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 Social Security Administration (SSA) has specific rules about how much you can earn before your benefits are affected. The key threshold is called substantial gainful activity (SGA), and it changes each year.

For 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month if you are blind, and $1,470 per month if you are not blind. If your monthly earnings stay below these amounts, you can work without losing benefits. If you exceed them, SSA will review your case and may suspend or terminate your benefits.

The SSA also offers work incentive programs that let you test your ability to work without when ready losing all your benefits. These programs exist because the agency recognizes that people on disability often want to try working but fear losing their only income source.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn up to $1,470 monthly (or $1,550 if blind) in 2024 without triggering a benefit review, though this threshold increases yearly.
  • The SSA counts only your net earnings — what you make after work expenses — not your gross pay, and self-employment income is calculated differently than wages.
  • Work incentive programs like Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access let you test employment for nine months without losing benefits, even if you earn above SGA.
  • You must report your work and earnings to SSA within 30 days of starting a job or when your earnings change significantly.
  • Medicare coverage continues for at least 93 months after your Trial Work Period ends, even if your SSDI benefits stop.

How the SSA counts your earnings

The SSA does not count all money you receive as earnings. Only wages from work and net self-employment income count toward the SGA limit. This means if you are employed, SSA looks at what you actually earn after taxes and work-related expenses are deducted.

If you are self-employed, the calculation is more complex. The SSA counts your net profit (revenue minus business expenses) divided by the number of hours you worked. This hourly calculation determines whether you are engaged in SGA, even if your monthly profit is below the threshold.

Money that does not count includes: gifts, inheritances, interest or dividends, rental income, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, and other government benefits. Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) — costs you incur specifically because of your disability, like medical equipment or transportation to work — are also subtracted from your earnings before SSA counts them.

Trial Work Period: nine months to test employment

The Trial Work Period (TWP) is a nine-month window during which you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI benefit. You do not have to tell SSA in advance that you are starting work, but you must report your earnings within 30 days of the month in which you start working.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. SSA counts only the months in which you earn $1,050 or more (in 2024). If you work part-time one month and earn $800, that month does not count toward your nine-month limit. This structure allows you to test different jobs or work schedules without the clock running constantly.

Once your nine months of TWP are complete, you enter the Extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During Extended may be able to access, your benefits are suspended only in months when your earnings exceed SGA. If you earn below SGA in a given month, your full benefit is paid that month, even though you are working.

What happens to your benefits after you exceed SGA

If you work and earn above the SGA threshold outside of your Trial Work Period, SSA does not when ready terminate your benefits. Instead, the agency enters a review process. Your case is reassessed to determine whether your condition has improved enough that you are no longer disabled.

This reassessment can take several months. During that time, you may continue to receive benefits while SSA gathers medical evidence and work history. If SSA concludes that your earnings prove you can work at a substantial level, your benefits will be suspended or ended, but you will receive written notice explaining the decision and your right to appeal.

If your work does not last — for example, you lose the job or have to stop working because your condition worsened — you can report this to SSA. Your benefits may be reinstated without a new medical review if you report the change quickly enough.

Reporting your work to Social Security

You are required to report work and earnings to SSA within 30 days of starting a job. You can report by phone at 1-800-772-1213, by visiting your local Social Security office, or through your online my Social Security account at ssa.gov.

When you report, have ready: your job title, the date you started, your employer's name and phone number, how many hours per week you work, and your expected monthly earnings. SSA will ask whether you are using any work incentives like IRWE or a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS).

Failing to report work can result in overpayment — SSA may have paid you benefits you were not may have access to to — and you could be required to repay the money. Reporting protects you by ensuring SSA has accurate information and can advise you on which work incentives might help.

Medicare continuation after work stops

One of the largest work incentives is that your Medicare coverage does not end when your SSDI benefits do. If you work and your benefits are suspended or terminated because of your earnings, you can continue Medicare for up to 93 months (approximately 7.75 years) after your Trial Work Period ends.

This extended Medicare coverage applies to both Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). You must pay the Part B premium if you continue coverage, but you are not required to do so — you can drop Part B and keep Part A if you prefer. This safety net is designed to let you work without fear of losing health coverage when ready.

Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) for self-employment

If you want to start a business or pursue self-employment, a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) allows you to set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without those amounts counting toward your benefit limits.

A PASS is a written plan you submit to SSA that describes your work goal, the steps you will take to reach it, and how long it will take. For example, you might set aside earnings to pay for business equipment, training, or licensing fees. While you are following the PASS, that set-aside money does not reduce your SSDI benefits.

PASS plans require SSA approval and must be reviewed annually. You work with a PASS planner — often at a vocational rehabilitation agency or disability work incentive program — to develop and maintain the plan. Contact your local SSA office or visit ssa.gov to find a PASS planner in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose all my benefits if I earn over $1,470 a month?

Not when ready. If you are outside your Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access, SSA will review your case to determine whether your earnings show you can work at a substantial level. This review takes time, and you may continue receiving benefits during it. If SSA concludes your condition has improved, benefits are suspended or ended, but you receive notice and can appeal.

What counts as work expenses that reduce my earnings?

Work expenses include taxes, Social Security contributions, and costs directly related to your job — such as uniforms, tools, or transportation to work. Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are costs you incur because of your disability, like medical equipment, personal attendant services, or specialized transportation. These are subtracted before SSA counts your earnings.

Can I work part-time and keep some benefits?

Yes. If you work part-time and earn below SGA ($1,470 in 2024), you keep your full benefit. If you earn above SGA but are still in your Extended may be able to access period (the 36 months after your nine-month Trial Work Period), your benefits are suspended only in months when you exceed SGA. In months you earn below SGA, you receive your full benefit.

What if I start working and then have to stop because my condition got worse?

Report the change to SSA as soon as possible. If you stop working and your condition has not improved, SSA may reinstate your benefits without requiring a new medical review, depending on how quickly you report and how long you worked. The sooner you report, the better your chances of quick reinstatement.

Do I have to pay back benefits if I earned too much?

If SSA paid you benefits in months when you were not may have access to to them — for example, because you did not report earnings — you may owe an overpayment. SSA will notify you of the amount owed and may offer a repayment plan. You can request a waiver of the overpayment if you can show you were not at fault for the error.