401K and 403B

[FES]

I was recently hospitalized and it has been determined that I am disabled as of now and possibly forever.  I have a question concerning the retirement that I have accumulated over the past 26 years.  I have been approved for disability but do not know if having the retirement would affect my disability payment amount.  I do not really want to cash it out because I plan on returning to work hopefully within the next couple years at most.  Has anyone else been delt with this type of instance?

[Ptrk3]

Presuming you are a United States citizen and have been approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), it is not means tested.  Your IRA or 401(k) or 403(b) or Roth, pensions, savings, other assets, whatever, are irrelevant to an SSDI determination; that is, your retirement savings have nothing to do with your SSDI "payout."

Your "payout" is determined solely by your Social Security "credits" and the amount you have paid into Social Security.   SSDI is an insurance program and, if you have paid into it and meet or "equal" a listing of an SSDI medical impairment, an entitlement for you.

You are not required to "cash in" any of these to supplement your SSDI, if that is what you are thinking. You do not even need to report them.

If you have recently been determined to be entitled to SSDI, you will receive information from the Social Security Administration explaining this and the future prospect of any return to work:

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10029.pdf

Please read carefully information about "trial periods" in regard to returning to work and how those periods, or any other work that is tracked by social security, may affect your benefits.

Yes, you may return to work some day, and Social Security will make the appropriate adjustments to your SSDI and any future Social Security payments upon your retirement.

Good luck to you.

[FES]

Thank you so much for your reply.  This is the answer that I was looking for.  I am just so confused at lost at this point that is is hard for me to understand and comprehend information.

Again Thanks!!

[Ptrk3]

You're very welcome.  Now, just concentrate on regaining your strength and health.

Best wishes to you for a speedy and lasting recovery!