Work Incentives Let You Keep More of Your SSDI Payment When You Work

If you receive SSDI and want to work, the Social Security Administration has built-in rules that let you earn money without losing your entire benefit. These rules are called work incentives, and they exist specifically so you do not have to choose between working and keeping your check. The most important one for most people is the Trial Work Period, which lets you test whether you can work without any reduction to your benefit.

The second major tool is the Extended may be able to access Period, which extends your protection even after the Trial Work Period ends. Together, these two programs can give you months or years to build work experience and income while your SSDI payment stays the same or only partially reduces. Understanding how they work is the difference between earning extra money and losing your benefit by accident.

Key Takeaways

  • The Trial Work Period lets you earn any amount for nine months without any reduction to your SSDI check, as long as you report your work to Social Security.
  • After the Trial Work Period ends, the Extended may be able to access Period gives you 36 additional months where your benefit only reduces if you earn over the monthly threshold, which changes yearly.
  • You must report your work to Social Security within the month it occurs, or you risk losing the protection these work incentives provide.
  • Once you earn above the monthly threshold for nine months during Extended may be able to access, your case enters Expedited Reinstatement, which lets you return to full benefits within five years if work does not work out.

The Trial Work Period: Nine Months of Full Payment

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which you can earn any amount and your SSDI payment does not change. Social Security counts a month as a "trial work month" only if you report earnings of $940 or more (this threshold changes yearly, so confirm the current amount with Social Security). You do not have to earn that much every month—only the months where you do count toward your nine.

The key requirement is that you must report your work to Social Security. You can report online through your My Social Security account, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or by mail. Report within the month the work occurred. If you do not report, Social Security will not count that month as a trial work month, and you may lose the protection if your earnings trigger a review.

Once you have used all nine trial work months, your case moves into the Extended may be able to access Period. The nine months do not have to be consecutive—if you work three months, take a break, then work again, the clock picks up where it left off. This flexibility is why the Trial Work Period is so valuable for people testing whether they can sustain work.

Extended may be able to access: 36 More Months of Partial Protection

After your nine trial work months end, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, your SSDI payment reduces only if you earn above a monthly threshold. That threshold is called Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA. In 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,590 for blind beneficiaries (these amounts change yearly).

Here is how the reduction works: if you earn $1,400 in a month during Extended may be able to access, your payment stays the same because you are under the SGA threshold. If you earn $1,700, your payment reduces because you exceeded the threshold. The reduction is not dollar-for-dollar—Social Security uses a formula that typically reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above SGA, but the exact calculation depends on your situation.

You still must report your earnings every month during Extended may be able to access. The reporting requirement does not end when the Trial Work Period ends. If you fail to report and Social Security discovers unreported earnings later, your case can be terminated, and you may owe back benefits.

Expedited Reinstatement: Your Safety Net if Work Stops

If you work during the Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access, and then your work stops or your earnings drop below SGA, you enter a period called Expedited Reinstatement. This period lasts five years from the month your Extended may be able to access ended. During Expedited Reinstatement, if you need to stop working or reduce your hours due to your disability, you can request that your SSDI benefits restart without going through a new medical review.

Expedited Reinstatement is a safety net. It means you do not have to prove your disability all over again if work does not work out. You straightforward contact Social Security, explain that you can no longer work at the same level, and your benefits can resume. This protection lasts five years, giving you a genuine window to try work without the fear that a failed attempt will cost you months in the process process.

To use Expedited Reinstatement, you must request it within five years of the month your Extended may be able to access ended. After five years, the protection expires, and if you need benefits again, you would have to file a new claim and go through the medical review process.

Other Work Incentives: Plan to Achieve Self-Support and Impairment Related Work Expenses

Beyond the Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access, Social Security offers two additional work incentives for people with specific situations. Plan to Achieve Self-Support, or PASS, lets you set aside income and resources for a work goal without those amounts counting against your benefit. For example, if you want to save money for job training or to start a business, a PASS plan can exclude that savings from Social Security's income and resource limits.

PASS requires a written plan that you submit to Social Security. The plan must show how the money will help you reach a specific work goal within a set timeframe. PASS is complex and usually requires help from a work incentive planning specialist, who can review your situation and draft the plan. You can find a specialist through your state's Ticket to Work program or by contacting your local Social Security office.

Impairment Related Work Expenses, or IRWE, lets you deduct certain costs from your earnings before Social Security calculates whether you have exceeded SGA. For example, if you need a personal assistant to help you get to work, or special equipment, or transportation related to your disability, those costs can be deducted. This can lower your countable earnings and help you stay under the SGA threshold longer.

How to Report Your Work and Protect Your Benefits

Reporting your work correctly is the single most important step to keeping your benefits while you earn. You must report within the month the work occurred. The easiest way is through your My Social Security account online—you can log in, go to the "Earnings" section, and report your monthly income. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office in person.

When you report, have your pay stubs or a record of your earnings ready. Social Security will ask how much you earned, the dates you worked, and your job title. Keep copies of everything you report. If Social Security later questions your earnings, you will have documentation to back up what you reported.

If you miss a month of reporting, Social Security may not count that month as a trial work month, or it may not explore the Extended may be able to access rules correctly. This can cost you months of protection. Set a reminder on your phone or calendar to report by the end of each month you work. If you work with a representative payee or a work incentive planning specialist, they can help you report on time.

When Work Incentives End and Your Case Closes

Your work incentive protections end when one of three things happens: you complete the Extended may be able to access Period without returning to work, you earn above SGA for nine months during Extended may be able to access, or five years pass since Extended may be able to access ended without you requesting Expedited Reinstatement. Once the protections end, if you are still working and earning above SGA, your SSDI case will close.

If your case closes because you are working, you do not lose your medical coverage when ready. You may be able to continue Medicare for up to 93 months after your case closes, depending on your situation. You should contact Social Security before your case closes to understand what coverage you will have once benefits stop.

If you stop working after your case closes and you are still within the five-year Expedited Reinstatement window, you can request that benefits restart. If you are outside that window, you would need to file a new SSDI claim and go through the medical review process again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use my nine trial work months all at once?

No. Trial work months do not have to be consecutive. You can work three months, take a break, then work again later. Only the months where you earn $940 or more count toward your nine. Once you have used all nine, you move into Extended may be able to access.

What happens if I forget to report my work one month?

If you do not report earnings in the month they occur, Social Security may not count that month as a trial work month, and you could lose protection. Report as soon as possible if you miss a month. Contact Social Security to explain the delay and provide documentation of your earnings.

Can I go back to work after my Extended may be able to access ends?

Yes, but without the same protections. If you are within five years of when Extended may be able to access ended, you can request Expedited Reinstatement if work stops. After five years, you would need to file a new SSDI claim if you need benefits again.

Does the SGA threshold change every year?

Yes. The SGA amount increases most years. In 2024 it is $1,550 for non-blind beneficiaries. Check with Social Security or your local office each year to confirm the current threshold, especially if you are close to it.

Can I use a Plan to Achieve Self-Support if I am already working?

Yes. PASS lets you set aside income toward a work goal while you are currently working or not working. You need a written plan that shows how the money will help you reach a specific goal. A work incentive planning specialist can help you develop the plan.