Yes, you can work while receiving SSDI, but your earnings are tracked and may reduce or pause your benefits

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not automatically stop if you work. However, the program has rules about how much you can earn before your monthly benefit payment is reduced or suspended. The key is understanding the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit — a dollar amount that changes each year — and knowing which work incentives let you test employment without losing benefits when ready.

If you earn below the SGA limit, you keep your full benefit. If you earn above it, Social Security will suspend your benefits for that month. The program also offers trial work periods and other protections designed to let you see whether you can sustain work before your benefits end permanently.

Key Takeaways

  • You can work and receive SSDI at the same time, but earnings above the annual Substantial Gainful Activity limit will cause your benefits to pause for that month.
  • The SGA limit is set by Social Security each year and differs from the amount you can earn during a trial work period.
  • A nine-month trial work period lets you test whether you can work without losing benefits, as long as you report your earnings to Social Security.
  • After the trial work period ends, you enter an extended may be able to access period where benefits pause only in months you earn above the SGA limit.
  • Certain work incentives — including Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) and impairment-related work expenses — can help you keep more of your earnings.

Understanding the Substantial Gainful Activity limit

The Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit is the monthly earnings threshold Social Security uses to decide whether you are working at a level that counts as substantial work. In 2024, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for blind individuals. Social Security updates this amount each year, usually in December.

If you earn less than the SGA limit in a given month, Social Security counts that month as a non-work month, and you receive your full benefit. If you earn the SGA amount or more in a month, Social Security suspends your benefit for that month only — you do not lose the benefit permanently, and it resumes the following month if your earnings drop below the limit again.

The SGA limit applies to your net earnings (what you keep after taxes and business expenses if you are self-employed). If you work part-time at multiple jobs, Social Security adds all your earnings together to determine whether you have crossed the threshold.

How the trial work period protects your first nine months of work

Social Security offers a nine-month trial work period that lets you test whether you can work without when ready losing your benefits. During this period, you can earn any amount — there is no earnings limit — and still receive your full SSDI benefit each month, as long as you report your work activity to Social Security.

The trial work period is designed to let you see whether employment is sustainable for your condition. You do not have to use all nine months at once; you can spread them out over a rolling 60-month window. For example, you might work three months, stop, then return to work six months later — both periods count toward your nine-month total.

To use the trial work period, you must report your work to Social Security. You can do this by contacting your local Social Security office, calling 1-800-772-1213, or logging into your my Social Security account online. Social Security will send you a form to report your work activity each month.

What happens after the trial work period ends

Once you have used all nine months of your trial work period, you enter the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, the SGA limit applies again: if you earn below the limit in a month, you get your full benefit; if you earn the SGA amount or more, your benefit is suspended for that month only.

The extended may be able to access period gives you a cushion to see whether you can maintain work. If you stop working or your earnings drop below the SGA limit, your benefits resume without a new process. If you continue working above the SGA limit for nine consecutive months during the extended may be able to access period, your SSDI case closes and you are no longer may be able to access for benefits.

After the extended may be able to access period ends, if your case has not closed, you return to regular SSDI rules: you can work, but any month you earn above the SGA limit, your benefit is suspended.

Work incentives that let you keep more earnings

Social Security offers several work incentives designed to help you keep more of what you earn. A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal — such as education, training, or starting a business — without those funds counting against your SSDI may be able to access. For example, if you are saving to complete a certification program, a PASS agreement lets you exclude that money from Social Security's income calculations.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) let you deduct the cost of items or services you need because of your disability to work. Examples include specialized equipment, transportation costs related to your disability, or personal care information. These deductions reduce your countable earnings for the SGA calculation.

A Ticket to Work is a document Social Security sends to beneficiaries that lets you work with an employment network or vocational rehabilitation agency without losing benefits during the ticket period. The ticket gives you a longer window to test work and receive support from a provider without the usual benefit suspension rules explore.

How to report your work to Social Security

You must report your work activity to Social Security to keep your benefits accurate and avoid overpayments. You can report work by phone at 1-800-772-1213, in person at your local Social Security office, or online through your my Social Security account.

When you report, have the following information ready: your employer's name and address, the type of work you do, the dates you worked, and your gross monthly earnings. If you are self-employed, you will need to provide information about your business income and expenses.

Social Security recommends reporting your work within 30 days of starting a job. If you do not report and your earnings cause an overpayment, you may have to repay the extra benefits you received. Reporting promptly keeps your case current and prevents surprises later.

What happens if you earn too much and lose benefits

If you work above the SGA limit for nine consecutive months during your extended may be able to access period, Social Security will send you a notice that your SSDI case is closing. This means you are no longer may be able to access for benefits, even if you stop working later.

However, you have options. You can request that Social Security reinstate your benefits within five years if your medical condition worsens or you are unable to continue working. You do not have to file a new process; you can ask for reinstatement by contacting Social Security. Reinstatement is faster than a new process and does not require you to prove your disability again if you are within the five-year window.

If more than five years have passed since your case closed, you would need to file a new SSDI process and go through the full approval process again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work part-time and still get my full SSDI benefit?

Yes, as long as your total monthly earnings stay below the SGA limit for your year. Part-time work that pays less than the SGA threshold does not affect your benefit. If you work multiple part-time jobs, Social Security adds all your earnings together to determine whether you have crossed the limit.

Do I lose my Medicare or Medicaid if I work and lose my SSDI benefit?

Medicare coverage continues for at least 93 months after your SSDI benefit stops due to work. Medicaid rules vary by state; some states continue coverage, while others end it when your SSDI stops. Contact your state Medicaid office or your local Social Security office to learn what applies where you live.

What if I earn money from self-employment or a side business?

Self-employment income counts toward the SGA limit. Social Security uses your net profit (revenue minus business expenses) to determine whether you have crossed the threshold. If you are self-employed, keep records of all income and expenses and report them to Social Security each month.

Can I use the trial work period more than once?

No, you get one nine-month trial work period per SSDI case. Once you have used all nine months, you move into the extended may be able to access period. The trial work period is a one-time benefit designed to let you test work early in your case.

What if my employer does not know I receive disability benefits?

You are not required to tell your employer that you receive SSDI. Your work history and earnings are reported to Social Security by you, not by your employer. However, if you use work incentives like IRWE or PASS, you may need to provide documentation to Social Security about your work situation.