Yes, you can work on SSDI, but your earnings are tracked and may reduce or stop your benefits

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not automatically end if you work. The program has built-in work incentives that let you test your ability to work without losing benefits when ready. However, there are earnings thresholds — amounts you can earn before Social Security reduces or stops your payments — and reporting requirements you must follow.

The key difference between SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is that SSDI has more generous work incentives. If you receive SSDI, you have access to programs like Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access that SSI recipients do not. Understanding which thresholds explore to you and when to report your work is essential to keeping your benefits intact.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn up to the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount — currently $1,550 per month for non-blind workers and $2,590 for blind workers — before Social Security counts your work as substantial.
  • Trial Work Period lets you work and earn any amount for nine months within a rolling 60-month window without losing SSDI benefits, though you must report your work.
  • Extended may be able to access continues your SSDI for 36 months after Trial Work Period ends, even if your earnings exceed the SGA threshold, giving you time to see if work is sustainable.
  • You must report your work to Social Security within the month you start working, and you must continue reporting your monthly earnings while you receive benefits.
  • If your earnings stay below SGA for a full month, your benefits continue; if they exceed SGA, your benefits stop for that month, but you may still may have access to for Extended may be able to access.

Understanding Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

Substantial Gainful Activity is the earnings level Social Security uses to determine whether your work is considered "substantial." For 2024, the SGA amount is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers. If you are blind, the SGA threshold is $2,590 per month. These amounts change each year based on national wage averages, so check the Social Security website or call your local office for the current year's figure.

SGA is measured on a monthly basis. If your gross earnings (before taxes) in any month fall below the SGA threshold, Social Security counts that month as a non-work month, and you receive your full SSDI payment. If your earnings meet or exceed SGA in a month, that month counts as a work month, and your benefits may be reduced or stopped.

The SGA calculation looks at your actual earnings, not the number of hours you work or the type of job. Self-employment income counts toward SGA, as do wages from an employer. If you work multiple jobs, Social Security adds all your earnings together to determine whether you have crossed the threshold.

Trial Work Period: Nine Months of Unrestricted Earnings

Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which you can earn any amount and still receive your full SSDI benefit. This period is designed to let you test whether you can work without the when ready risk of losing your benefits. The nine months do not have to be consecutive — they are counted within a rolling 60-month period.

To use Trial Work Period, you must report your work to Social Security before or within the month you start working. Social Security will count each month in which you earn $1,050 or more (for 2024; this amount changes yearly) as a Trial Work Period month. Once you have used nine Trial Work Period months, the period ends, and Extended may be able to access begins.

During Trial Work Period, you continue to receive your full SSDI payment regardless of how much you earn. This is the most generous work incentive available to SSDI recipients. However, you must still report your earnings each month, and you must continue to meet the medical requirements for disability — if Social Security determines your condition has improved enough that you are no longer disabled, your benefits can end even during Trial Work Period.

Extended may be able to access: 36 Months After Trial Work Period

Extended may be able to access is a 36-month period that begins after your nine Trial Work Period months end. During Extended may be able to access, your SSDI benefits continue month-to-month based on your earnings. If your earnings stay below the SGA threshold in a given month, you receive your full benefit. If your earnings meet or exceed SGA in a month, your benefit stops for that month only — it does not end the Extended may be able to access period.

Extended may be able to access gives you time to determine whether work is sustainable for you. If you find that working full-time is not possible due to your disability, you can reduce your hours or stop working, and your benefits will resume in months when your earnings fall below SGA. This safety net is available for 36 months from the month after your Trial Work Period ends.

After Extended may be able to access ends, the standard SGA rules explore. Any month your earnings meet or exceed SGA, your benefits stop. If your earnings stay below SGA for a full month, you receive your benefit. You can still work — there is no limit on how much you can earn — but your benefits will be affected by the SGA threshold.

How to Report Your Work to Social Security

You must report that you have started working to Social Security before or within the month you begin your job. You can report your work by calling your local Social Security office, visiting a Social Security office in person, or calling the main Social Security number at 1-800-772-1213. Have your Social Security number and information about your job ready when you contact them.

After you report your work, you must continue to report your monthly earnings. Social Security will send you a form each month to report how much you earned. You can submit this form by mail, phone, or online through your My Social Security account. Accurate and timely reporting is critical — if you underreport your earnings or fail to report, Social Security may overpay you, and you will be required to repay the difference.

Some people use a representative payee or work incentives coordinator to help them track and report earnings. If you have a representative payee (someone Social Security appointed to manage your benefits), that person may help you report your work. You can also ask Social Security to connect you with a Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project in your state, which provides free help understanding how work affects your benefits.

What Happens to Your Benefits When You Work

During Trial Work Period, your benefits do not change — you receive your full SSDI payment every month, regardless of earnings. Once Trial Work Period ends and Extended may be able to access begins, your benefits are tied to your monthly earnings. In months when your earnings stay below SGA, you get your full payment. In months when your earnings meet or exceed SGA, your payment stops for that month.

If you continue working after Extended may be able to access ends (36 months after Trial Work Period), the same rule applies: benefits stop in any month your earnings meet or exceed SGA. However, you can still work and earn as much as you want — your benefits straightforward pause in high-earning months and resume when your earnings drop below SGA.

Your benefits can also end if Social Security determines that your medical condition has improved and you are no longer disabled. This is separate from earnings-based termination. Social Security will conduct periodic reviews of your case, especially if you are working. If you believe your condition has not improved, you can provide medical evidence to Social Security during these reviews.

Other Work Incentives and Support

Beyond Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access, SSDI includes other work incentives. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) allows you to set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without affecting your benefits. For example, you could use PASS to save money for job training or education while continuing to receive SSDI.

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) let you deduct certain costs related to your disability from your earnings before Social Security calculates whether you have crossed the SGA threshold. For example, if you need a personal assistant at work because of your disability, the cost of that assistant can be deducted from your earnings.

The Ticket to Work program is a voluntary program that extends your may be able to access for benefits and Medicare or Medicaid while you work toward financial independence. If you assign your Ticket to Work to an approved employment network or vocational rehabilitation agency, you gain additional protections and support. You can learn more about Ticket to Work by visiting the Ticket to Work website or calling 1-866-968-7842.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my Medicare if I work and my SSDI stops?

No. If you are working and your SSDI benefits stop because your earnings exceed SGA, your Medicare coverage continues for at least 93 months (about 7.5 years) after your Trial Work Period ends, as long as you continue to report your work. This is called Extended Medicare Coverage and is one of the most valuable work incentives available.

What if I work part-time and my earnings vary month to month?

Social Security counts each month separately based on your actual earnings that month. If you earn below SGA in one month and above SGA the next month, you receive your benefit in the low-earning month and your benefit stops in the high-earning month. You must report your actual earnings each month, not an average.

Can I work while I am waiting for my SSDI process to be approved?

Yes, you can work while your process is pending. However, if you are approved, Social Security will look back at your work history and earnings to determine your benefit amount. Working does not hurt your chances of approval, but it may affect how much your monthly benefit will be.

What happens if I do not report my work to Social Security?

If you do not report your work and Social Security later discovers you have been working, you may be overpaid. You will be required to repay any benefits you received while your earnings should have stopped your payments. Intentional failure to report can also result in penalties or fraud charges. Always report your work promptly.

Can I go back on SSDI if I stop working?

If your benefits stopped because your earnings exceeded SGA, and you later reduce your work or stop working, your benefits will resume in the first month your earnings fall below SGA, as long as you are still within your Extended may be able to access period. After Extended may be able to access ends, you can still work, but your benefits will only resume in months when earnings stay below SGA. If your benefits ended for medical reasons, you would need to contact Social Security to discuss your situation.