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Unlike Social Security disability, there is no trial work period for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability beneficiaries.

For someone who is working, the first $65 ($85 if the person has no other income in a month) of earnings in a month are disregarded. After that we consider $1 for every $2 the person earns in a month. We also deduct from the monthly earnings any monthly expenses that a person, who has a disability, has which are needed by the person to work, are related to the person's impairment and paid by the person. These expenses are deducted before we apply the $1 for $2 computation.

For someone who is blind, we deduct any expenses the person has in order to work that are paid by the person. This amount is deducted from the earnings after the $1 for $2 computation from the monthly earnings. The remaining earnings are added to any other income the person receives in a month, such as a pension or unemployment insurance, and the result is deducted from the federal benefit rate, which is $637 a month for 2008 ($623 for 2007).

If the person has only earnings, and doesn't pay for any expenses to work as mentioned, the person can earn up to $1,359 in a month in 2008 ($1,331 in 2007) before the person's SSI federal cash payments stop.

For States in which SSA administers a supplement to the federal SSI benefit, the person can earn even more before cash payments stop. Even if cash payments stop, the person can remain eligible for SSI benefits, which in most states also means that the person is eligible for Medicaid, if the person's earnings are below certain levels that factor in the resident state's per capita or the person's medical and personal attendant costs. If the person's earnings don't permit continued eligibility after considering these costs for the person, the person may become eligible for SSI benefits again without filing a new application if the person's earnings decrease during the following 12 months.