You can suspend SSDI payments yourself, but the process depends on why you want to stop and for how long

If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and want to pause your payments, you have options—but they work differently depending on your situation. You cannot straightforward call and ask for a temporary halt. Instead, you either request a voluntary suspension (which freezes your benefit amount and pauses payments for a set time), or you report a change in your circumstances that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will act on (like returning to work or earning above the limit).

Voluntary suspension is the formal route if you want to stop payments while keeping your case open and protecting your future benefit amount. It requires you to contact SSA directly, and the process takes several weeks. If you are returning to work or your income has changed, SSA may stop your payments automatically once they receive documentation—but you should report this yourself rather than wait, because continuing to receive payments you are no longer may have access to to can create a debt you will have to repay.

Key Takeaways

  • Voluntary suspension freezes your current benefit amount and pauses payments for up to 12 months at a time, and you can request it by phone, mail, or in person at your local SSA office.
  • If you return to work or your earnings exceed the annual limit, you must report this to SSA; continuing to collect while working above the threshold creates a repayment obligation.
  • The SSA work incentive programs (like Impairment Related Work Expenses and Plans to Achieve Self-Support) may let you work and keep some or all of your SSDI without suspending payments.
  • Suspending payments does not end your Medicare coverage if you have been receiving SSDI for at least 24 months; your health insurance continues for at least 8.5 more years.
  • You can resume payments at any time by contacting SSA, but the process to restart takes several weeks and you will not receive back pay for the suspension period.

Voluntary Suspension: How to Request It

A voluntary suspension is a formal request to SSA to stop your SSDI payments for a period you choose. This is different from SSA stopping your payments because you no longer meet the rules—it is your choice, and it protects your benefit amount. When you suspend, your monthly payment stops, but your Primary Insurance Amount (the dollar figure SSA uses to calculate your benefit) stays the same. When you resume, you receive the same amount you were getting before, with any cost-of-living adjustments SSA made during the suspension period.

You can suspend for up to 12 months at a time. After 12 months, your suspension ends automatically and payments resume unless you request another suspension. You can request a new suspension whenever you want, so you can use this repeatedly if your situation changes.

To request a voluntary suspension, contact your local SSA office by phone, mail, or in person. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask to speak with a representative about suspending your SSDI. You can also visit your local Social Security office in person—find the address at ssa.gov/locator. If you use mail, send a letter to your local office stating that you want to suspend your SSDI payments and for how long (up to 12 months). Include your name, Social Security number, and the date you want the suspension to start.

SSA will send you a written notice confirming the suspension and the date payments will stop. This usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. Your payments will stop in the month after SSA processes your request.

Reporting Work or Earnings Above the Limit

If you are working or earning money, you do not necessarily have to suspend your SSDI. SSDI has a substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit—an annual earnings threshold. If you earn below it, you can keep your full SSDI payment. If you earn above it, SSA will stop your payments. The SGA limit changes each year; in 2024 it is $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,590 for blind beneficiaries, but check ssa.gov for the current year's amount.

You must report your work to SSA within 30 days of starting employment or when your earnings change. Do not wait for SSA to find out on their own. Call 1-800-772-1213 and tell them you are working, or visit your local office. Have your employer's name, your job title, your start date, and your expected monthly earnings ready.

If you earn above the SGA limit, SSA will stop your payments. However, you may not owe back any money—SSA will not penalize you for reporting honestly and on time. If you continue to receive payments after you should have reported work, SSA will eventually discover this (through tax records or other means) and you will have to repay the overpayment, sometimes through reduced future payments.

Work Incentive Programs That Let You Keep Payments While Working

Before you suspend or let your payments stop, explore SSA's work incentive programs. These are designed to let you test your ability to work without when ready losing your SSDI. The most common are Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS).

IRWE lets you deduct certain work-related costs from your earnings before SSA counts them toward the SGA limit. For example, if you need a service animal, medical equipment, or transportation to work because of your disability, those costs can be subtracted. This can lower your countable earnings and keep you below the SGA threshold even if your gross income is higher.

PASS is a written plan you create with SSA that sets a work goal (like starting a business or getting a degree) and lists the income and resources you will use to reach it. Money set aside for your PASS goal is not counted as income, so you can earn more and still receive SSDI. PASS plans typically run 12 to 24 months.

Both programs require paperwork and SSA approval, which takes time. Contact your local SSA office or ask to speak with a work incentive specialist (SSA has them at every office) to learn whether either program fits your situation.

What Happens to Medicare During a Suspension

If you have been receiving SSDI for at least 24 months, you also receive Medicare. If you suspend your SSDI payments, your Medicare does not stop automatically. You keep your coverage for at least 8.5 more years after your SSDI ends, even if you are working and earning above the SGA limit. This is called Medicare continuation, and it is one of the strongest reasons to suspend rather than let your case close entirely.

You will still have to pay your Medicare premiums (Part B and Part D, if you have them) during the suspension. These are usually deducted from your SSDI payment, so if payments are suspended, you will need to pay the premiums yourself—by mail, phone, or online through your Medicare account. If you do not pay, your coverage will lapse.

If you are working and earning above the SGA limit, SSA will stop your SSDI payments but your Medicare continues under the same rules. The key is to keep paying your premiums.

Restarting Your Payments After a Suspension

You can end a voluntary suspension at any time by contacting SSA. Call 1-800-772-1213, visit your local office, or send a letter requesting that your suspension end. SSA will send you a written notice confirming the end date.

Payments usually restart in the month after SSA processes your request, which takes 2 to 4 weeks. You will not receive back pay for the months your payments were suspended—you straightforward resume at your regular amount (plus any cost-of-living adjustments made during the suspension).

If you suspended because you were working and now you are no longer working, or your earnings have dropped below the SGA limit, you can resume. You do not have to provide new medical evidence that you are still disabled—your case stays open and your disability information remains valid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will suspending my SSDI affect my Social Security retirement benefits later?

No. SSDI and retirement benefits are separate. Suspending SSDI does not change your retirement benefit amount or your may be able to access for it when you reach full retirement age. Your SSDI case and your retirement account are tracked separately by SSA.

Can I suspend my payments if I am appealing a decision?

Yes, but it is unusual. If you are in the middle of an appeal and you request a voluntary suspension, SSA will process the suspension on your current case. If you win the appeal later, you may be may have access to to back pay, and the suspension period will be part of that calculation. Contact your local office to discuss how a suspension affects your specific appeal.

What if I suspend and then change my mind before the 12 months are up?

You can end the suspension whenever you want by contacting SSA. There is no penalty for ending it early. Payments will restart in the month after SSA processes your request.

Do I have to report my suspension to anyone else, like my state benefits office?

If you receive other benefits (like Supplemental Security Income, SNAP, or Medicaid), you should report the suspension to your state office because it may affect those programs. A change in your SSDI status can change your income level for other information programs. Contact your state benefits office to report the change.

What happens if I suspend and then become unable to work again?

Your disability information does not expire during a suspension. When you resume, you do not have to prove you are still disabled—you straightforward restart payments. However, if you have been working and earning above the SGA limit, SSA may have questions about whether your condition has worsened. Be prepared to describe any changes in your health or work capacity.