SSDI and PUA are separate programs with different rules

Pandemic Unemployment information (PUA) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are two different federal programs. You can receive both at the same time, but there are specific rules about how they work together, and receiving one does not automatically disqualify you from the other.

PUA was a temporary program created during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide unemployment benefits to people who did not fit into regular state unemployment insurance. SSDI is a permanent program for people with disabilities who have paid into Social Security through work. The programs measure work and income differently, so the fact that you receive SSDI does not mean you cannot receive PUA — but it does affect how much PUA you can receive.

The key question is whether you were working or trying to work when the pandemic hit. If you were not working and not looking for work because of your disability, PUA would not have been available to you. If you were working or actively seeking work, you may have been able to receive PUA during the months you were unemployed due to the pandemic.

Key Takeaways

  • PUA was available only to people who were working or actively seeking work when the pandemic caused job loss; receiving SSDI alone does not make you ineligible for PUA.
  • If you received both SSDI and PUA, your total weekly income from both programs combined could not exceed your state's average weekly wage, which varies by state.
  • PUA ended in September 2021 in most states, so new claims are no longer possible, though some people may still be resolving past claims or overpayments.
  • If you received PUA while on SSDI, you should keep records of what you reported to both programs to avoid confusion if either program reviews your case.

How PUA worked for people receiving SSDI

To receive PUA during the pandemic, you had to show that you lost work or could not work because of the pandemic. For someone on SSDI, this meant you had to have been working despite your disability — or at least attempting to find work — when the pandemic began in March 2020.

If you were already not working and not looking for work because your disability prevented it, PUA was not designed for you. PUA was meant to replace lost wages for people who had jobs or were actively job-seeking. SSDI, by contrast, is specifically for people whose disabilities prevent substantial work.

Some SSDI recipients do work part-time or engage in trial work periods. If you were doing that when the pandemic hit and lost that work, you could have filed for PUA. The program did not care that you also received SSDI — it only cared whether you had lost pandemic-related work.

Income limits when receiving both programs

If you received both SSDI and PUA at the same time, there was a cap on your total weekly income. Your combined weekly payments from SSDI and PUA could not exceed your state's average weekly wage. This amount varies significantly by state — some states had caps around $600 per week, while others were higher.

This meant that if your SSDI payment was $800 per month (roughly $185 per week), and your state's average weekly wage was $900, you could receive up to about $715 per week in PUA. In practice, this limit rarely affected SSDI recipients because SSDI payments are typically modest and PUA payments were also limited by state rules.

The important thing to understand is that receiving SSDI did not reduce your PUA payment dollar-for-dollar. Instead, the two programs had a combined ceiling. If you were receiving both, you should have reported this to both programs so they could track the combined total.

What happened to PUA claims

PUA ended on September 6, 2021, in most states. This means no new claims for PUA have been accepted since that date. However, some people are still dealing with PUA matters years later — either resolving final payments, addressing overpayments, or appealing denied claims from the pandemic period.

If you received PUA while on SSDI and later received a notice that you were overpaid, this usually means the state unemployment office determined you did not meet the program's requirements or that you reported income incorrectly. Overpayment notices can require you to repay the money, though some states offered waivers or forgiveness programs.

If you are currently receiving SSDI and have questions about a past PUA claim or an overpayment notice, you should contact your state's unemployment insurance office directly. They have records of your PUA claim and can explain what happened and what you owe, if anything.

Reporting work and income to both programs

If you were receiving both SSDI and PUA, you had a responsibility to report your situation accurately to both programs. SSDI has rules about how much you can earn while receiving benefits — currently, you can earn up to $1,550 per month (in 2024) without affecting your benefits, though this amount changes yearly. PUA required you to report that you were receiving SSDI.

The two programs do not automatically share information with each other. Social Security does not know about your PUA claim unless you tell them, and the state unemployment office does not know about your SSDI unless you tell them. If you received both and did not report one to the other, you may have created a record mismatch that could cause problems later.

If you think you may have made a reporting error on either program, contact that program directly. Social Security's number is 1-800-772-1213. Your state unemployment office contact information is on your state's labor department website. Correcting a mistake early is better than waiting for the program to discover it.

If you are still on SSDI and considering work

PUA is no longer available, but if you are on SSDI and thinking about returning to work, you should know that SSDI has programs to help you test your ability to work without when ready losing your benefits. The most common is the Trial Work Period, which allows you to work and earn any amount for nine months without affecting your SSDI payment.

After your Trial Work Period ends, there is an Extended Period of may be able to access where you can continue to receive benefits for months when your earnings fall below the substantial gainful activity level. This is different from PUA, but it is important to know about if you are considering work while on SSDI.

If you have questions about how work affects your SSDI, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office. They can explain your options before you start working, which helps you avoid surprises later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still file for PUA if I am on SSDI?

No. PUA ended in September 2021 and is no longer accepting new claims. If you did not file for PUA during the pandemic, you cannot file now. If you have questions about a past PUA claim, contact your state's unemployment insurance office.

If I received PUA while on SSDI, will Social Security take back my SSDI benefits?

Not automatically. SSDI and PUA are separate programs. However, if you earned income while receiving PUA that you did not report to Social Security, that could affect your SSDI. Contact Social Security to clarify what you reported and what you earned during that time.

What should I do if I received an overpayment notice for PUA?

Contact your state's unemployment insurance office right away. They can explain why you were overpaid and what your options are. Some states offered overpayment waivers during the pandemic; others may allow you to set up a repayment plan. Do not ignore the notice.

Does receiving SSDI mean I could not have may have access to for PUA?

No. SSDI and PUA had different requirements. You could receive SSDI and still have been working or job-seeking when the pandemic hit, which would have made you may be able to access for PUA. The two programs looked at different things.