What is EXR?

EXR serves as a safety net for individuals who successfully return to work and, as a result, lose their entitlement to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and payments. If your benefits ended because of your work and earnings, and you stop working within 5 years of when your benefits ended, you may be able to have your benefits restarted immediately by requesting EXR.

How does EXR help you?

If you have stopped receiving benefits due to your work, we may be able to restart them. The EXR provision allows you to receive up to 6 months of temporary cash benefits while we conduct a medical review to decide if we can reinstate your benefits. You may also be eligible for Medicare and/or Medicaid during this provisional benefit period.

Who can we reinstate?

You are eligible to request EXR if you meet all the following requirements:

• Your previous entitlement to SSDI benefits is terminated due to performance of substantial gainful activity (SGA); or your previous SSI disability or blindness eligibility terminated because of excess earned income or a combination of earned and unearned income.
• You are unable or become unable to perform SGA in the month you apply for EXR.
• You are unable to work at the SGA level due to your medical condition.
• Your current medical impairment(s) is the same as, or related to, your original disabling impairment(s).
• You request EXR within 5 years from the month your benefits stopped.

What happens after my request for reinstatement is approved?

The month we reinstate your disability payments begins your initial reinstatement period (IRP). The IRP can last for 24 months (not necessarily consecutive) and ends when you have received 24 months of payable benefits. If you receive SSDI benefits, we can pay you for any month during the IRP that your earnings are not substantial gainful activity (SGA). If you receive SSI benefits, the normal income counting rules apply.

When is the IRP completed?

The IRP is completed when you have received a total of 24-months (not necessarily consecutive) of payable benefits.

What happens after completion of the IRP?

If you receive SSDI benefits, you are entitled to:

• A new 9-month trial work period.
• A new 36-month extended period of eligibility.
• A new 60-month period to file an EXR request if your reinstated benefits are stopped due to SGA.
• A new period of extended Medicare coverage.