You can stop SSDI at any time by notifying Social Security, but the decision often has consequences you should understand before you act

If you want to stop receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 and tell them you want to stop. Social Security will end your benefits the month after you request it. The process itself is straightforward — there is no waiting period, no approval needed, and no penalty for stopping.

But stopping SSDI is rarely a straightforward choice. Your decision usually hinges on whether you have returned to work, whether you want to keep Medicare or Medicaid coverage, and whether you might need SSDI again later. Each of these factors changes what happens to your benefits, your health insurance, and your future options.

Key Takeaways

  • You can stop SSDI by contacting Social Security in person, by phone, or by mail, and benefits end the month after you request it.
  • If you stop SSDI to return to work, you may be able to use work incentives like the Trial Work Period to test your earnings without losing benefits when ready.
  • Stopping SSDI ends your Medicare coverage after a grace period, which can leave you without health insurance if you do not enroll in a marketplace plan or employer coverage.
  • If you stop SSDI and later become unable to work again, you can reapply, but you will go through the full approval process again and may wait months for benefits to restart.
  • Family members receiving benefits on your record will also lose their payments if you stop, unless they are old enough to receive retirement benefits instead.

Why people stop SSDI and what it means

The most common reason to stop SSDI is that you have returned to work and no longer need the income. A second reason is that you want to switch to a different benefit — for example, you reach full retirement age and want to claim Social Security retirement benefits instead, which are usually higher. A third reason is that you straightforward want to end the program, either because you no longer want government support or because you believe you no longer meet the disability standard.

Each reason leads to a different outcome. If you stop because you are working, Social Security has tools to let you test your work capacity without losing benefits right away — the Trial Work Period and the Extended may be able to access Period. If you stop to switch to retirement benefits, your payments will change but your coverage will continue. If you stop for other reasons, your benefits end and your health insurance may end with them.

The key point: stopping SSDI is not the same as stopping disability. You can stop receiving payments and still be disabled. You can also stop and later restart if your circumstances change.

How the Trial Work Period protects your benefits while you work

If you want to return to work but are unsure whether you can sustain it, the Trial Work Period lets you test your work capacity for nine months without losing SSDI. During these nine months, you can earn any amount — there is no income limit. Social Security will continue to pay your full SSDI benefit each month, regardless of how much you earn.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only the months in which you earn more than $970 per month (this figure changes each year). So if you work three months, take a break, then work again, Social Security counts only the months you actually worked.

After your nine Trial Work Period months end, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, you can continue to work. If your monthly earnings stay below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level — roughly $1,550 per month in 2024, but this changes yearly — Social Security continues to pay your full benefit. If your earnings exceed SGA, your benefits stop for that month, but you keep Medicare coverage for at least another 93 months (nearly eight years).

Using the Trial Work Period is the safest way to test whether you can work while keeping your SSDI intact. If you stop SSDI without using it first, you lose this protection.

What happens to your Medicare and Medicaid when you stop

SSDI comes with Medicare coverage, usually starting 24 months after your benefits begin. If you stop SSDI, your Medicare ends — but not when ready. You have a grace period of up to 93 months (nearly eight years) during which you can continue to pay your own Medicare premiums and keep your coverage. After that grace period ends, you lose Medicare unless you may have access to for it another way (for example, by reaching age 65 or by having end-stage renal disease).

Medicaid is different and depends on your state. In most states, Medicaid is tied to SSDI, so stopping SSDI ends your Medicaid. Some states have Medicaid Buy-In programs that let you keep Medicaid while you work and earn above the normal income limit. If you live in a state with a Buy-In program and you are returning to work, you may be able to keep Medicaid even after SSDI stops. Contact your state Medicaid office to find out whether you may have access to.

Before you stop SSDI, check what health insurance will cover you after. If you have employer coverage through a job, that may be your route. If not, you can enroll in a marketplace plan through Healthcare.gov, though you will pay premiums. Losing health insurance is one of the most common reasons people restart SSDI after stopping.

How to restart SSDI if you stop and later need it again

If you stop SSDI and later become unable to work, you can reapply. However, restarting is not automatic. You will have to go through the full process and approval process again, which typically takes three to six months. During that time, you will receive no benefits.

There is one exception: if you stop SSDI while you are still within your Extended may be able to access Period (the 36 months after your Trial Work Period), and you become unable to work within that window, you may be able to restart benefits more quickly without a new medical review. This is called expedited reinstatement. You have 60 months (five years) from the month your benefits stopped to request expedited reinstatement. If Social Security approves it, your benefits can restart within weeks rather than months.

To restart or request expedited reinstatement, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213. Bring medical records showing your current condition and any work history since you stopped.

What happens to family members' benefits when you stop

If you receive SSDI, your spouse, ex-spouse, or children may also receive benefits on your record. When you stop SSDI, their benefits stop too — unless they are old enough to receive Social Security retirement benefits instead.

For example, if your spouse is age 62 or older, they can switch to retirement benefits on your record and continue receiving payments. If your child is under 19 (or under 23 if in high school), their benefits end when yours do. If your child is disabled and was receiving benefits as an adult child, their benefits also end.

Before you stop SSDI, contact Social Security to find out how it will affect your family members. You may be able to time your stop to minimize disruption — for example, waiting until a child turns 19 or until a spouse reaches retirement age.

The steps to stop SSDI

To stop SSDI, you have three options: visit your local Social Security office in person, call 1-800-772-1213, or mail a written request to your local office. You can find your local office at ssa.gov/locator.

When you contact Social Security, tell them you want to stop your SSDI benefits. They will ask you why you are stopping and will explain what will happen to your Medicare, Medicaid, and family members' benefits. They will also ask whether you want to use work incentives like the Trial Work Period. Answer honestly — this information helps Social Security process your request correctly and ensures you understand the consequences.

Social Security will send you a written notice confirming that your benefits will end. Keep this notice. Your benefits will stop the month after you request it. For example, if you request to stop in March, your last payment will be in March, and you will receive no payment in April.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stop SSDI for just a few months and then restart it?

You can restart SSDI after stopping, but it is not automatic. If you stop and want to restart within 60 months, you can request expedited reinstatement, which is faster than a full reapplication. If you wait longer than 60 months, you will have to reapply from scratch, which takes several months. If you are unsure about stopping permanently, ask Social Security about the Trial Work Period instead — it lets you test work without losing benefits.

Will stopping SSDI affect my Social Security retirement benefits later?

No. Stopping SSDI does not change your retirement benefit amount or your may be able to access for retirement benefits when you reach full retirement age. Your retirement benefit is calculated based on your work history, not on how long you received SSDI. However, if you are currently receiving SSDI and reach full retirement age, Social Security will automatically convert your benefits to retirement benefits — you do not have to stop and restart.

What if I stop SSDI but then lose my job?

If you stop SSDI to work and then lose your job, you can request expedited reinstatement if you are still within 60 months of stopping. You will need to show that you became unable to work again. If you are outside the 60-month window, you will have to reapply, which takes several months. This is why the Trial Work Period is safer — it lets you keep SSDI while you test whether work is sustainable.

Do I have to stop SSDI to go back to school?

No. You can continue receiving SSDI while you are in school, as long as you do not earn more than the SGA limit through work. If you are a student under age 22, you may also be able to work part-time without it affecting your benefits. Contact Social Security to discuss your specific situation before you enroll.

What if I want to stop SSDI but keep Medicare?

You can keep Medicare for up to 93 months after you stop SSDI by paying your own premiums. However, you must enroll in Medicare Part B (medical insurance) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) during this time, or you may face penalties when you try to enroll later. Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to understand your premium costs before you stop SSDI.