The “Red Book” is a reference resource published by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that details all of the employment-related rules and regulations associated with the Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. It is intended for use by professionals that help people with disabilities, but the Red Book can also be used directly by SSD and SSI beneficiaries who’re interested in learning more about the employment-related programs of the SSA.
There are provisions written into the SSA’s rules and regulations that support and even encourage disabled workers to find and maintain employment. These provisions are often referenced as “work incentive programs” and each available program is described in the SSA’s Red Book for anyone to review.
The Red Book is updated annually to reflect the most current information on employment supports offered through SSD and SSI. The book contains information on employment supports applicable to SSD only, SSI only, and to beneficiaries who receive both SSD and SSI.
If you wish to return to work, you should review the employment-related provisions of the SSA’s disability programs before doing so. Familiarizing yourself with the Red Book’s details will help you understand how seeking and/or gaining employment will affect your overall benefits. You’ll also learn about specific incentives that can help you seek employment without losing your benefits or decreasing the amount of your monthly disability payment.
