Yes, you can work part-time and collect SSDI, but your earnings will reduce or stop your benefits

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not prohibit part-time work. You can earn money and still receive benefits — but only up to a limit called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). In 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers and $2,590 for blind workers. If you earn more than that in a month, Social Security will count that month as a month of work, and your benefits may be reduced or stopped.

The key difference between SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) matters here. SSDI has a work incentive program called Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) that lets you set aside income and resources to reach a work goal without losing benefits. SSI has different rules and stricter income limits. This article focuses on SSDI; if you receive SSI, contact your local Social Security office for your specific situation.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn up to $1,550 per month (in 2024) without triggering a reduction in SSDI benefits, as long as you are not performing substantial gainful activity.
  • Earnings above the SGA threshold in any month will cause Social Security to review your case and may reduce or stop your benefits that month.
  • The Trial Work Period allows you to test your ability to work for nine months without losing benefits, even if you earn above SGA.
  • A PASS plan lets you set aside income and resources toward a specific work goal while keeping your SSDI benefits intact.
  • You must report all earnings to Social Security within 30 days of the month in which you earned them.

The Trial Work Period: Nine Months to Test Your Work Capacity

When you first return to work, you enter a Trial Work Period (TWP) that lasts nine months. During this time, you can earn any amount without losing your SSDI benefits, as long as you report your earnings. The nine months do not have to be consecutive; Social Security counts only the months in which you earn $240 or more (in 2024).

This is the most generous part of the SSDI work rules. You can use it to test whether you can sustain part-time work without your condition worsening. If you earn $100 one month and $2,000 the next, both months count toward your nine-month limit. Once you have used all nine months, the Extended may be able to access Period begins.

After the Trial Work Period ends, you enter a 36-month window called the Extended may be able to access Period. During this time, you keep your benefits in any month you earn less than the SGA threshold ($1,550 in 2024). If you earn $1,550 or more in a month, you lose benefits that month, but you do not lose your SSDI permanently — you can return to benefits in months when your earnings drop below the limit.

How Social Security Counts Your Earnings

Social Security counts gross income — the money you earn before taxes, not what you take home. If you earn $1,200 in gross wages one month, that is what Social Security counts, even if taxes and deductions bring your take-home pay to $950.

Self-employment income is counted differently. Social Security uses your net profit — what you earn after business expenses — not your gross revenue. If you run a small business and gross $3,000 but spend $1,500 on supplies and rent, your net profit is $1,500. That is what counts toward the SGA threshold.

Certain types of income do not count. Unearned income like Social Security benefits, pensions, interest, and gifts are not counted toward the SGA limit. Only money you earn through work — wages, self-employment, or both — matters for the SGA calculation.

Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS): Setting Aside Earnings for a Work Goal

If you want to work toward a specific goal — returning to school, starting a business, or training for a new job — you can use a PASS plan to set aside income and resources without losing SSDI benefits. A PASS plan is a written agreement between you and Social Security that describes your work goal and how you will use your earnings to reach it.

Here is how it works: you set aside a portion of your monthly earnings in a separate account dedicated to your goal. Social Security does not count that set-aside money when calculating whether you have exceeded the SGA threshold. For example, if you earn $2,000 per month and set aside $600 toward a business startup, Social Security counts only the remaining $1,400 toward your SGA limit.

A PASS plan requires a written process and approval from Social Security. You will need to describe your work goal, the steps you will take to reach it, the timeline, and how much money you need to set aside each month. The plan must be realistic and achievable. You can work with a Benefits Planning, information, and Outreach (BPAO) counselor — a free service — to help you write and submit your PASS plan. Find a BPAO near you through the Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project website.

Reporting Your Earnings to Social Security

You must report all earnings to Social Security within 30 days of the end of the month in which you earned them. If you earned money in March, you must report it by April 30. Failing to report earnings can result in an overpayment — money Social Security paid you that you were not may have access to to — and you will have to repay it.

You can report earnings by phone, mail, or online through your my Social Security account. When you report, have your pay stubs or business records ready. Social Security will ask for the gross amount you earned, the dates you worked, and whether you are still working. Keep copies of everything you submit.

If your earnings change — you get a raise, lose hours, or stop working — report the change as soon as possible. Social Security uses your reported earnings to calculate your benefits for the following month, so accurate and timely reporting prevents delays and overpayments.

What Happens If You Earn Above the SGA Threshold

If you earn $1,550 or more in a single month (in 2024), Social Security will count that as a month of work. Your SSDI benefits will stop for that month. You do not lose your benefits permanently — they resume the next month if your earnings drop below the threshold.

However, if you earn above SGA for nine months during your Extended may be able to access Period, your case moves to Expedited Reinstatement. This means if you stop working or your earnings drop below SGA within five years, you can get your benefits back without filing a new process or waiting for a new medical review. Expedited Reinstatement is a safety net that protects you if part-time work does not work out.

If you continue to earn above SGA for a full 36 months (the length of the Extended may be able to access Period), your SSDI case will be closed. You can reopen it later by filing a new process, but you will have to go through the medical review process again.

Work Incentives Beyond SGA and PASS

Social Security offers other work incentives that may help you keep more of your benefits while working. Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) lets you deduct the cost of items or services you need because of your disability — a wheelchair, medication, therapy, or a personal assistant — from your gross earnings before Social Security calculates SGA. If you spend $300 per month on disability-related expenses, Social Security subtracts that from your earnings when determining whether you have exceeded the SGA threshold.

Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), described above, is another option. A third option is Expedited Reinstatement, which protects you if you return to work and then need to stop. These programs exist because Social Security recognizes that returning to work is difficult and that people with disabilities may need flexibility and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to tell Social Security before I start working part-time?

You do not need permission, but you must report your earnings within 30 days of earning them. Reporting early — before Social Security contacts you — shows good faith and prevents overpayments. Contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to let them know you are returning to work.

What if I work for a family member or friend?

Social Security counts earnings from family members the same way it counts any other wages. You must report the gross amount you earned. If the pay is significantly higher than what others in similar jobs earn, Social Security may question whether the work is legitimate, so keep detailed records of the hours you worked and the tasks you performed.

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

Yes, during your Trial Work Period (the first nine months of work) you can earn any amount and keep your full benefit. After that, you can earn up to $1,550 per month (in 2024) and keep your full benefit. Above that threshold, your benefits stop for that month but resume when earnings drop below the limit.

What if my disability gets worse while I am working part-time?

Report the change to Social Security when ready. If your condition worsens and you can no longer work, you can stop working and your benefits will resume. You do not lose your SSDI case straightforward because you tried to work and it did not work out. Social Security expects that some people will attempt work and find they cannot sustain it.

How do I know if I am doing substantial gainful activity?

The primary measure is your monthly earnings: $1,550 or more in 2024 means you are performing SGA. However, Social Security also looks at the type of work, the hours, and whether you are working at your pre-disability level. Part-time work at reduced hours and lower pay usually does not count as SGA even if you occasionally earn above the threshold in a single month.