SSDI has an earnings limit, but it's not zero
You can work and receive SSDI at the same time, but there is a monthly earnings limit. In 2024, you can earn up to $1,550 per month without losing your SSDI payment. If you earn more than that in a month, Social Security reduces your payment by $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit.
This limit changes every year because it is tied to the national average wage. The exact amount for the current year is published by Social Security each October and takes effect in January. You should check the official Social Security website or call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the current limit before you start working or increase your hours.
The earnings limit applies only to work you do yourself — it does not include money from investments, pensions, rental income, or other sources. Only wages from a job or net income from self-employment count toward the limit.
Key Takeaways
- You can earn up to a set monthly amount (currently $1,550 in 2024) without losing any SSDI payment, but this limit changes each year.
- If you earn more than the limit, Social Security subtracts $1 from your payment for every $2 you earn above it.
- Only wages from work count toward the limit — investment income, pensions, and rental income do not.
- You must report your earnings to Social Security within 10 days of the end of the month in which you earned them.
- There is a separate, higher earnings limit during a nine-month trial work period when you first return to work.
The trial work period lets you test work without losing benefits
Social Security offers a nine-month trial work period specifically designed to let you see if you can work without when ready losing your SSDI. During these nine months, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI payment. The months do not have to be consecutive — they are counted whenever you earn $1,050 or more in a month (in 2024).
This is useful if you are unsure whether you can sustain a job or whether work will make your condition worse. You can use the trial work period to test different jobs, different hours, or different employers without financial risk. Once you have used nine trial work months, the regular earnings limit kicks in.
You must tell Social Security that you are working. The trial work period does not start automatically — you need to report your work so Social Security can count the months correctly.
How to report your earnings to Social Security
You are required to report your earnings to Social Security within 10 days of the end of the month in which you earned them. You can report by phone at 1-800-772-1213, by mail, or through your online Social Security account at ssa.gov. Some people report online through the SSDI Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) program, which is free.
Have your pay stubs or a record of what you earned ready when you report. If you are self-employed, you will need to report your net income (what you earned minus your business expenses). Social Security will use this information to calculate whether your payment should be reduced in the following month.
If you do not report your earnings, Social Security may overpay you, and you will have to repay the money later. It is better to report even if you are unsure of the exact amount — Social Security can adjust it when you provide your tax return.
What happens if you earn too much
If you earn more than the monthly limit, your SSDI payment is reduced, but you do not lose it entirely. The reduction is $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit. For example, if the limit is $1,550 and you earn $1,750, you are $200 over the limit. Your payment would be reduced by $100 (half of $200).
You keep working and keep receiving a reduced payment until your earnings drop back below the limit or until you reach a second threshold called substantial gainful activity (SGA). In 2024, SGA is $3,822 per month. If you earn at or above the SGA amount for nine months (not necessarily consecutive), Social Security will stop your SSDI payment entirely.
However, stopping your payment does not mean you lose your Medicare coverage when ready. You can continue Medicare for at least 93 months (about 7.5 years) after your SSDI stops, even if you are working and earning above the SGA limit. This is called Medicare continuation and is one of the strongest work incentives available.
Work incentives that can help you keep more money
Social Security has several programs designed to help people on SSDI work without losing benefits too quickly. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal — like education, equipment, or starting a business — without that money counting against your SSDI. A PASS plan must be in writing and approved by Social Security before you start setting money aside.
The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) program lets you deduct certain costs of working from your earnings before Social Security calculates your payment reduction. For example, if you need a personal assistant, special transportation, or medical equipment to work, those costs can be deducted. You must have a doctor confirm that the expense is related to your disability and necessary for you to work.
Both PASS and IRWE require paperwork and approval, but they can significantly increase the amount you can earn while keeping your SSDI payment. The WIPA program (free, run by disability organizations in every state) can help you set up either one.
Reporting work to your state Medicaid program
If you receive Medicaid along with SSDI, you may need to report your earnings to your state Medicaid office as well as to Social Security. Medicaid rules vary by state, and some states have different earnings limits or different ways of calculating how much you can earn. A few states have programs that let you keep Medicaid even if you earn too much for SSDI.
Contact your state Medicaid office or your local disability work incentives program to understand how your earnings will affect your Medicaid. This is especially important if Medicaid is paying for medical care you need to work or to manage your disability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I earn money one month but not the next?
The earnings limit applies to each month separately. If you earn $2,000 in January and $500 in February, your January payment will be reduced but your February payment will not be. You report earnings for each month within 10 days of the end of that month.
Does my spouse's income count toward my SSDI earnings limit?
No. Your spouse's income does not affect your SSDI earnings limit or your payment. Only your own wages or self-employment income count. However, your spouse's income may affect their own benefits or your household's Medicaid status.
Can I use the trial work period more than once?
No. You get one nine-month trial work period per SSDI claim. Once you have used nine trial work months, they are gone. After that, the regular earnings limit applies to all future work.
What if I am self-employed — how do I report earnings?
Report your net self-employment income (earnings minus business expenses) to Social Security. You will need to keep records of what you earned and what you spent on the business. When you file your taxes, Social Security will verify your income using your tax return.
Will working affect my Medicare coverage?
Working does not end your Medicare coverage. Even if your SSDI payment stops because you earn too much, you can keep Medicare for at least 93 months after your payment stops. This is true even if you continue working and earning above the SGA limit during that time.