent

Work that was reduced below the substantial gainful activity level because the severity of your impairment became apparent when special disability accommodations ended can also qualify as an unsuccessful work attempt.

Special Conditions That Allowed You to Work

When deciding if a work attempt was unsuccessful, the SSA considers whether your work was performed under special conditions that wouldn’t normally be available in a typical competitive employment setting.

Special conditions include things like:

Receiving extra help from coworkers to complete tasks
Working irregular hours that accommodated your medical needs
Being given fewer or simpler duties than the job normally requires
Receiving supervision or support beyond what other employees receive

If you were able to work only because of these special conditions, the SSA may conclude that your ability to do this particular job doesn’t show you can perform substantial gainful activity in a normal work environment.

This is an important distinction. The SSA is evaluating whether you can sustain competitive employment, not whether you can work under uniquely supportive circumstances.

Documenting these special conditions is essential. If your employer provided accommodations, write them down in detail. If a supervisor or coworker can provide a statement describing the extra support you needed, that evidence can be invaluable.

How a Work Attempt Can Potentially Help Your Claim

A well-documented unsuccessful work attempt can be powerful evidence of disability. It demonstrates that you wanted to work, made a genuine effort, and were unable to sustain employment because of your condition, not because of a lack of motivation. Administrative law judges may respond positively to claimants who tried to work, because it rebuts the implication that someone is just claiming disability benefits because they don’t want a job.

The details of your failed work attempt, including why you tried, what accommodations you needed, what symptoms or limitations forced you to stop, and what your employer or coworkers observed, also contribute to the narrative of your disability. When presented effectively, this evidence shows a judge that you’re doing everything you can to support yourself and that your impairment is the barrier.

Your SSDI attorney can help present your unsuccessful work attempt in the most favorable light possible by gathering supporting evidence from your employer, connecting your work difficulties to your documented medical limitations, and framing the attempt within SSA’s regulatory framework.

What to Do If You Had an Unsuccessful Work Attempt During Your SSDI Claim

If you’ve attempted to work during the period covered by your SSDI claim, be sure to document everything and, if possible, get statements from your coworkers as well. Write down:

When you started
How long you worked
What tasks you performed
What accommodations you had or needed
What symptoms interfered with your work
Why you stopped

Most importantly, tell your attorney about any work activity. Some claimants hide this information out of fear, which prevents their attorney from using it strategically. An experienced disability lawyer will know how to frame your work attempt within SSA’s rules and can help you turn what feels like a vulnerability into supporting evidence for your claim.

At Chermol & Fishman, we routinely work with clients who have attempted to return to work while claiming SSDI benefits. We help gather the evidence needed to classify these attempts correctly under SSA’s regulations and present them as evidence of our clients’ disability, not evidence against it.

Ready to Get Help? If you’ve tried working and are worried about how it affects your SSDI claim, contact Chermol & Fishman, LLC for a free consultation. Call us at (888) 774-7243 or visit myphiladelphiadisabilitylawyer.com.

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