Yes, you can work on SSDI, but there are limits on how much you can earn

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not automatically stop if you work. You can earn money and keep your benefits, as long as your earnings stay below a certain amount each month. That amount changes every year, and there are different rules depending on whether you are still in a trial work period or have moved into a different phase of your benefits.

The key is understanding which earnings limit applies to you right now, and what happens to your benefits if you cross it. Going over the limit does not mean you lose benefits forever — it means your benefits pause for that month, and you can restart them later if your earnings drop back down.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn up to a certain amount each month without losing any SSDI benefits, and this amount increases each year.
  • The Trial Work Period lets you test your ability to work for nine months without any earnings limit, though you must report your work to Social Security.
  • After the Trial Work Period ends, the Extended may be able to access period gives you nine more months where benefits pause only in months you earn over the limit.
  • If you earn above the limit consistently, your benefits will eventually stop, but you can request to restart them if your earnings drop again.
  • You must report your work and earnings to Social Security every month, or your benefits may be suspended for not reporting.

The monthly earnings limit and how it works

Social Security sets a Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit each year. In 2024, this limit is $1,550 per month for most people receiving SSDI. If you earn less than this amount in a month, you receive your full SSDI payment that month. If you earn more, your benefits for that month are withheld.

The limit applies to your gross earnings — the money you make before taxes are taken out. It does not matter whether you work for one employer or several, or whether you are self-employed. All earnings count toward the limit.

The SGA limit changes every January. Social Security announces the new amount in October or November of the previous year. You can find the current limit on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

The Trial Work Period: nine months with no earnings limit

When you first start working after being approved for SSDI, you enter a Trial Work Period. During these nine months, you can earn any amount of money and still receive your full SSDI benefit. This period is designed to let you test whether you can work without risking your benefits.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only months in which you earn $1,050 or more (in 2024) as a Trial Work Period month. If you earn less than that in a month, it does not count toward the nine months, and you can use that month later.

You must report your work to Social Security every month during the Trial Work Period. If you do not report, your benefits may be suspended. After the nine months are complete, the Extended may be able to access period begins.

Extended may be able to access: nine more months of partial protection

After your Trial Work Period ends, you enter Extended may be able to access, which lasts nine more months. During this time, you keep your SSDI benefits in any month you earn less than the SGA limit. In months you earn more than the limit, your benefits are withheld for that month only.

This is different from the Trial Work Period because you now have an earnings limit. But it gives you a cushion: if you have a high-earning month followed by a low-earning month, you still get paid in the low-earning month.

You must continue reporting your earnings every month during Extended may be able to access. Once these nine months end, you move into the final phase.

What happens after Extended may be able to access ends

Once Extended may be able to access is over, the regular SGA limit applies to all your future months. If you earn more than the limit in a month, your benefits stop for that month. If you earn more than the limit for nine or more months in a row (not necessarily consecutive), your benefits will terminate entirely.

Termination does not mean you can never get SSDI again. If your earnings drop and you fall below the SGA limit for nine months in a row, you can request that your benefits restart. Social Security calls this reinstatement. You do not have to reapply; you can ask for reinstatement within five years of the month your benefits ended.

If you want to restart benefits after five years have passed, you would need to file a new SSDI process and go through the approval process again.

Work incentives that can help you earn more

Social Security offers several programs that let you keep more of your benefits while you work. The most common is Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE). This program lets you subtract certain costs from your earnings before they are counted against the SGA limit.

For example, if you need to pay for a personal assistant, medical equipment, or transportation to work because of your disability, those costs may be deductible. This can lower your countable earnings and help you stay under the limit.

Another option is the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without affecting your benefits. A PASS is more complex and usually requires help from a work incentives planning specialist, but it can be powerful if you are working toward a specific job or business.

You can learn about these programs by calling Social Security or asking to speak with a work incentives planning specialist. Many states have free specialists who can help you understand your options.

Reporting your work and earnings to Social Security

You must report your work and earnings to Social Security every month, even during the Trial Work Period when there is no earnings limit. You can report online through your Social Security account, by phone, or by mail. If you do not report, Social Security may suspend your benefits for non-reporting.

When you report, tell Social Security the amount you earned that month, the name of your employer, and whether you are still working. If your earnings change, report the new amount the next month.

Social Security uses your reports to decide whether you are over the SGA limit and whether your benefits should be withheld. If you make a mistake in your report, contact Social Security as soon as you notice it. Correcting it early can prevent overpayments that you would have to repay later.

What to do if you want to return to work

Before you start working, contact Social Security and ask about your work incentives. Tell them you are thinking about working and ask whether you are in the Trial Work Period or Extended may be able to access. They can also explain IRWE and PASS if you think either might help you.

If you are self-employed, the rules are slightly different. Social Security counts your net profit (earnings minus business expenses) rather than gross earnings. Keep careful records of your income and expenses so you can report accurately each month.

If you are working part-time or have irregular earnings, report honestly each month. A month with low earnings does not hurt you, and it may help you stay under the limit overall.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I earn over the limit one month?

Your benefits are withheld for that month only. You still receive benefits in other months when you earn less than the limit. Earning over the limit one time does not end your benefits permanently.

Can I work part-time and keep all my benefits?

Yes, if your monthly earnings stay below the SGA limit. Part-time work that pays less than the limit means you receive your full SSDI benefit that month. You must still report your earnings to Social Security.

Do I lose my Medicare if I go over the earnings limit?

No. Your Medicare coverage continues even if your SSDI benefits are withheld because you earned too much. You keep Medicare for at least 93 months after your Trial Work Period ends, regardless of your earnings.

What if I am self-employed?

Social Security counts your net profit (income minus business expenses) toward the SGA limit. Keep detailed records of all income and expenses. Self-employment can be a good option because you may have more control over your monthly earnings.

Can I restart my benefits if they stop because I earned too much?

Yes. If your benefits stop because you earned over the limit for nine months in a row, you can request reinstatement within five years if your earnings drop back below the limit for nine months. You do not have to reapply or go through the approval process again.