Special Conditions Overview
A Special Condition is a Social Security work incentive related to on the job supports or accommodations which are funded by a third party.
For example, the time your job coach spends directly helping you to complete some of your work tasks would be considered a Special Condition.
How do they help?
Special Conditions help reduce your countable earnings when Social Security makes a Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) decision.
When do they apply?
Special Conditions are looked at during the following situations and work phases:
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Application for benefits -
Extended Period of Eligibility -
Post-Extended Period of Eligibility
Special Conditions are not looked at during the Trial Work Period. Also, Special Conditions do not affect SSI cash benefit calculations.
How to Establish a Special Condition with Social Security
Step 1:
Determine the number of monthly hours that an Employment Support Professional (job coach) or other third party performs part or all of your job duties.
Do not include indirect support hours. For example, off-the-clock support, transportation assistance, and record keeping by a job coach should not be included.
Step 2:
Ask an Employment Support Professional or other third party to help write a letter which describes in detail your work duties and the direct support they provide. Here is a sample.
Also, ask the support professional if they can provide a record, such as a log of hours or a receipt for services, as evidence of their support.
Tip:
You may also be eligible for other work incentives, such as Subsidies or IRWEs. Consider gathering information about all the work incentives that you may be eligible for and submit the information to Social Security as one “package.”
A benefits planner and other members of your team can help you identify which work incentives apply to your situation.
Step 3:
The Special Condition and other work incentive information can be submitted to your local Social Security office via fax, mail, or in-person for review.
When mailing a letter, consider sending it via certified mail so that you will receive a receipt when it is delivered to the office. Be sure to keep a copy of the letter for your records and any confirmation of receipt by the Social Security office.
Step 4:
Follow up with the local Social Security office to ensure that the work incentive has been approved and applied to your record. It can sometimes take a few weeks to a few months to be approved.
Special Condition Example - Frankie
Note: in 2026, SGA is measured as $1,690 (non-blind) / $2,830 (blind) in countable monthly earnings.
Frankie, who is blind, is earning $3,000 per month.
Based on wages alone, it appears Frankie is earning over SGA. She may be at risk of losing her Title II cash benefit.
Earnings alone, however, do not tell the whole story. Social Security must look at Special Conditions and other work incentives to fully understand Frankie’s work ability.
Frankie receives 6 hours of direct support from an Employment Support Professional each week. This is a type of Special Condition.
The Employment Support Professional writes a letter documenting Frankie’s Special Condition, includes a record of the support hours, and mails it certified to Frankie’s local Social Security office.
Social Security approves the Special Condition and applies it to Frankie’s gross earnings as follows:
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Frankie's hourly rate is $20 per hour. -
The job coach provides 6 hours of direct support each week. -
There are 4.33 weeks per month. -
$20 x 6 hours x 4.33 weeks = $519.60. This is the value of the Special Condition.
Social Security subtracts the Special Condition from Frankie’s gross earnings.
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$3,000 - $519.60 = $2,480.40 countable earnings.
Because Frankie’s countable earnings are below SGA ($2,830 Blind), she is eligible for a Title II cash benefit for the month.
Tips
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Always keep copies and records related to what and when information is submitted to Social Security. -
Contact Social Security approximately 10 days after submitting the documentation to ensure that it has been received. -
Special Conditions can be applied retroactively, with evidence. If Social Security decides you worked at SGA in the past, you may be able to let them know about Special Conditions they were unaware of and change their decision. -
If you have a promotion, change of job, or change in duties, this may impact your Special Condition. Be sure to update Social Security in these situations. -
Check in with the local Social Security office on an annual basis to confirm that the Work Incentive is still in place.