You can work while 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 Social Security Administration (SSA) allows beneficiaries to earn money through a series of work incentives designed to help people transition back to employment without losing all their benefits at once. However, there are specific earnings thresholds and rules that determine whether your benefits continue, reduce, or stop.

The key difference between working and not working on SSDI comes down to how much you earn and which work incentive program you use. Some people can work part-time and keep most or all of their benefits. Others can test their ability to work for a limited time without any reduction. The rules are complex because they exist in layers — you must understand both the general earnings limit and the specific incentive you are using.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI beneficiaries can work and keep their benefits if monthly earnings stay below the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit, which changes yearly and was $1,550 per month in 2024 for non-blind workers.
  • The trial work period allows you to work and earn any amount for nine months without losing benefits, though you must report your work to Social Security.
  • The extended may be able to access period continues your benefits for 36 months after the trial work period ends, even if you earn above the SGA limit, though benefits may reduce based on earnings.
  • If you stop working or your earnings drop below SGA, you can request reinstatement of your full benefits without reapplying, within five years of when benefits ended.
  • You must report all work and earnings to Social Security within the month they occur, or you risk overpayment and having to repay benefits you were not may have access to to receive.

The Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit and how it affects your benefits

The substantial gainful activity limit is the earnings threshold that determines whether the SSA considers you to be working at a level that prevents you from receiving disability benefits. If your monthly earnings stay below this limit, you keep your full SSDI payment. If you exceed it, your benefits stop for that month and any month afterward in which you earn above the limit.

The SGA limit changes each year based on inflation. In 2024, the limit was $1,550 per month for workers who are not blind. For workers who are blind, the limit is higher — $4,100 per month in 2024. These figures explore to net earnings (what you keep after taxes and work expenses), not gross pay. The SSA looks at your average monthly earnings over a period of time, not just a single month, so one high-earning month does not automatically end your benefits.

You can find the current year's SGA limit on the SSA website or by calling your local Social Security office. The limit applies whether you are self-employed or working for an employer. If you are self-employed, the SSA counts your net profit after business expenses.

The trial work period: nine months to test your ability to work

The trial work period is a nine-month window during which you can work and earn any amount without losing your SSDI benefits. This is the most generous work incentive available. You do not have to report your earnings during the trial work period, but you must report that you are working and provide details about your job.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. The SSA counts only the months in which you earn $1,050 or more (in 2024) as trial work months. If you work part-time one month and earn less than $1,050, that month does not count toward your nine-month limit. This means you could stretch a trial work period across several calendar years if your earnings fluctuate.

Once you have used all nine trial work months, you enter the extended may be able to access period. During this time, your benefits continue but may be reduced if your earnings exceed the SGA limit. The trial work period is a one-time benefit — you get nine months total during your lifetime on SSDI, not nine months every few years.

The extended may be able to access period: 36 months of continued benefits after trial work ends

After your nine trial work months end, you move into the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During these 36 months, you keep your benefits in any month your earnings fall below the SGA limit. In months when you earn above the SGA limit, your benefits stop for that month only — they do not end permanently.

This is different from the regular SSDI rule, which would end your benefits entirely if you exceed SGA. The extended may be able to access period gives you a safety net: if your work hours drop, your health worsens, or your job ends, your benefits restart automatically without you having to reapply. You must still report your earnings to Social Security each month.

The 36-month extended may be able to access period begins the month after your trial work period ends. If you use all nine trial work months in 2024, your extended may be able to access period would run through 2027. After the extended may be able to access period ends, the regular SGA rules explore again.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)

Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are costs you pay because of your disability that allow you to work. These might include special transportation to your job, medical equipment, medication, or personal care information. You can deduct IRWE from your gross earnings before the SSA calculates whether you have exceeded the SGA limit. This can lower your countable earnings and help you stay under the threshold.

A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is a written plan you create with the SSA that sets aside income and resources for a specific work goal — such as education, training, or starting a business. While you are following an approved PASS, the income and resources you set aside do not count toward your SSDI benefits. This allows you to save money for your goal without losing benefits. A PASS must be in writing and approved by the SSA before it takes effect.

Both IRWE and PASS require documentation and SSA approval. You should discuss these options with your local Social Security office or a work incentives planning and information (WIPA) project, which offers free counseling on work incentives.

Reporting your work and earnings to Social Security

You must report all work activity and earnings to Social Security within the month they occur. Failure to report can result in an overpayment — you will receive benefits you were not may have access to to and will have to repay them. The SSA may also reduce or stop your benefits if you do not report.

You can report your work by phone, mail, or online through your my Social Security account. When you report, provide your employer's name, the type of work you do, how many hours you work per week, and your monthly earnings. If you are self-employed, report your net profit after business expenses. Keep records of your pay stubs or business income so you can verify your earnings if the SSA asks.

The SSA also receives wage reports from your employer through the Social Security wage reporting system. This means the agency will know about your work even if you do not report it yourself — but reporting it yourself prevents delays and errors in your benefits. If your reported earnings do not match what your employer reports, the SSA will contact you to clarify.

What happens if you stop working or your earnings drop

If you stop working or your earnings fall below the SGA limit, your SSDI benefits restart automatically. You do not have to reapply or go through a new medical review. Your benefits resume the month after your earnings drop below SGA, or the month you stop working.

If your benefits ended because you exceeded the SGA limit, you may be able to request reinstatement of benefits within five years without reapplying. Reinstatement allows your benefits to restart based on your original disability information, without a new medical evaluation. After five years, if you want benefits again, you would have to file a new SSDI process and go through the full approval process.

Keep in mind that if you are receiving Medicare because of your SSDI, your coverage may continue even after your cash benefits end. You can work and keep Medicare for up to 93 months (about 7.5 years) after your trial work period ends, as long as you report your work to Social Security.

How work affects other benefits you may receive

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in addition to SSDI, the work rules are different. SSI has stricter earnings limits and different work incentives. If you receive both SSDI and SSI, you should speak with your local Social Security office about how your work will affect each benefit separately.

If you are receiving Medicare, your coverage continues even if your SSDI benefits end due to work. You can keep Medicare for up to 93 months after your trial work period ends. After that, you can purchase Medicare coverage if you are under 65. If you are receiving Medicaid, the rules vary by state — some states continue Medicaid while you work, and others do not. Contact your state Medicaid office to learn how work affects your coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I earn above the SGA limit for one month — does my SSDI stop when ready?

Your benefits stop only for the month in which you earn above SGA. If you earn below SGA the next month, your benefits resume. However, if you are no longer in your trial work period or extended may be able to access period, exceeding SGA for multiple months in a row can lead to a permanent end to your benefits. You must report your earnings each month so the SSA can determine your benefit status correctly.

Can I work part-time and keep all my SSDI benefits?

Yes, if your monthly earnings stay below the SGA limit. In 2024, that means earning less than $1,550 per month. Many people work part-time jobs that pay below this threshold and receive their full SSDI payment. The amount of hours you work does not matter — only your earnings count.

Do I have to tell my employer I am on SSDI?

No, you do not have to disclose your SSDI status to your employer. However, you must report your work to Social Security. Your employer will send wage reports to Social Security, which the agency uses to verify your earnings, but your employer does not need to know about your benefits.

What if I want to go back to work but I am worried about losing my benefits?

The trial work period and extended may be able to access period exist for this reason. You can use your nine trial work months to test whether you can work without any risk to your benefits. If you find that work is too difficult, your benefits continue. If you succeed, you have 36 more months to earn above SGA while keeping your benefits. Contact a WIPA project for free counseling on how to use these incentives for your situation.

Can I use my trial work period months if I have already been working?

Your trial work period begins when you first return to work after your SSDI began. If you have already been working, some of those months may have already counted toward your nine-month limit. Contact Social Security to find out how many trial work months you have remaining.