By Chris Sharry on February 20th, 2026 in Announcements
An Unsuccessful Work Attempt (UWA) for SSDI is an effort to perform substantial work that you are forced to stop or reduce below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level within six months or less due to your impairment or the removal of special, necessary work conditions. It acts as a safety net, ensuring earnings during that short, failed, or reduced period do not disqualify you from benefits. There are some cases when a beneficiary may try to return to work but may only be successful for a short period of time
Common Examples
- Medical Setback: You return to work, but after 3 months, your condition worsens, forcing you to quit or cut hours below the monthly SGA limit.
- Removal of Accommodations: You worked for 4 months only because your employer provided special, reduced hours, but those accommodations were removed, forcing you to stop working.
- Short-Term High Earnings: You manage a full-time, high-paying job for 2 months, but cannot maintain it and stop, with the gap between 3-6 months covered by removing special conditions.
Protecting Your Benefits After a Short-Term Work Attempt
An Unsuccessful Work Attempt can provide important protection for individuals who genuinely try to return to work but are unable to sustain employment because of their medical condition. The key is showing that the work ended, or earnings dropped below SGA, due to the impairment or the loss of necessary accommodations. Proper documentation of the timeline, medical setbacks, and employer conditions is critical to ensuring those short-term earnings do not jeopardize eligibility for SSDI benefits. If you have questions about whether your situation qualifies as an Unsuccessful Work Attempt, Attorney Chris Sharry can review your case and help protect your rights. Contact our office today to schedule a case evaluation.
