If you are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you usually do not need to share with the Social Security Administration (SSA) your living expenses (i.e., housing payments, grocery bills, etc.) to qualify. However, a potentially relevant cost to cite in your application is your impairment-related work expenses. With that being said, please read on to discover more about impairment-related work expenses and how a seasoned New Jersey SSDI benefits lawyer at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur can help you claim them if necessary.
In the context of SSDI benefits, what are impairment-related work expenses?
Simply put, your impairment-related work expenses are the costs that you incur for items and services that enable you to maintain employment with your physical, mental, or emotional disability. Specifically, these are out-of-pocket costs that you cover yourself without financial aid from any outside sources, such as your employer or health insurance. They are also directly related to your disability and subsequently directly affect your ability to perform your given job duties. More specific expenses of impairment-related work expenses you may have are as follows:
- The cost of a home healthcare service to aid you in getting ready to go to work, or in working throughout the day if you work from home.
- The cost of specialized transportation if you must commute to your workplace (i.e., modifications to your personal vehicle, a private car service, etc).
- The cost of your necessary medical devices and equipment to help you navigate the workplace (i.e., a wheelchair, a handicap-accessible desk, etc).
- The cost of your necessary prescription and over-the-counter medications to alleviate your physical symptoms while you perform job tasks.
Why is it important to claim impairment-related work expenses if they apply?
One of the factors to qualify for SSDI benefits is that you must fall below the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit. As of 2025, blind individuals must not earn more than $2,700 per month, and $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals. Anything above this limit tells the SSA that you have a level of earnings that does not make you considered an individual with a serious enough physical, mental, or emotional disability.
Well, you should know that if you claim impairment-related work expenses, this may be directly deducted from your calculated monthly income. So, if you were originally above the set SGA limit, this may allow you to fall below it. Or, if you were already under the SGA limit, this may lend to the possibility of earning a larger monthly SSDI benefits payout. Either way, for your benefit, you must diligently cite any reasonable costs related to your disability and work activity within your initial SSDI benefits application, all without accidentally exaggerating.
To conclude, this matter may obviously be important to you, and you may want the best possible outcome. So please, do not proceed without a competent New Jersey SSDI benefits lawyer in your corner. The team at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur is here at your command.
