Can I get Social Security disability benefits if I expect to get better and return to work?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Can I get Social Security disability benefits if I expect to get better and return to work?

Answering your question.

Yes, you can get Social Security Disability benefits even if you expect to get better in the future — but only if your medical condition is expected to last at least 12 months in a row or could lead to death.

Social Security doesn’t require you to be permanently disabled. They understand that some people eventually recover. What matters most is how long you’re unable to work due to your condition.

Here’s how it works:

You can qualify for benefits if:

• Your condition is serious enough that it stops you from doing any full-time job.
• Your condition is expected to last at least one full year (12 months in a row), or is considered terminal.
• Even if you plan or hope to go back to work someday, as long as your condition currently meets these requirements, you can qualify.
  

You won’t qualify if:

• Your condition is expected to improve enough in less than 12 months for you to go back to work.
• You’re working and making over a certain amount of money (in 2025, more than about $1,550 per month before taxes—called “Substantial Gainful Activity”).
  

Example:

Let’s say you have a back injury from a car accident. Your doctor says recovery will take 18 months, and you can’t work during that time. You can apply for disability benefits even though you’ll likely improve. If Social Security agrees with your doctor’s evidence, they may approve your benefits for that period.

Social Security may check on your case later through a Continuing Disability Review. If you recover and go back to work, your benefits could stop — but that’s okay. The program is meant to help people while they can’t work, even if it’s temporary.

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In short:

• If you’re out of work for at least a year because of your condition, you may qualify, even if you expect to get better in the future.
• You don’t need to be permanently disabled to get Social Security Disability.