Your earnings limit depends on whether you are still working
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) has two separate earning limits. If you are not working, there is no limit on how much money you can have in savings or receive from other sources—only your work earnings matter. If you are working, you can earn up to a set amount per month before SSDI payments reduce or stop.
The monthly earnings limit changes each year. For 2024, you can earn up to $1,550 per month and keep your full SSDI payment. If you earn more than that in a single month, Social Security counts that month as a "work month," and you lose one month of benefits for every month you work above the limit. This rule is called the trial work period when you first return to work, and it has different rules than regular work months.
The earnings limit applies only to work you do yourself—wages from a job, net income from self-employment, or royalties. It does not include money from savings, investments, pensions, unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, or family members' income.
Key Takeaways
- You can earn up to $1,550 per month in 2024 without losing any SSDI payment, but this amount increases each year.
- Months where you earn more than the limit count as work months, and you lose one month of benefits for each work month over the limit.
- The trial work period lets you test returning to work for nine months without losing benefits, even if you earn above the limit during those months.
- Only your own work earnings count toward the limit—savings, investments, and other income sources do not affect your SSDI payment.
- You must report your earnings to Social Security within the month you earn them, or you risk overpayment and having to repay benefits.
How the trial work period protects your first months back at work
When you return to work after receiving SSDI, you enter a trial work period that lasts nine months. During these nine months, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI payment. Social Security does not count these months against your benefit limit, even if you earn $5,000 or $10,000 in a single month.
The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only the months in which you earn more than $970 per month (in 2024). If you work part-time one month and earn $800, that month does not count toward your nine-month limit. You can spread your trial work period over several years if you work part-time or take breaks.
After your nine trial work months end, the regular earnings limit applies. Any month you earn over $1,550 (in 2024) counts as a work month, and you lose one month of benefits. This shift happens automatically—you do not need to tell Social Security when your trial period ends, but you should report your earnings every month to avoid overpayment.
What happens when you earn above the limit after trial work ends
Once your nine trial work months are finished, each month you earn above the limit costs you one month of SSDI payment. If you earn $3,100 in a month (double the limit), you lose two months of benefits. The payment reduction happens in the month after you earn the money, so you will see the change on your next payment.
Social Security does not stop your benefits entirely when you work—it reduces them month by month based on what you actually earn. If you earn $1,600 one month and $1,400 the next, you lose one month of benefits for the first month and keep your full payment for the second. This gives you flexibility to adjust your work hours if you need to keep your full payment.
There is also a substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit, which is higher than the monthly earnings limit. In 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers. If you consistently earn above the SGA amount, Social Security may decide you are no longer disabled and end your benefits entirely. This is different from the monthly reduction—it is a information that your condition has improved enough that you can work. You have the right to request a hearing if Social Security makes this decision.
How to report your earnings and avoid overpayment
You must report your work earnings to Social Security within the month you earn them. The easiest way is to use your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. You can log in, go to "Manage Benefits," and report your monthly earnings without calling or visiting an office. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report by phone, or visit your local Social Security office in person.
If you do not report your earnings and Social Security finds out later, you will owe back the benefits you should not have received. This is called an overpayment. Social Security will ask you to repay it, usually by reducing your future payments. If the overpayment is large, you may have to repay it all at once or work out a payment plan. Reporting on time prevents this problem.
Keep records of your pay stubs, invoices, or other proof of earnings. Social Security may ask to see them to verify what you reported. If you are self-employed, keep records of your business income and expenses, because Social Security counts your net profit (income minus business costs), not your total income.
How the earnings limit changes each year
Social Security raises the earnings limit and the SGA amount each January based on the national average wage index. The 2024 limits are $1,550 per month for the regular earnings limit and $1,550 for SGA. In 2023, both were $1,470. The increase is usually between $50 and $100 per year, but it varies depending on wage growth in the economy.
You do not have to do anything when the limit increases—Social Security applies the new amount automatically to your account. If you are working and tracking your earnings against the limit, check the Social Security website in December or January to see the new year's limit. The website ssa.gov publishes the new limits before January 1 each year.
Work incentives that let you keep more of your payment
Beyond the trial work period, Social Security offers other programs that let you work and keep more of your benefits. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside income and resources to reach a work goal—like paying for school or starting a business—without those funds counting against your benefits. A PASS plan requires written approval from Social Security and must show how the money will help you become self-supporting.
The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) program lets you deduct certain costs from your earnings before Social Security counts them toward the limit. If your disability requires you to pay for a personal assistant, special transportation, or medical equipment to work, those costs can reduce your countable earnings. You must document these expenses and show they are necessary because of your disability.
These programs are complex and require advance planning. If you think either might help, contact your local Social Security office or ask to speak with a work incentives planning and information (WIPA) counselor. WIPA counselors are free and can help you understand how work will affect your benefits before you start a job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn money from a side job without reporting it?
No. All work earnings must be reported, whether from a main job, side work, or self-employment. Social Security matches reports from employers and the IRS, so unreported income is usually discovered during a review. Failing to report leads to overpayment and can result in losing benefits.
Does my spouse's income count toward my SSDI earnings limit?
No. Only your own work earnings count. Your spouse's income, savings, or benefits do not affect your SSDI payment. SSDI is based on your individual work record and your current earnings alone.
What if I earn above the limit for just one month?
That one month counts as a work month, and you lose one month of benefits. The reduction happens the following month. If you earn above the limit only once and then stay below it, you lose only one payment.
Can I work part-time and keep my full SSDI payment?
Yes, if you earn $1,550 or less per month (in 2024). You can work as many hours as you want as long as your total monthly earnings stay at or below the limit. Many people on SSDI work part-time jobs that keep them under the monthly threshold.
What happens to my benefits if I go back to work and then have to stop?
If you stop working and your earnings drop below the limit, your full SSDI payment resumes the next month. There is no penalty for trying to work and then deciding you cannot continue. You can also use your remaining trial work months later if you want to try working again.