Whether working during your trial work period pays depends on your earnings, your current benefits, and what happens after the trial period ends

The trial work period lets you test whether you can work without losing your SSDI check. But "can you work" and "should you work" are different questions. Working costs money—transportation, clothing, equipment, or childcare. It also costs time and energy that might go toward your health. The math only works in your favor if your earnings, combined with what you keep from SSDI, exceed what you would have without working.

The real decision point comes after the trial work period. Nine months of trial work don't cost you benefits. But months 10 through 36 of the extended may be able to access period do. During those months, you lose one dollar of SSDI for every two dollars you earn above the substantial gainful activity (SGA) threshold. That threshold changes yearly—it was $1,550 per month in 2024 for non-blind adults, but you should confirm the current year's amount with Social Security. If you earn above SGA, your benefits stop entirely, though you keep Medicare for 93 more months.

For some people, the trade is worth it: a job that pays $3,000 a month might leave you with $1,500 in SSDI plus $3,000 in wages, totaling $4,500. For others, the same job means losing SSDI and Medicare coverage, which can cost thousands in medical bills. The answer depends on your specific situation, not on a general rule.

Key Takeaways

  • During the nine-month trial work period, you keep your full SSDI check no matter how much you earn, so working almost always increases your total income during this time.
  • After the trial work period ends, you lose $1 in SSDI for every $2 you earn above the SGA threshold, which means high earnings can eliminate your benefit entirely.
  • Losing SSDI also means losing Medicare coverage after a grace period, which can make a job financially worse even if the wages seem high.
  • Work incentives like the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) and impairment-related work expenses (IRWE) can reduce your countable earnings and protect more of your benefit.
  • The decision to work should account for both money and non-money costs: transportation, fatigue, medical appointments, and whether the job is sustainable for your condition.

How your earnings affect SSDI after the trial work period

Social Security counts your earnings in a specific way during the extended may be able to access period (months 10–36 after your trial work period ends). They subtract work expenses you actually pay—transportation to the job, special equipment, medications needed only because you work—and then explore the SGA test to what remains.

If your countable earnings stay below SGA, you keep your full SSDI check. If they exceed SGA, your benefit is reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above the threshold. This continues for 36 months total from the end of your trial work period. After month 36, if you still earn above SGA, your benefits stop and you enter a period called expedited reinstatement, which lasts 60 months. During expedited reinstatement, you can request your benefits back if your earnings drop below SGA again, without reapplying or waiting for a new medical review.

The SGA threshold is not the same as minimum wage or a living wage. It is a fixed dollar amount that Social Security uses to decide whether you are working at a level that shows you are no longer disabled. In 2024, that amount was $1,550 monthly for non-blind adults. It increases each year. You can find the current year's threshold on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

The Medicare question: why losing SSDI can cost more than you earn

When your SSDI stops because you earn too much, your Medicare coverage does not stop when ready. You get a grace period of 93 months (just over 7 years) to keep Medicare Part A and Part B at no cost. After that, you must pay the standard premium for Part B, which was $164.90 per month in 2024 but increases yearly. If you also need Part D (prescription drug coverage), that is another $30 to $100+ monthly depending on the plan.

For someone with a chronic condition—arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, mental illness—losing Medicare can mean paying thousands out of pocket for medications, doctor visits, and hospital care. A job that pays $2,500 a month might sound good until you realize you are now paying $200 monthly for insurance, $400 for medications that were free, and $300 for specialist visits. Your actual gain shrinks fast.

This is why the decision to work is not just about gross wages. You need to know: What is your current healthcare cost under Medicare? What would it be under your employer's plan, or if you bought your own? What medications do you take, and would they be covered? Some jobs offer health insurance; many do not, especially part-time work. If your employer does not offer coverage and you lose Medicare, you may have to buy a plan on the ACA marketplace, which can be expensive and may not cover your doctors.

Using work incentives to keep more of your benefit

Social Security has built-in rules that let you subtract certain costs from your earnings before they count toward the SGA test. The two most common are impairment-related work expenses (IRWE) and the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS).

IRWE lets you deduct the cost of anything you need to work because of your disability: a wheelchair van, a service dog, medication taken only during work hours, a job coach, or special clothing. You have to pay for these things yourself, and they have to be directly related to your ability to do the job. If you use IRWE, Social Security subtracts those costs from your gross earnings before checking whether you have crossed the SGA threshold. This can mean the difference between keeping your benefit and losing it.

PASS is a longer-term tool. It is a written plan you create with a Social Security work incentives planner (available free through your state's vocational rehabilitation agency or a disability organization). The plan says you will set aside a portion of your earnings—or other income—for a specific work goal, like getting a degree or starting a business. While you are following the plan, Social Security does not count that set-aside money as income. PASS is complex and requires paperwork, but it can protect a significant amount of income if your goal is realistic and your plan is solid.

Both IRWE and PASS require you to report them to Social Security and keep records. They are not automatic. You have to ask for them, usually by contacting your local Social Security office or a work incentives planning organization.

The non-financial costs of working

Money is not the only thing that matters. Working while managing a disability takes energy. You may have good days and bad days. A job that requires you to be present and productive every day can be exhausting, especially if your condition involves pain, fatigue, cognitive difficulty, or mental health symptoms. Some people find that working helps their condition—structure, purpose, social contact. Others find it makes their condition worse.

You also have to account for time spent on medical appointments, physical therapy, or managing symptoms. If your job is inflexible and does not allow time off for these things, the job itself can become a barrier to your health. Some employers are understanding about disability-related absences; many are not, even though the law requires reasonable accommodation.

Transportation is another real cost. If you cannot drive, you depend on paratransit, public transit, or rides from others. That takes time and money. A job that pays $1,500 a month might cost $300 in transportation, leaving you with $1,200 in actual gain—if you also keep your SSDI. If you lose SSDI and Medicare, the math gets worse.

When working makes clear financial sense

Working during the trial work period almost always increases your total income, because you keep your full SSDI check. If you earn $1,000 a month during trial work, you have $1,000 in wages plus your full SSDI benefit. There is no downside during those nine months except the non-financial costs mentioned above.

After the trial work period, working makes financial sense if: your job pays enough that even after losing part of your SSDI, your total income is higher than SSDI alone; your employer offers health insurance that covers your needs at a lower cost than Medicare plus out-of-pocket expenses; or you are using IRWE or PASS to reduce your countable earnings and keep more of your benefit. It also makes sense if you are testing whether you can sustain work before committing to it—the extended may be able to access period gives you 36 months to find out.

Working does not make financial sense if: your job pays less than the SGA threshold, which means you lose benefits for no gain; your employer does not offer insurance and you would lose Medicare; or the job is unsustainable for your health and you know you will have to stop within a few months anyway. In that last case, you might be better off staying on SSDI and using your energy for things that matter more to you.

How to decide: questions to ask yourself

Before you commit to a job, write down the answers to these questions. They will help you see the real financial picture, not just the wage.

First: What will the job pay per month, and is it stable or does it vary? Second: What will it cost you to work—transportation, childcare, equipment, clothing, meals? Third: If you earn above SGA, how much SSDI will you lose, and for how long? Fourth: What is your current healthcare cost under Medicare, and what would it cost under your employer's plan or on the open market? Fifth: Can you use IRWE or PASS to reduce your countable earnings? Sixth: Is the job sustainable for your health, or do you expect to have to stop within a few months? Seventh: What would you do with the extra money if you earned it—pay off debt, save for something, or just get by?

If the answers show that your total income (wages plus remaining SSDI) is higher than SSDI alone, and your healthcare costs do not wipe out the gain, and the job is sustainable, then working probably makes sense. If the answers show the opposite, staying on SSDI may be the better choice, at least for now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I go back on SSDI if I try working and it does not work out?

Yes, but it depends on how long you have been off benefits. If you are still in the extended may be able to access period (months 10–36 after trial work ends) or the expedited reinstatement period (60 months after that), you can request benefits back without a new medical review, as long as your earnings drop below SGA. After 60 months, you would have to reapply and go through a new medical review.

Does working affect my Medicaid?

It depends on your state. Some states tie Medicaid to SSDI, so if your SSDI stops, Medicaid stops too. Other states have separate Medicaid programs for working people with disabilities. Contact your state Medicaid office or your local disability organization to find out what applies to you before you start working.

What if my job is part-time and my earnings vary month to month?

Social Security counts your average monthly earnings over the months you worked. If you earn $800 one month and $1,200 the next, they average it to $1,000 for the purpose of the SGA test. Report your actual earnings each month so Social Security has accurate information. If your earnings drop below SGA in some months, you still keep your full benefit in those months.

Do I have to tell Social Security if I start working?

Yes. You must report that you are working and your monthly earnings. You can report by phone, mail, or online through your Social Security account. Failing to report can result in an overpayment that you will have to repay. Social Security also matches earnings records with the IRS, so they will find out anyway.

Can I use a work incentives planning organization to help me decide?

Yes. Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) projects and Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) programs offer free, confidential help. They can do the math for your specific situation, help you set up IRWE or PASS, and answer questions about how work affects your benefits. You can find your local program at askjan.org or by calling your state vocational rehabilitation agency.