Yes, you can work on SSDI, but your earnings trigger a benefit reduction or suspension

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not automatically stop when you work. Instead, your benefits are reduced or paused based on how much you earn. The program has built-in work incentives specifically designed to let you test your ability to work without losing all your income at once.

The key threshold is called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). In 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind disabled workers and $2,590 for blind workers. If you earn more than this amount in a month, Social Security counts that month as a month of work. Once you accumulate nine months of SGA earnings in a rolling 60-month period, your benefits stop — but you enter a grace period that protects you from when ready loss.

Below the SGA threshold, you keep your full benefit check. This means you can earn up to $1,549 per month and have no impact on your SSDI payment. Many people use this space to test part-time work or build toward full-time employment without financial risk.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn up to $1,550 per month (2024) without any reduction to your SSDI benefit, as long as you do not exceed Substantial Gainful Activity.
  • Once you earn more than SGA for nine months within a rolling 60-month window, your benefits stop, but you enter a 36-month Extended may be able to access period where you can restart benefits in months you earn below SGA.
  • The Trial Work Period allows you to work and earn any amount for nine months without losing benefits, giving you a protected window to test your work capacity.
  • Medicare continues for at least 93 months after your benefits stop due to work, so you do not lose health coverage when ready when you return to work.
  • Work incentives like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) can reduce your countable earnings and extend the time you receive benefits while working.

The Trial Work Period: Nine months to test work without losing benefits

The Trial Work Period (TWP) is a nine-month window during which you can work and earn any amount without any reduction to your SSDI benefit. These nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only months in which you earn $240 or more (2024) as a trial work month. You can spread nine may have access to months across several years if you work part-time or intermittently.

During the TWP, you report your earnings to Social Security, but your benefit check does not change. This is the lowest-risk way to test whether you can sustain work. Many people use the TWP to start a job, build a work history, or see whether their condition allows them to work full-time.

Once your nine trial work months are used, you move into the Extended may be able to access Period. This 36-month window allows you to receive a benefit check in any month you earn below SGA, even if you earned above SGA in other months. If you earn above SGA in a month, you receive no benefit that month, but you can restart benefits the next month if your earnings drop below the threshold. This gives you flexibility to increase hours during busy work periods and reduce them during slower periods without permanently losing your benefits.

What happens to your benefits after Extended may be able to access ends

After you use your nine trial work months and your 36-month Extended may be able to access period ends, the rules change. You now need to stay below SGA every single month to keep receiving benefits. If you earn SGA in nine months within any rolling 60-month period, your benefits stop.

When your benefits stop due to work, you enter a Contingent Work Period lasting 36 months. During this time, you can restart your benefits in any month you earn below SGA, without having to reapply or prove your disability again. This is different from Extended may be able to access: you are not receiving a check every month, but you can turn benefits back on quickly if your work situation changes.

After the 36-month Contingent Work Period ends, if you want benefits again, you must reapply and prove your disability meets current standards. This is a significant change, so many people plan their work carefully to avoid losing benefits permanently.

Work incentives that reduce your countable earnings

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are costs you pay specifically because of your disability to enable you to work. Examples include transportation to medical appointments during work hours, medications needed to work, assistive devices, or personal care information. You can deduct IRWE from your gross earnings before Social Security calculates whether you have exceeded SGA. This can keep you below the SGA threshold even if your gross pay is higher.

To use IRWE, you must document that the expense is directly related to your disability and necessary for you to work. Social Security requires receipts, invoices, or statements from providers. The deduction applies only to months you actually incur the expense, so IRWE is most useful if you have ongoing disability-related work costs.

Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) allow you to set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without those amounts counting toward your earnings limit or resource limit. For example, if you are saving to buy a computer to start a freelance business, you can exclude that savings from your countable income. A PASS must be in writing, approved by Social Security, and tied to a realistic vocational goal. PASS can extend your benefit may be able to access significantly if you are working toward self-employment or a specific job that requires training or equipment.

How Medicare and Medicaid continue after your benefits stop

When your SSDI benefits stop because you are working, your Medicare coverage does not stop when ready. You receive 93 months (approximately 7.75 years) of continued Medicare coverage after your benefits end due to work. During this time, you pay the standard Medicare premiums but keep Part A and Part B coverage. This is critical because it means you can work and earn without losing health insurance.

After the 93-month Medicare continuation period ends, you can purchase Medicare coverage by paying the full premium, or you may be covered through an employer plan if your job offers health insurance. Some people plan their work trajectory around this timeline, knowing they have nearly eight years to establish employer coverage or save for Medicare costs.

Medicaid works differently and varies by state. In many states, Medicaid ends when your SSDI benefits stop, because Medicaid may be able to access is tied to receiving SSDI. However, some states have Medicaid Buy-In programs that allow you to continue Medicaid coverage while working, even after SSDI benefits stop. You typically pay a premium based on your income. Check with your state Medicaid office to see whether a Buy-In program exists in your state and whether you meet the income and disability criteria.

Reporting your earnings to Social Security

You must report your earnings to Social Security every month you work. The easiest way is through my Social Security, the online portal where you can log in and report your gross monthly earnings. You can also report by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or in person at your local Social Security office.

Report your earnings by the 15th of the month following the month you earned them. Social Security uses your reported earnings to determine whether you exceeded SGA and whether your benefits should continue, reduce, or stop. If you do not report earnings, Social Security may overpay you, and you will owe the money back later.

Keep records of your pay stubs, invoices (if self-employed), or other proof of earnings. Social Security may request documentation to verify the amounts you reported. If your earnings vary month to month, report the actual amount you earned that month, not an average.

Self-employment and SSDI

If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit (revenue minus business expenses) as your earnings. You report this on your tax return and to Social Security. The SGA threshold applies the same way: if your net profit exceeds $1,550 per month, that month counts as a month of SGA work.

Self-employed workers can use IRWE and PASS more flexibly than wage earners. For example, you can deduct equipment purchases, office rent, or assistive technology as IRWE if they are disability-related. A PASS can help you build a business by allowing you to set aside income for inventory, equipment, or training without that money counting against your earnings limit.

Keep detailed business records and receipts. Social Security will ask to see your business expenses, profit-and-loss statements, and tax returns to verify your net earnings. If you are unsure how to calculate net profit, consult a tax professional or contact your local Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project, which offers free counseling on work incentives.

Work incentives and support services available to you

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services, funded by your state, can help you prepare for work through training, job coaching, assistive technology, or education. VR is free and can continue even after your SSDI benefits stop. To access VR, contact your state's vocational rehabilitation agency. may be able to access is based on disability and a need for services to work, not on income.

Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) projects exist in every state and offer free, confidential counseling about how work affects your benefits. A WIPA counselor can help you understand the Trial Work Period, Extended may be able to access, IRWE, PASS, and other incentives specific to your situation. Find your local WIPA project at the Social Security website or by calling 1-866-968-7842.

Ticket to Work is a voluntary program that allows you to work with an approved employment network or vocational rehabilitation provider while protecting your benefits. If you use a Ticket, your Extended may be able to access period is extended to 60 months instead of 36 months, giving you more time to test work. You can assign your Ticket to a provider or use it on your own. Participation is optional and you can stop at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I earn below SGA one month and above SGA the next month?

During your Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access period, you receive a benefit check in months you earn below SGA and no check in months you earn above SGA. After Extended may be able to access ends, the same rule applies during the Contingent Work Period. Once the Contingent Work Period ends, you must stay below SGA every month or your benefits stop permanently and you must reapply.

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

Yes, as long as your monthly earnings stay below $1,550 (2024). Part-time work that pays less than SGA has no impact on your benefit. Many people work 10 to 20 hours per week and keep their full check while testing their ability to work.

Do I lose Medicare if I go back to work?

No. Your Medicare coverage continues for 93 months after your SSDI benefits stop due to work. You pay the standard premiums but keep coverage. After 93 months, you can buy Medicare coverage or use employer insurance if your job offers it.

What is the difference between IRWE and PASS?

IRWE deducts disability-related work expenses from your earnings each month (like transportation or medication costs). PASS sets aside income for a specific vocational goal over time (like saving for business equipment or training). Both reduce your countable earnings, but PASS requires a written plan approved by Social Security.

Can I use my Ticket to Work with any employer?

No. A Ticket must be assigned to an approved employment network or vocational rehabilitation provider. You cannot use it to work for a regular employer on your own. However, you can work for any employer without a Ticket — the Ticket straightforward extends your Extended may be able to access period if you choose to use it.