§411.185 How much do I need to earn to be considered to be working?

For the purpose of determining if you are meeting the timely progress requirements for continued ticket use, we will consider you to be working in each month in which you have earnings at the following levels:

(a) For title II disability beneficiaries:

(1) During your first and second 12-month progress review periods, we will consider you to be working in a month in which you have earnings from employment or self-employment at the SGA level for non-blind beneficiaries, as defined in §§404.1572 through 404.1576 of this chapter. For a month in which you are in a trial work period (see §404.1592 of this chapter), or if you are statutorily blind as defined in §404.1581 of this chapter, we will consider the following as fulfilling this requirement—

(i) Gross earnings from employment, before any deductions for impairment related work expenses under §404.1576 of this chapter, that are more than the SGA threshold amount for non-blind beneficiaries in §404.1574(b)(2) of this chapter; or

(ii) Net earnings from self-employment (as defined in §416.1110(b) of this chapter), before any deductions for impairment related work expenses under §404.1576 of this chapter, that are more than the SGA threshold amount for non-blind beneficiaries in §404.1574(b)(2) of this chapter.

Note to paragraph (a)(1): If you worked in one or more months during the initial 24-month period at the level of work described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, those months of work may be used to meet certain requirements of the 24-month progress review as explained in §411.180(c)(1) and the work requirements for the first 12-month progress review period as explained in §411.180(c)(2).

(2) During your third 12-month progress review period, and during later 12-month progress review periods, we will consider you to be working in a month for which Social Security disability benefits are not payable to you because of your work or earnings.

(b) For title XVI beneficiaries:

(1) During your first and second 12-month progress review periods, we will consider you to be working in a month in which you have—

(i) Gross earnings from employment, before any SSI income exclusions, that are more than the SGA threshold amount for non-blind beneficiaries in §404.1574(b)(2) of this chapter; or

(ii) Net earnings from self-employment (as defined in §416.1110(b) of this chapter), before any SSI income exclusions, that are more than the SGA threshold amount for non-blind beneficiaries in §404.1574(b)(2) of this chapter.

Example to paragraph (b)(1): If you earn $750 in January 2001, but exclude $200 of this income in a Plan for Achieving Self-Support (see §§416.1180-416.1182 of this chapter), you would still be considered to be working in that month.

Note to paragraph (b)(1): If you worked in one or more months during the initial 24-month period at the level of work described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, those months of work may be used to meet certain requirements of the 24-month progress review as explained in §411.180(c)(1) and the work requirements for the first 12-month progress review period as explained in §411.180(c)(2).

(2) During your third 12-month progress review period, and during any later 12-month progress review periods, we will consider you to be working in a month in which you have earnings from employment or self-employment that are sufficient to preclude the payment of Federal SSI cash benefits for a month.

(c) For concurrent title II and title XVI beneficiaries:

(1) During your first and second 12-month progress review periods, we will consider you to be working in a month in which you have earnings from employment or self-employment at the SGA level for non-blind beneficiaries as defined in §§404.1572 through 404.1576 of this chapter. For a month in which you are in a trial work period (see §404.1592 of this chapter), or if you are statutorily blind as defined in §404.1581 of this chapter, we will consider the following as fulfilling this requirement—

(i) Gross earnings from employment, before any SSI income exclusions or deductions for impairment related work expenses under §404.1576 of this chapter, that are more than the SGA threshold amount for non-blind beneficiaries in §404.1574(b)(2) of this chapter; or

(ii) Net earnings from self-employment (as defined in §416.1110(b) of this chapter), before any SSI income exclusions or deductions for impairment related work expenses under §404.1576 of this chapter, that are more than the SGA threshold amount for non-blind beneficiaries in §404.1574(b)(2) of this chapter.

Note to paragraph (c)(1): If you worked in one or more months during the initial 24-month period at the level of work described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, those months of work may be used to meet certain requirements of the 24-month progress review as explained in §411.180(c)(1) and the work requirements for the first 12-month progress review period as explained in §411.180(c)(2).

(2) During your third 12-month progress review period, and during later 12-month progress review periods, we will consider you to be working in a month in which you have earnings from employment or self-employment sufficient to preclude the payment of Social Security disability benefits and Federal SSI cash benefits for a month.