Part-Time Work While Receiving SSDI in 2019

How Part-Time Work Affects Your SSDI Check in 2019

If you work part-time while receiving SSDI, your benefit amount does not automatically stop. Instead, Social Security uses a trial work period and an extended may be able to access period to let you test your ability to work without losing benefits right away. During the trial work period, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI check. After that, benefits phase out based on how much you earn each month.

The key threshold in 2019 is substantial gainful activity (SGA). If you earn more than $1,220 per month (or $2,040 if you are blind), Social Security counts that as proof you can work and may end your benefits. But you get a grace period first—the trial work period gives you nine months to test work without that rule explore.

Part-time work is often the safest way to stay on SSDI because you can control your monthly earnings and stay below the SGA limit. Many people use part-time jobs during the trial work period to see whether they can handle working again before risking their benefits.

Key Takeaways

Your SSDI check continues during the nine-month trial work period no matter how much you earn, as long as you report your work to Social Security.
After the trial work period ends, you keep your benefits only if you earn less than $1,220 per month in 2019 (or $2,040 if blind).
Part-time work that stays under the monthly earnings limit lets you keep your full SSDI check and test whether you can work long-term.
You must report all earnings to Social Security within the month you earn them, or you risk overpayment and having to repay benefits.
The extended may be able to access period after the trial work period gives you three additional years to return to SSDI if part-time work does not work out.

The Trial Work Period: Nine Months of Full Benefits

The trial work period is a nine-month window during which you can work and earn any amount without losing your SSDI check. Social Security does not count the money you earn during these nine months against you. The nine months do not have to be consecutive—they are counted based on the months in which you actually work and report earnings.

To use the trial work period, you must tell Social Security that you are working. You do this by reporting your earnings each month on a form or by phone. If you do not report work, Social Security will not know you are testing your ability to work, and the trial work period will not start. Many people lose this protection by accident straightforward because they did not report.

During the trial work period, you also remain covered by Medicare even if your benefits stop later. This is a major reason to use the trial work period deliberately—it lets you work, keep your health coverage, and see whether part-time work is sustainable before you risk losing benefits permanently.

Earnings Limits After the Trial Work Period Ends

Once you have used up your nine trial work months, Social Security applies the SGA rule. In 2019, if you earn $1,220 or more in a single month, that month counts as a month of substantial gainful activity. If you have three months of SGA within a rolling 36-month period, your SSDI benefits stop.

Part-time work that keeps you under $1,220 per month means your benefits continue. This is why many people on SSDI choose part-time jobs—they can work 10 to 20 hours per week at minimum wage and stay safely below the limit. A job paying $15 per hour, for example, lets you work about 80 hours per month without hitting the SGA threshold.

The SGA limit applies to your gross earnings—the amount before taxes. Social Security does not subtract taxes, transportation costs, or work-related expenses. If you earn $1,220 gross, that is one month of SGA, even if your take-home pay is lower.

How to Report Part-Time Work Earnings

You must report your earnings to Social Security within the month you earn them. You can report by phone, mail, or online through your my Social Security account. Social Security provides a form called the Earnings Report (also called the SSA-777-BK for beneficiaries), but many people report by phone to the SSDI work incentives hotline.

When you report, tell Social Security the month you worked, the number of hours, and your gross pay. Keep pay stubs or a letter from your employer showing the dates and amounts. If your earnings change month to month, you will need to report each month separately—do not estimate or average.

If you do not report earnings, Social Security will eventually discover the work through tax records or other means. When that happens, you may owe back benefits (an overpayment) and have to repay the money. Reporting on time protects you and keeps your record clear.

The Extended may be able to access Period: Your Safety Net

After your trial work period ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, if you have a month where you earn less than the SGA limit, your benefits continue for that month. If you have a month where you earn $1,220 or more, that month does not count toward benefits, but you do not lose SSDI permanently.

The extended may be able to access period is a safety net. If part-time work becomes too hard, or if your condition worsens, you can stop working or reduce your hours back below the SGA limit. Your benefits will resume in the months you earn under the limit. You do not have to reapply or go through the approval process again.

This period is especially valuable for people testing part-time work for the first time. You have three years to see whether part-time work is sustainable. If it is not, you can return to full benefits without losing your SSDI status.

Part-Time Work and Medicare Coverage

Part-time work does not end your Medicare coverage automatically. You remain covered by Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) for at least 93 months after your trial work period begins, even if your SSDI benefits stop due to earnings. This is called Medicare continuation, and it is one of the strongest reasons to use part-time work as a test.

You keep Medicare Part B (medical insurance) as long as you pay the premium, which is deducted from your SSDI check while you are receiving benefits. Once benefits stop, you must pay the Part B premium yourself. In 2019, the standard Part B premium was $135.50 per month, though it varies by income.

If you lose SSDI due to part-time work earnings and then return to SSDI during the extended may be able to access period, your Medicare coverage continues without a gap. This continuity is critical for people managing chronic conditions or disabilities that require ongoing medical care.

Work Incentives Beyond Part-Time Earnings

Social Security offers other work incentives beyond the trial work period and SGA limit. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside income and resources for a work goal without affecting your SSDI check. The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) deduction removes certain disability-related costs from your countable earnings.

For example, if you need a personal assistant to help you work, or if you need special transportation to get to a part-time job, those costs can be deducted from your earnings before Social Security calculates whether you have hit the SGA limit. This can let you work more hours or earn more money while staying under the threshold.

These incentives are complex and require paperwork, but they can make part-time work much more feasible. Many people on SSDI do not know about them. Your local Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project offers free counseling on these options and can help you figure out which ones fit your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work part-time and keep my full SSDI check?

Yes, during your nine-month trial work period. After that, you keep your full check only if you earn less than $1,220 per month in 2019. If you earn more, that month does not count toward benefits, but you do not lose SSDI permanently during the extended may be able to access period.

What happens if I forget to report my part-time work earnings?

Social Security will eventually find out through tax records or your employer. When they do, you will owe back the benefits you received while earning over the limit. This is called an overpayment, and you will have to repay it. Report earnings each month to avoid this.

Does part-time work affect my Medicare?

No. You keep Medicare Part A for at least 93 months after your trial work period starts, even if your SSDI benefits stop due to earnings. You must pay the Part B premium yourself once benefits stop, but your coverage does not end.

Can I use IRWE or PASS to work more hours on part-time work?

Yes. If you have work-related expenses (like transportation or a personal assistant), IRWE can deduct those costs from your earnings before Social Security counts them toward the SGA limit. PASS lets you set aside income for a specific work goal. Both require paperwork but can make part-time work more feasible.

What if part-time work does not work out and I need to stop?

You have 36 months in the extended may be able to access period to return to full SSDI benefits if you reduce your earnings back below $1,220 per month. You do not have to reapply or go through approval again. Your benefits resume in months you earn under the limit.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.