California disability for mental illness: SSDI, SDI, and SSI explained

Last updated 2026-07-10

What disability programs are available in California for mental illness?

Three programs cover Californians with serious mental health conditions, and they work nothing alike. Confusing them is the single most common mistake applicants make.

The first is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), a federal program run by the Social Security Administration. It pays monthly benefits based on your work history and earnings record. To qualify, you need enough work credits (generally 40 credits, 20 earned in the last 10 years, though this scales down if you're younger) and a condition that meets SSA's medical standards ^[1].

The second is Supplemental Security Income (SSI), also federal, but based on financial need rather than work history. If you have little or no income and few assets, SSI pays up to $967 per month in 2025 ^[2]. California adds its own supplement called the SSP (State Supplementary Payment), which raises the combined floor to $1,183.35 per month for an eligible individual in 2025 ^[3]. That extra money matters.

The third is California State Disability Insurance (SDI), administered by the California Employment Development Department (EDD). SDI is a short-term program, up to 52 weeks, that replaces part of your wages when you can't work because of a non-work-related illness or injury. Mental health conditions absolutely qualify. The weekly benefit runs 60 to 70 percent of your base-period wages depending on your income level, up to the 2025 maximum weekly benefit of $1,681 ^[4]. SDI is not a long-term fix. It keeps income coming while you sort out the longer federal claim.

Many people qualify for more than one at once. Someone with some work history who meets SSA's medical standards and also has low income might get both SSI and SSDI, a combination called concurrent benefits. SDI is separate and is never paid at the same time as SSDI or SSI, because EDD coordinates benefits under its own rules.

What mental health conditions qualify for California disability benefits?

For SSDI and SSI, SSA uses its official medical criteria called the Blue Book (Listing of Impairments). Mental disorders live in Blue Book Section 12 ^[5]. The listings that cover most mental illness claims:

Blue Book Listing	Condition Covered
12.02	Neurocognitive disorders
12.03	Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders
12.04	Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders
12.06	Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders
12.07	Somatic symptom and related disorders
12.08	Personality and impulse-control disorders
12.10	Autism spectrum disorder
12.11	Neurodevelopmental disorders
12.15	Trauma- and stressor-related disorders (including PTSD)

Meeting a listing is not the only road to approval. SSA also asks whether your condition limits you so badly that no jobs you could do exist in significant numbers in the national economy. That path is called a medical-vocational allowance, and it's how many mental illness claims actually get approved, especially for older applicants ^[1].

For each Section 12 listing, SSA looks at two things: the medical documentation of your diagnosis (the Paragraph A criteria) and the severity of your functional limits across four broad areas, which SSA calls the Paragraph B criteria. Those four areas are understanding, remembering, or applying information; interacting with others; concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace; and adapting or managing oneself. You need an "extreme" limitation in one area or "marked" limitations in two ^[5].

Some listings (like 12.03 and 12.04) also have Paragraph C criteria for serious, persistent disorders: a medically documented history of at least two years, ongoing medical treatment, and marginal adjustment in daily functioning. This is the road for people whose condition is chronic and treatment-resistant.

California SDI is simpler. A licensed medical professional must certify that your mental illness is disabling enough that you cannot perform your regular or customary work ^[4]. SDI does not use the Blue Book. EDD's standard is easier to meet than SSA's, which is why SDI approvals come faster and more often.

How much does California pay for mental illness disability?

The answer depends on which program you're in.

SSDI pays based on your lifetime earnings record, specifically your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). SSA runs a formula on that to get your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). The average SSDI payment in 2025 is about $1,580 per month, but individual amounts range from a few hundred dollars to over $3,800 ^[2]. Check your estimated benefit on your Social Security Statement at ssa.gov.

SSI pays a 2025 federal benefit rate of $967 per month for an individual. California's SSP supplement raises that to $1,183.35 per month for an eligible individual living independently ^[3]. In a licensed care facility or a different living arrangement, the combined rate changes.

California SDI pays 60 to 70 percent of your weekly base-period wages, depending on your income. The 2025 maximum weekly benefit is $1,681, roughly $87,412 annualized, though almost nobody collects a full year at that rate ^[4]. For a mental health condition, the benefit period runs up to 52 weeks.

One thing worth knowing about taxes: California does not tax SSI or SSDI benefits at the state level, and the federal government generally does not tax SSDI unless your combined income clears certain thresholds (the base amount is $25,000 for single filers) ^[6].

After 24 months of SSDI, you automatically qualify for Medicare, regardless of age. SSI recipients in California qualify for Medi-Cal right away. For someone managing a serious mental illness, that health coverage is often worth more than the monthly cash.

What is the SSDI denial rate for mental illness claims in California?

High. This is the part nobody tells you upfront.

Nationally, SSA denies about 63 percent of initial SSDI applications at the initial determination level ^[7]. Mental illness claims get denied at rates roughly similar to other impairment categories early on, but a pattern shows up. Mental health claims face extra scrutiny because the evidence is often subjective, symptoms fluctuate, and claimants can look functional during a short office visit or a consultative exam while struggling badly in their actual lives.

At the first appeal stage (called Reconsideration), denial rates climb higher, around 85 to 90 percent nationally ^[7]. The real turning point is the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing, where approval rates nationally have historically sat around 45 to 55 percent, though those rates move year to year and swing widely by hearing office.

California's Disability Determination Service (DDS), the state agency that makes initial decisions on SSA's behalf, handles claims from across the state. Processing times in California run longer than the national average. In fiscal year 2024, the national average processing time for an initial SSDI determination was about 6 to 7 months, but California applicants have often reported waiting 8 to 12 months or longer ^[7].

California SDI is a different story. EDD approves mental health claims at much higher rates than SSA, and decisions usually land within a few weeks of filing. That's the practical case for filing SDI right away while you grind through the federal process.

The takeaway: plan for denial on your first SSDI or SSI application. Most successful claims are won on appeal, not on the initial filing.

What medical evidence do you need for a mental illness disability claim in California?

This is where most claims are won or lost. SSA requires what it calls "objective medical evidence" from acceptable medical sources, meaning licensed physicians, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and certain other credentialed providers ^[1].

For a mental illness claim, SSA cares most about psychiatric evaluation notes (more than just medication management appointments), psychotherapy records, neuropsychological testing results where relevant, hospitalization records, crisis intervention records, and the treatment notes of any prescribing provider. Inpatient psychiatric stays carry heavy weight.

SSA also weighs your treating psychiatrist or psychologist's opinion about your functional limits. These opinions are called "medical source statements." Under the current rules (effective March 2017 for claims filed after that date), SSA judges them on factors like supportability and consistency with other evidence rather than automatically giving them controlling weight ^[1]. A well-documented opinion from a treating psychiatrist who has seen you over many months still moves ALJs.

What hurts claims: gaps in treatment. SSA reads a gap as evidence the condition isn't as severe as alleged. If you stopped treatment because you couldn't afford it or because your mental illness made appointments hard to keep, say so explicitly and in writing. SSA's rules recognize that non-compliance can itself be a symptom of the illness.

For California SDI, your treating physician or psychologist completes EDD's claim form (DE 2501) and certifies the disability ^[4]. The threshold is lower than SSA's, but the doctor's signature and clinical notes still carry the claim.

The strongest mental illness claims share a few traits. Records go back at least 12 months (SSA's durational rule is that your condition must last or be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death ^[1]). Treatment with a psychiatrist or psychologist is consistent. Functional limits are documented in writing. Ideally, there's a completed RFC (Residual Functional Capacity) form from the treating provider spelling out exactly what you cannot do.

If you want help organizing all of this into a clear, complete claim summary before you file, DisabilityFiled's guided intake walks you through it and generates a claim summary you can actually use.

How do you apply for disability in California with a mental illness?

For SSDI and SSI, you apply through the Social Security Administration, not a California state office. Three ways to apply:

1. Online at ssa.gov (open 24 hours, the fastest option for most people) 2. By phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) 3. In person at a local Social Security field office

The application collects your work history, medical providers, treatment dates, medications, and a description of how your condition affects daily activities. It's long, about 60 to 80 screens online. The function report (Form SSA-3373) is the part that matters most for mental illness claims. That's where you describe, in specific detail, how your condition limits you day to day.

For California SDI, you apply through EDD's online portal at edd.ca.gov. You file the claimant portion, and your medical provider completes a separate physician/practitioner section. As of 2025, EDD lets telehealth providers certify SDI claims. File within 49 days of becoming disabled, because EDD generally won't pay benefits for time more than 49 days before your filing date ^[4].

For both programs, gather this before you start: your Social Security number, birth certificate or proof of age, proof of citizenship or immigration status, employment records for the past 15 years, a list of your doctors and their contact information, a list of your medications with dosages, and any medical records you can put your hands on.

Do not wait to file because you think you need more records first. SSA requests records directly from providers. Filing sooner locks in an earlier protective filing date, which matters a lot for back pay. SSDI back pay starts (at most) 12 months before your application date, after a 5-month waiting period ^[1].

What happens during the California SSDI appeals process for mental illness?

Most people who win SSDI do it on appeal, not on the first application. The process has four levels.

First is Reconsideration. After an initial denial, you have 60 days (plus a 5-day mail grace period) to request it. A different DDS examiner reviews the file. For mental illness claims, reconsideration is usually a long shot, with denial rates often above 80 percent nationally ^[7]. File anyway. Skipping it means starting over with a brand new application.

Second is the ALJ Hearing. This is the stage that decides most cases. You appear before an Administrative Law Judge, in person, by video, or by phone, and testify about how your mental illness affects your ability to work. A vocational expert also testifies about jobs in the economy. ALJs review all the evidence and make an independent decision. Nationally, about 45 to 55 percent of mental illness claims win at this stage in recent years ^[7].

Third is the Appeals Council. If the ALJ denies you, you can ask the Appeals Council to review. Most requests are turned down, but when the Council acts, it can send the case back to an ALJ with specific instructions.

Fourth is federal district court. Actual litigation. It happens rarely and requires an attorney.

For mental illness claims, representation at the ALJ hearing makes a measurable difference. A lawyer or representative who knows SSA hearings knows how to question vocational experts, put functional evidence in front of the judge, and spot legal errors. Most disability attorneys work on contingency and take a fee only if you win, capped by SSA at 25 percent of back pay or $7,200 in 2024, whichever is less ^[1]. To connect with a California-experienced representative, see state disability lawyers who work SSDI cases.

File your appeal within 60 days of each denial letter. Miss that deadline and you restart the whole application, losing your original filing date.

Can you work while getting California disability benefits for mental illness?

It depends on the program.

For SSDI, you get a 9-month Trial Work Period (TWP) where you can earn any amount without losing benefits. In 2025, any month you earn more than $1,050 counts as a trial work month ^[2]. After the TWP, SSA checks whether your earnings clear Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). The 2025 SGA threshold for non-blind applicants is $1,620 per month ^[2]. Consistently earning above SGA generally ends your SSDI.

For SSI, every dollar of earned income cuts your benefit, but not dollar for dollar. The formula: SSA ignores the first $65 of earned income per month and half of anything above that. So you can earn some income and still collect a reduced SSI payment ^[2].

For California SDI, you cannot work while receiving benefits. SDI exists to replace wages when you are completely unable to do your regular job ^[4].

Mental illness is where the work rules get slippery. Symptoms fluctuate. People have good months and bad ones. If you try working and it falls apart, document why, how long you lasted, and what symptoms caused the problem. SSA can treat an unsuccessful work attempt as additional evidence of disability.

How does California SDI for mental illness differ from SSDI?

These get confused constantly, and the differences matter in practice.

Feature	California SDI	Federal SSDI
Who administers it	CA Employment Development Department (EDD)	Social Security Administration
Funding	Payroll deductions from CA employees	Social Security payroll taxes
Duration	Up to 52 weeks	Ongoing until retirement age (if approved)
Work history required	1 year of CA wages in base period	40 work credits (scale for younger workers)
Medical standard	Cannot perform your regular work	Cannot perform any substantial work
2025 max weekly benefit	$1,681	Varies by earnings history
Processing time	Typically 2 to 4 weeks	6 to 12+ months initially
Appeals process	EDD appeals, then CUIAB	SSA Reconsideration, ALJ, Appeals Council, federal court

The practical play for most Californians: file SDI right away, because it pays faster and covers the gap while the long SSDI process crawls forward. Once SDI ends after 52 weeks, you either return to work, have SSDI approved (the timing often lines up if you file SSDI within a few months of the SDI claim), or move to SSI if you meet the financial rules.

One more thing. If you collect both SDI and SSDI for the same period, SSA offsets your SSDI by the SDI amount. You won't get double-paid, but you won't lose benefits entirely either.

What are the biggest reasons mental illness disability claims get denied in California?

The denials fall into patterns. Knowing them before you apply is genuinely useful.

Insufficient medical evidence is the top reason. SSA cannot evaluate a condition it has no documentation for. If your most recent psychiatric appointment was two years ago, your claim is going to struggle.

Gaps in treatment get read as proof your condition isn't as disabling as you say. That's especially unfair for mental illness, where depression, paranoia, and agoraphobia often keep people from regular care. If you have gaps, explain them in writing.

A bad consultative exam. When SSA can't get records from your providers, it schedules a one-time consultative exam (CE) with an SSA-contracted doctor. These exams are short, 20 to 30 minutes, with a doctor who has never met you. People with mental illness often present better during a brief structured exam than they function in real life. The CE report carries real weight and frequently understates severity.

A vague or inconsistent function report. The SSA-3373 (Adult Function Report) asks how your condition affects daily activities. Generic answers like "I can't do anything" help less than specific ones: "I leave my house fewer than two times per week because of severe anxiety and agoraphobia; on my worst days, about 15 days per month, I cannot get dressed or prepare meals."

Failing to follow prescribed treatment without explaining why. If you can't afford medications, have side effects you can't tolerate, or your mental illness itself blocks compliance, document it clearly.

Age matters more than most applicants realize. SSA's Medical-Vocational Guidelines (the Grid Rules) favor claimants 50 and older. Younger claimants face a higher bar to prove no jobs exist they could do.

For help organizing your evidence and function descriptions into one coherent package, DisabilityFiled's guided intake structures your claim before you file so you're not leaving gaps on the form.

Does California have additional state mental health programs alongside disability benefits?

Yes, and they matter for your overall picture.

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program, and SSI recipients qualify automatically. Even before SSI is approved, many people with low income and a mental illness qualify for Medi-Cal directly, which covers outpatient mental health services, inpatient psychiatric care, medications, and specialty mental health services through county programs ^[3].

County Mental Health Plans are required under California law to provide a full continuum of mental health services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. If you're in treatment through your county's mental health system, those records are SSA-acceptable medical source records, and they tend to be detailed, which helps your claim.

California's Paid Family Leave (PFL) program is separate from SDI but runs through the same EDD system. PFL isn't for your own disability. If a family member is caring for you, though, they may be able to access it.

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) can pay for an in-home care provider if your mental illness makes it unsafe to live independently without help ^[3]. IHSS doesn't pay you cash for disability, but it funds services that may be the one thing keeping some people housed and stable while their SSDI claim grinds on.

The California Department of Rehabilitation offers vocational rehabilitation services. If you're trying to return to work after stabilizing on treatment, those services can bridge you back into employment without automatically ending your disability benefits during the Trial Work Period.

How long does it take to get approved for disability with mental illness in California?

Realistically, plan for 1 to 3 years for SSDI if you end up at an ALJ hearing, which most applicants do.

The initial determination from California's DDS currently averages somewhere between 6 and 12 months for most applicants, though SSA's 2024 agency data showed a national average of about 7 months ^[7]. California trends toward the long end because its DDS offices process a heavy volume of claims.

If denied, add another 3 to 6 months for reconsideration. If denied at reconsideration and you request an ALJ hearing, hearing waits in California have run 12 to 18 months or longer at some offices, partly from a backlog that built up during the COVID-19 period.

Total timeline from initial application to ALJ decision: 18 to 36 months is a realistic range, not a worst case.

California SDI is far faster. EDD usually processes a complete claim within 2 to 4 weeks. Benefits can begin as soon as day 8 of disability (there's a 7-day waiting period for SDI) ^[4].

One reason to push SSDI through those delays: if you win, you get back pay reaching back to your Established Onset Date (EOD), potentially minus the five-month waiting period. On a claim that takes two years, that back pay can run into tens of thousands of dollars. The wait is painful. The retroactive payment is real money.

Frequently asked questions

Does depression or anxiety qualify for disability in California?

Yes, if the severity meets SSA's Blue Book criteria. For SSDI/SSI, you need documented evidence of a depressive or anxiety disorder (Blue Book Listings 12.04 or 12.06) with marked limitations in at least two of four functional areas, or extreme limitation in one. Mild to moderate depression rarely qualifies on its own. Severe, treatment-resistant depression with documented functional impairment can. California SDI has a lower bar and covers any mental illness that stops you from doing your regular job, certified by your doctor.

Can I get disability for PTSD in California?

Yes. PTSD falls under Blue Book Listing 12.15 (trauma- and stressor-related disorders). You need medical documentation of the PTSD diagnosis and evidence of marked limitations in two functional areas (understanding/memory, social interaction, concentration, or self-management) or extreme limitation in one. Veterans with PTSD should note that a VA disability rating, while useful evidence, does not automatically satisfy SSA's standards. Detailed treatment records and a functional assessment from your treating provider are still required.

How do I apply for California SDI for a mental health condition?

File online at edd.ca.gov within 49 days of the first day you couldn't work. You complete the claimant section; your treating psychiatrist, psychologist, or physician completes the medical certification (DE 2501 form). As of 2025, telehealth providers can certify claims. SDI pays 60 to 70 percent of your weekly base-period wages up to a 2025 maximum of $1,681 per week. Benefits start on day 8 of disability. Do not wait for SSDI approval before filing SDI.

What is the SSI benefit amount in California in 2025?

In 2025, SSI pays a federal base rate of $967 per month for an eligible individual. California adds the State Supplementary Payment (SSP), raising the combined benefit to about $1,183.35 per month for an individual living independently. The combined amount is higher in a licensed residential care facility under some arrangements and lower in others. SSI recipients in California qualify automatically for Medi-Cal, which covers health services including mental health care.

What is the difference between California SDI and SSDI for mental illness?

SDI is a California state program run by EDD that provides short-term wage replacement (up to 52 weeks) funded by employee payroll deductions. SSDI is a federal program based on your Social Security work credits, providing long-term benefits for conditions expected to last at least 12 months. SDI is easier to qualify for, pays faster, and has a simpler medical standard. SSDI is harder to get but pays permanently until retirement age if approved. Most people should file SDI immediately and SSDI as soon as possible.

Can I get both SDI and SSDI at the same time in California?

Not for the same period at full amounts. If SSA approves your SSDI and your SDI overlapped, SSA offsets your SSDI by the SDI amount received for that period. You won't be double-paid, but you also won't have to repay SDI separately in most cases. Once SDI ends after 52 weeks, a pending SSDI claim continues independently. Coordinating the timing with a representative who knows both programs prevents surprises.

How important is a lawyer for a mental illness disability claim in California?

Statistically significant at the ALJ hearing stage. SSA data and independent studies consistently show higher approval rates for represented claimants at ALJ hearings. Most disability attorneys work on contingency, take no upfront fee, and are capped by SSA at 25 percent of back pay or $7,200 (2024 cap), whichever is less. You can file the initial application without a lawyer, but representation before your ALJ hearing is one of the most concrete steps you can take to improve your odds. See state disability lawyers.

What if my mental illness makes it hard to manage the disability application process?

SSA allows a Representative Payee to manage benefits and, before approval, an Appointed Representative to handle the application. You can name a friend, family member, or advocate as your representative at no cost. EDD's SDI process also allows a representative. If cognitive or psychiatric symptoms make forms extremely hard to complete, document that specifically, because an inability to manage complex tasks is itself evidence of a functional limitation relevant to your claim.

Does a hospitalization for mental illness help my disability claim?

Yes, a lot. Psychiatric hospitalization records are among the strongest objective medical evidence SSA considers. They document crisis-level severity, specific symptoms, and the clinical judgment that you needed inpatient care. If you've been hospitalized, request those records from the hospital and give them to SSA. Repeated hospitalizations also establish a pattern of severity that helps with the durational requirement (condition lasting 12 or more months).

What if I'm denied SSDI for mental illness in California?

File for reconsideration within 60 days of the denial letter. Do not start a new application, which loses your original filing date and resets the back pay clock. If reconsideration is denied, request an ALJ hearing. Most successful mental illness SSDI claims are won at the hearing level. Between reconsideration and the hearing, fill the gaps in your medical evidence, get a functional capacity assessment from your treating psychiatrist, and strongly consider retaining a representative.

Can bipolar disorder qualify for disability in California?

Yes. Bipolar disorder falls under Blue Book Listing 12.04 (depressive, bipolar, and related disorders). SSA looks at the documented history of depressive and manic episodes plus the functional limits they cause. Bipolar claims are strongest when records show multiple documented episodes, hospitalizations, medication trials, and persistent impairment even during periods of partial stability. The Paragraph C criteria under Listing 12.04 can also cover serious, persistent cases with marginal adjustment in daily functioning.

How does SSA evaluate schizophrenia for disability benefits?

Schizophrenia falls under Blue Book Listing 12.03. SSA looks for documented symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, or catatonia, plus either marked limitations in two of four functional areas or evidence of a serious, persistent disorder with minimal capacity to adapt to change (Paragraph C). Schizophrenia claims backed by consistent psychiatric records, medication history, and a treating psychiatrist's statement about functional limits tend to do better than those relying only on self-reported symptoms.

Is there a waiting period before California disability benefits for mental illness begin?

Yes, for both federal and state programs. California SDI has a 7-day waiting period, so payments start on day 8 of your disability. SSDI has a 5-month waiting period from your established onset date before benefits can be paid, meaning even if SSA finds you became disabled in January, the earliest SSDI payment is June. There is no waiting period for SSI once you are approved, and Medi-Cal (for SSI recipients in California) starts immediately on SSI approval.

Sources

1. Social Security Administration, Disability Benefits (general eligibility rules, Blue Book, waiting period, back pay, representation fees): SSDI eligibility requires sufficient work credits, a medically determinable impairment expected to last 12 months or result in death, inability to perform SGA, and back pay is subject to a 5-month waiting period and 12-month retroactivity cap; representative fees capped at 25% of back pay or $7,200 (2024)
2. Social Security Administration, 2025 Benefit Amounts and SGA Thresholds (Cost-of-Living Adjustment information): 2025 SSI federal benefit rate is $967/month for an individual; SGA for non-blind is $1,620/month; Trial Work Period monthly threshold is $1,050; average SSDI payment is approximately $1,580/month in 2025
3. California Department of Social Services, SSI/SSP Program: California SSP supplement raises the combined SSI/SSP benefit to $1,183.35 per month for an eligible individual in 2025; SSI recipients automatically qualify for Medi-Cal; IHSS available for those who cannot safely live independently
4. California Employment Development Department, State Disability Insurance: California SDI pays 60-70% of base-period wages up to a 2025 maximum weekly benefit of $1,681 for up to 52 weeks; 7-day waiting period applies; claim must be filed within 49 days of onset; telehealth providers may certify claims
5. Social Security Administration, Blue Book Listing of Impairments, Section 12: Mental Disorders: SSA evaluates mental disorders under Blue Book Section 12, covering listings 12.02 through 12.15; requires Paragraph A medical criteria and Paragraph B functional limitations (marked in 2 of 4 areas or extreme in 1); Paragraph C covers serious persistent disorders
6. IRS, Publication 915: Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits: Federal income tax on SSDI applies only if combined income exceeds $25,000 for single filers ($32,000 for married filing jointly); California does not tax SSDI or SSI benefits at the state level
7. Social Security Administration, Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program: SSA denies approximately 63% of initial SSDI applications nationally; reconsideration denial rates exceed 80%; ALJ hearing approval rates have historically ranged 45-55%; average initial processing time was approximately 7 months in fiscal year 2024; California processing times trend longer than the national average
8. California Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal and Specialty Mental Health Services: California county Mental Health Plans provide specialty mental health services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries, and these treatment records are acceptable medical evidence for SSA disability claims
9. Social Security Administration, Working While Disabled and the Ticket to Work Program: SSDI beneficiaries receive a 9-month Trial Work Period, and SSA counts a trial work month when earnings exceed the annual TWP threshold; consistent earnings above SGA generally end SSDI eligibility