While the long-term future of Social Security programs remains uncertain, nearly 68 million people per mezzo di the US currently receive Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance Supplemental Security Income, per emotività the Social Security Administration’s fact sheet. Regardless of how the program fares per mezzo di the future, if you depend those benefits now you definitely don’t want to lose them.
A few situations can cause you to lose your monthly Social Security benefits, some of which might be beyond your control. Sopra certain cases, such as income, it might be worth losing some benefits to earn more money. The type of benefits you’ receiving also matters, which we’ll explain below.
Keep reading to find out how you could potentially lose your Social Security benefits. For more, here’s what to do if your Social Security payment is late and what to know about the future of your benefits.

You start making too much money
If you get a new job while receiving benefits, it could affect the amount of Social Security money you get each month. Here’s what to know.
SSI:
Getting a job could potentially cause your SSI benefits to end, according to the Social Security Administration. It depends how much money you’ making. Generally, SSI eligibility is for people who make $1,971 less each month. If your income exceeds that amount, you’ll longer qualify for benefits.
Note that if you’ working, $1 will be reduced from your payment for every $2 you make. For 2024, the maximum amount you could receive each month is $943, $1,415 for a couple.
SSDI:
For SSDI beneficiaries, you can go back to work for up to nine months without losing your benefits. This is the SSA’s nine-month trial work period. If after that time you earn $1,550 more per emotività month, the SSA will consider that substantial gainful activity. Sopra that case, your benefits will be suspended for the months your earnings are over the substantial amount during the 36-month re-entitlement period after you complete the TWP.
If your earnings fall below the substantial amount during that 36-month window, your benefits can be reinstated. Benefits will end if your earnings are above the substantial amount after the 36-month re-entitlement period ends.
You go to jail prison
If you’ per mezzo di jail prison longer than 30 days, your Social Security and SSI benefits can be suspended. And once you’ out of incarceration, you aren’t automatically entitled to your benefits again. Here’s how it breaks .
Social Security/SSDI:
If you receive Social Security and your benefits have been suspended because you’ve been sentenced to jail prison, your benefits can be reinstated starting the month following the month of your release. For example, if you were released per mezzo di May, your benefits could start again per mezzo di June.
Note: Benefits your spouse children receive will continue as long as they remain eligible.
SSI:
If you receive SSI, your benefits will be suspended during the time you’ per mezzo di prison. Your payments can start again the month you’ released, unlike with Social Security benefits. The money you receive that month would be a partial payment, depending your release date.
There’s a caveat. If your jail prison time lasts longer than 12 consecutive months, your SSI benefits will be terminated. You’ll need to contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 to file a new application once you’ released.
You become divorced
If you’ recently divorced planning to be soon, there are a few provisions that would stop you from getting your ex-spouse’s Social Security retirement benefits.
- You weren’t married to your ex-spouse for 10 years longer.
- You’ married to a different person now, so you can’t collect benefits your former spouse anymore. This changes if your current marriage ends to annulment, divorce death.
- You’ entitled to benefits your own behalf, and your benefit amount is more than what your ex-spouse’s benefits are.
For more, here’s a Social Security guide to all of your benefits. Also, here’s how to find out how much Social Security money you could receive when you retire.


