April 2024 Spotlight on
Social Security Newsletter

The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) Spotlight on Social Security Newsletter brings exciting news, work incentives information, success stories, and other valuable information for beneficiaries receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), their families, and the professionals that serve them.

In this issue:

Spotlight on Social Security Webinar: Completing the Social Security’s Work Activity Report

DOR offers webinars, provided by industry experts who share valuable information and resources for beneficiaries of SSI and/or SSDI.

Don’t miss out! Go to our 2024 Webinar Calendar to register for future webinars!

This month's webinar:

Title: Completing the Social Security’s Work Activity Report Form
Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024
Time: 10:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. PST
Location: Zoom
Event Information: When you work, Social Security may need additional information about your wages to make decisions on your disability benefits. In this webinar, Social Security will take a deep dive into the Work Activity Report Form (SSA-820/SS-821) to explain how to complete these forms when they are received.

Submit your questions about this webinar

Spotlight Article: Explaining the Social Security’s Work Activity Report

What is the Social Security Work Activity Report? It might sound a bit confusing, but we are going to break it down for you. This report helps Social Security collect and verify information about your work and earnings. It’s not something to worry about, simply complete the form and return it to your local Social Security Office. Keeping good records of your work will make completing the form a lot easier.

What is the Social Security Work Activity Report?

The Social Security Work Activity Report is a form that you may receive from the Social Security Administration (SSA) if you’re receiving SSDI and/or SSI benefits. This report helps the SSA keep track of your work activity. It ensures you remain eligible for your benefits and allows them to apply any work incentives relevant to your current situation. It asks for information about your work history, job tasks, earnings, any special accommodations and if there have been any changes in your work activity or employment duties.

Why Does the SSA Ask You for This Report?

If you’re getting SSDI and/or SSI benefits, they need to know if you’re working and how much you’re earning. This helps them figure out if any changes need to be made to your benefits and ensure accurate support for your unique situation.

Social Security Work Activity Report Forms

  • SSA-821: This form is for reporting regular employment. You will use this form if you have a job where you work for someone else and receive a paycheck.

  • SSA-820: This form is for reporting self-employment. If you have your own business, are an independent contractor (including gig work) or do freelance work, you will use this form to report earnings.

How Can I Access the Work Activity Report?

You can access the Work Activity Report on the SSA’s website www.ssa.gov or get a copy from your local Social Security office. Here are direct links to the Form SSA-821 and Form SSA-820. The SSA may mail you a request to complete and return the form. You can complete the form online or submit by mail or in person at your local SSA field office.

Tips for Completing the Work Activity Report.

  • Gather Information: Collect details about your work, including job titles, employers, dates of employment, and supervisor contact information. Collect pay stubs, self-employment documents, sick/vacation pay or other work-related details.

  • Timely response matters: If the SSA sends you the form, return your form promptly. Sign, date, and return the form within 15 days of receiving the form from Social Security. If you do not respond, your benefits could stop until you contact the SSA.

  • Review the instructions: Before you begin filling out the form.

  • Provide accurate information: Provide all the necessary information, explain your work and income in detail.

  • Be honest: Answer to the best of your ability, answer every question truthfully.

  • Be specific: Specify any earnings. Describe any limitations due to your disability, be clear about how your disability affects your ability to work. If you have a job coach that helps you, be sure to list their name and contact information.

  • Include additional pages if necessary: If you can’t fit all your past work details on the form, attach additional pages with the information you want to share.

How to Complete the Work Activity Report.

It’s helpful to gather records about your work before starting. Fill out the identification section (if it is not prefilled by the SSA). Then there are seven questions on Form SSA-821 for you to complete.

Question 1

The SSA will list a date at the top of the form (Part 1) and ask you to explain any income from work or wages since that date.

  • Check "no" if you had no income from the specified date. If you didn’t work, but income was reported for you, go to question 2.
  • Check "yes" if you worked and made an income and skip to question 3.

Question 2

If you answered "no" to working, you will outline any income reported for you and explain what the pay was for. For example, sick pay, vacation/holiday pay, or back pay. Then, you can skip to question 7.

Question 3

If you answered "yes" to working, provide information about the work you do/did, your employers, employer addresses, date work started, date work ended, pay, job title, hours worked, supervisor name and phone number. If possible, enclose your pay stubs.

Question 4

List any other payments or benefits you received from an employer such as sick pay, vacation pay, holiday pay or employer benefits. Include the name of your employer, the payment amount and the date you received it.

Question 5

The SSA wants to know if you worked under special conditions for the jobs you listed. Check any boxes that apply, provide employer’s name, dates of work, and describe the conditions. If you have a job coach, list the name and phone number.

Question 6

Answer questions about Unsuccessful Work Attempts. Did you stop working, reduce your hours, reduce your earnings, or have changes in the type of work you do because of your disability? You will need to note your employer’s name and the date of the change.

Question 7

Social Security wants to know if you spent any of your own money for items or services related to your condition that you needed in order to work. These Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) may include costs related to special transportation, equipment, medications, service animal, attendant care, and/or medical-devices or procedures. For more information visit SSA’s Spotlight on IRWEs.

Remarks

If there is anything about your work that wasn’t covered in the questions, you can add it in the "Remarks" section.

Sign and Date the Form

Be sure that you or your Representative Payee sign and date the form.

Form SSA-820 for Self-Employment

Similar to the SSA-821, this form has nine (9) questions about your self-employment activities, income, expenses, hours worked, changes to your work activity, accommodations and IRWEs.

Can I Get Help with Completing the Form?

If you have questions about completing the Social Security Work Activity Report, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

  • Reach out to the SSA by calling toll-free 1-800-772-1213 (TTY1-800-325-0778).

  • Call or visit your local Social Security office for assistance. If you contact an office, it is helpful to have your Work Activity Request Letter and form with you. Visit the SSA’s online Office Locator to find an office near you.

  • If you are receiving services at the DOR, you can contact your Work Incentives Planner (WIP) or ask your counselor for a referral for WIP Services.

  • If you are not currently receiving services at the DOR, there are also Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) projects throughout California that can help with benefits planning guidance. You can find the WIPA project that serves your area by contacting the Ticket to Work (TTW) Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or online at choosework.SSA.Gov/Find Help.

Resources for Reporting Wages to Social Security

This Month’s WIP Services Success Story

Joyce has an AA degree in Spanish and is certified in Software Management. She receives SSDI as she has disability that affects both of her arms and results in severe pain. She receives an SSDI check of $1,850 per month after her Medicare premium is deducted. She is enrolled in her spouse’s employer sponsored health plan. Joyce was working two part-time jobs earning $900.00/month while she was pursuing her career goal as an Accounting Clerk. She wondered how her disability benefits would be affected if she earned more.

Joyce felt more confident about going to work after her first meeting with her WIP, Becky. She decided to look for jobs that matched her career goals in the accounting field. She found a job as an accounting assistant with a local school district earning $3,250 per month. Becky explained the Social Security work incentives that were available to Joyce, like the 9-month Trial Work Period, The Extended Period of Eligibility and Expedited Reinstatement. Joyce understood that these work incentives were designed to protect her SSDI benefits for a period of time, allowing her to give working at a higher salary a try. Becky calculated how Joyce’s increased salary would affect her benefits and created a timeline illustrating the monthly impact on SSDI cash benefits moving forward. Joyce understood that her eligibility for SSDI would continue for several years, and she could keep her Medicare coverage as long as she pays her monthly premiums.

Impact:

Joyce continues to work with Becky to keep track of her work incentives. Understanding the timeline for when her SSDI cash benefits may stop, Joyce was able to take control of her finances and plan for the future. It also helped her make informed choices about her healthcare options, including her employee-sponsored health plan, her spouse’s employee health plan, and her Medicare. Joyce also learned about the Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program, which can help pay for Medicare premiums. For the first time, Joyce felt less fearful about working while receiving SSDI benefits. The guidance she received through WIP services gave her the confidence to pursue her goals, work towards financial independence and self-sufficiency.

Interested in learning more about your disability benefits?

Are you ready to go to work?

Meeting with a Work Incentives Planner (WIP) is a great way to get the facts about your Social Security Benefits.

Sound Interesting?

Talk to your DOR counselor to see if you are eligible for DOR WIP Services.

Not currently Receiving DOR Services?

If you are ready to start an exciting journey with DOR, please click here to Get Started. You will need to provide additional information about yourself to request services.

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