Many individuals who apply for Social Security Disability Insurance make genuine efforts to return to work before or during the application process. If your health forces you to stop working shortly after starting, you may worry that those wages will count against you and disqualify you from benefits.
The Social Security Administration recognizes that trying to work does not automatically mean you are no longer disabled. Under federal regulations, short periods of employment that end or drop below substantial levels due to a medical impairment are classified as an Unsuccessful Work Attempt, or UWA.
How SSA evaluates earnings: Substantial Gainful Activity
To understand a UWA, you first need to understand Substantial Gainful Activity. SGA is the monthly earnings threshold the SSA uses to determine whether an applicant’s work is significant enough to suggest they are not disabled. According to the SSA Substantial Gainful Activity thresholds, the standard SGA limit for non-blind individuals in 2026 is $1,620 per month in gross earnings. Earning above that amount generally indicates the ability to perform substantial work, which can result in a denial or termination of SSDI benefits. A UWA is a recognized exception to this rule.
Criteria for an Unsuccessful Work Attempt
For a period of work to qualify as a UWA under the SSA Unsuccessful Work Attempt guidelines, several requirements must be met.
Before the work attempt began, there must have been a significant break in employment. Specifically, the applicant must show a period of involuntary unemployment or reduced work of at least 30 consecutive days due to their medical impairment.
The work attempt itself must have lasted six months or less. Work ending within 3 months is generally approved as a UWA when it stopped because of the medical condition or because special accommodations were removed. Work lasting between 3 and 6 months requires additional evidence, such as frequent medically necessary absences, an inability to perform the job without special accommodations, or a need for special supervision. Work lasting more than 6 consecutive months above the SGA limit generally cannot qualify as a UWA regardless of why it ended.
The reason the work ended also matters. The reduction or termination must result directly from the physical or mental health condition, not from a business layoff, seasonal work ending, or personal choice.
Documentation for SSDI applicants in Grand Rapids
When filing an SSDI claim or appealing a benefit denial in Michigan, clear documentation supports an Unsuccessful Work Attempt designation. Helpful records include pay stubs, start and end dates, and hours worked; written statements from a manager or HR confirming the work ended or hours were reduced due to medical limitations; and treatment notes or records showing a worsening of the condition during or after the work attempt.
Having these records organized before filing or appealing can reduce delays and strengthen the overall claim.
Getting legal guidance
Misinterpreting how the SSA views past earnings can cause significant delays in a disability claim. If you have questions about how a past work attempt may affect your application, contact a Social Security Disability attorney in Grand Rapids to discuss your situation.