Yes, you can work part-time and receive SSDI, but your earnings are closely tracked and will reduce or stop your benefits once you cross certain thresholds

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not prohibit work. You can earn money from a job and still collect benefits—but only up to a limit. The program uses two separate earnings tests to determine whether you keep your full benefit, a reduced benefit, or no benefit at all. The first test, called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), sets a monthly earnings ceiling. The second, called the Trial Work Period, lets you test your work capacity for nine months without any benefit reduction. After that, a nine-month Extended may be able to access Period allows reduced benefits as your earnings climb. Understanding which phase you are in and how much you can earn each month is the difference between keeping your benefits and losing them unexpectedly.

The earnings thresholds change every January, and they differ based on whether you are blind or non-blind. For 2024, the SGA threshold for non-blind workers is $1,550 per month. Social Security counts only your net earnings—what you take home after taxes and work-related expenses—not your gross pay. This means you have slightly more room to earn than the published number suggests.

Key Takeaways

  • You can work part-time and keep your full SSDI benefit during a nine-month Trial Work Period, no matter how much you earn.
  • After the Trial Work Period ends, you lose $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the monthly SGA threshold, which is $1,550 for non-blind workers in 2024.
  • An Extended may be able to access Period of nine additional months lets you keep reduced benefits as your earnings rise, giving you a buffer to test whether part-time work is sustainable.
  • Social Security counts only your net earnings (after taxes and work expenses), not gross pay, so the actual threshold is slightly higher than the published SGA amount.
  • You must report your earnings to Social Security every month; failing to do so can result in overpayment, which you will be required to repay.

How the Trial Work Period lets you test part-time work risk-free

When you first start working after being approved for SSDI, you enter a Trial Work Period that lasts nine months. During these nine months, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI benefit check. Social Security does not reduce or stop your payment based on how much money you make. This period is designed to let you see whether you can sustain part-time work without when ready losing your safety net.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only the months in which you earn more than $240 (the 2024 threshold; this amount changes yearly). If you work in January, take two months off, then work again in April, those are three months of your Trial Work Period. Once you have used all nine months, the period ends, and the earnings rules change.

You must report your earnings to Social Security during the Trial Work Period, even though they do not affect your benefit. Reporting is how Social Security tracks which months count toward your nine. If you do not report, Social Security may assume you earned nothing, which wastes your Trial Work Period months and leaves you unprotected when the period ends. Keep records of your pay stubs and hours worked so you can report accurately.

What happens after the Trial Work Period: the Extended may be able to access Period

Once your nine Trial Work Period months are used up, you move into the Extended may be able to access Period, which lasts another nine months. During this time, Social Security begins to reduce your benefit based on your earnings, but the reduction is gradual. You lose $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the monthly Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold.

For 2024, the SGA threshold for non-blind workers is $1,550 per month. (Blind workers have a higher threshold of $4,100.) If you earn $1,700 in a month, you are $150 over the limit. Social Security subtracts half of that overage—$75—from your benefit that month. You still receive a reduced check, but it is $75 less than your full SSDI amount.

The Extended may be able to access Period gives you nine more months to see whether part-time work is truly sustainable. If you find that you cannot maintain the work schedule or that your condition worsens, you can stop working and your benefits return to the full amount. If you continue working and your earnings stay above SGA, your benefits will eventually stop—but you have had time to adjust and plan for that transition.

When your benefits stop: the Substantial Gainful Activity threshold

After your Extended may be able to access Period ends (18 months total from when you started working), Social Security applies the full SGA rule. If you earn more than the monthly SGA threshold—$1,550 for non-blind workers in 2024—Social Security will assume you are no longer disabled and will terminate your SSDI benefits. This is not a reduction; it is a complete stop.

The SGA threshold is adjusted each year in January. Social Security publishes the new amount on its website, and you can find it in the annual Red Book, which is the official guide to work incentives. Part-time work that pays less than SGA allows you to keep your full benefit indefinitely. Many people on SSDI work part-time jobs that pay $12 to $15 per hour for 10 to 15 hours per week, which keeps them under the threshold.

SGA is based on your net earnings, not your gross pay. Net earnings are what you take home after taxes, Social Security contributions, and work-related expenses (such as the cost of transportation to work or equipment you need for the job). This means your actual take-home threshold is higher than the published SGA amount. If you earn $1,600 gross but pay $150 in taxes and work expenses, your net earnings are $1,450, and you remain under SGA.

How to report your earnings and avoid overpayment

You are required to report your earnings to Social Security every month, even during the Trial Work Period when earnings do not affect your benefit. You can report by phone, mail, or online through your my Social Security account. Social Security asks for your gross earnings for the month, the dates you worked, and the name of your employer. The reporting important date is usually the 15th of the month following the month you worked.

If you do not report your earnings and Social Security later discovers you worked, you will owe back the benefits you received while working. This is called an overpayment, and Social Security will ask you to repay it. You can request a waiver of the overpayment if you can show that you did not know you had to report or that reporting would have been a hardship, but waivers are difficult to obtain. The safest approach is to report every month, on time.

Social Security also has a Ticket to Work program that can protect your benefits while you work and earn above SGA. If you use your Ticket, you can work and earn above the SGA threshold for up to 60 months without losing your benefits, as long as you are working with an approved employment network or vocational rehabilitation agency. This is a more complex route, but it is valuable if you think your part-time work might eventually exceed SGA.

Part-time work that stays under the SGA threshold

Many people on SSDI work part-time jobs that keep them under the SGA threshold indefinitely. At $1,550 per month, you can work roughly 10 to 15 hours per week at $10 to $15 per hour and stay under the limit. Common part-time jobs that fit this pattern include retail, food service, clerical work, tutoring, freelance writing, and remote customer service.

The key is consistency. If you work 12 hours one week and 20 hours the next, your monthly earnings will fluctuate. Some months you will be under SGA; other months you will be over. Social Security looks at each month separately, so you need to track your hours and pay carefully to avoid surprises. Many people use a straightforward spreadsheet to log their hours and estimate their monthly earnings before they are paid.

If your part-time job offers a raise or more hours, you should calculate the new monthly earnings before accepting. A raise from $15 to $18 per hour on a 12-hour-per-week job moves you from roughly $720 per month to $864 per month—still well under SGA. But a promotion to 20 hours per week at $18 per hour puts you at $1,440 per month, very close to the threshold. One extra shift in a busy month could push you over.

Medical Continuing Disability Reviews and part-time work

Working part-time does not stop Social Security from reviewing your medical condition. You will still receive Continuing Disability Review (CDR) letters asking you to report your current health status and any medical treatment. These reviews happen every one to three years, depending on whether your condition is expected to improve.

Social Security uses your work history as one piece of evidence when deciding whether you are still disabled. If you are working part-time and earning close to or above SGA, Social Security may question whether your condition is truly disabling. However, working part-time does not automatically mean you are not disabled. Many people with serious conditions can work a few hours per week but cannot work full-time. Be honest in your CDR response about your limitations, your symptoms on work days, and any accommodations your employer provides.

If Social Security terminates your benefits because of work activity, you have a right to appeal. You can request reconsideration and present evidence that your condition still prevents full-time work. If you lose your appeal, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. During the appeal process, you may continue to receive benefits while your case is pending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work part-time and still get Medicare?

Yes. SSDI comes with Medicare after you have been on the program for 24 months, regardless of whether you work. Working part-time does not affect your Medicare coverage. If your SSDI benefits are terminated because of work earnings, you can usually keep Medicare for an additional 93 months (about 7.75 years) under a program called Extended Medicare Coverage.

What if I earn different amounts each month?

Social Security counts each month separately. If you earn $1,200 in January and $1,800 in February, you are under SGA in January and over in February. During the Extended may be able to access Period, your benefit reduction is calculated month by month based on that month's earnings. This means you might receive your full benefit one month and a reduced benefit the next.

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

No. Your SSDI status is private information between you and Social Security. You do not have to disclose it to your employer. However, if you need workplace accommodations because of your disability, you may need to tell your employer about your condition (though not necessarily about SSDI) and request reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

What if my part-time job ends?

If you stop working, your SSDI benefits resume at their full amount, as long as your medical condition has not improved. You do not have to reapply. However, you should report the end of employment to Social Security so they know you are no longer earning. If you were in the Extended may be able to access Period when you stopped working, you keep any remaining months of that period if you return to work later.

Can I use the Ticket to Work if I am already working part-time?

Yes. You can assign your Ticket to Work at any time, even if you are already working. The Ticket protects your benefits for up to 60 months while you work with an approved employment network. This is useful if you think your part-time work might grow into full-time work or if you want the security of knowing your benefits will not stop due to earnings.