Whether you must file depends on your total income, not just your SSDI
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) itself is not taxable income in most cases. However, you may still have to file a tax return if you have other income — from work, investments, pensions, or other sources — that pushes your total above the filing threshold. The IRS sets different thresholds based on your age and filing status, and those thresholds change each year.
The key question is not "Do I receive SSDI?" but "What is my total income from all sources?" If that total exceeds the threshold for your situation, you file. If it does not, you generally do not have to file — though there are exceptions where filing anyway can benefit you.
Key Takeaways
- SSDI payments themselves are not taxable, but other income you receive during the same year may require you to file a return.
- The IRS threshold for filing varies by age, filing status, and year — for 2024, a single person under 65 must file if their income exceeds $14,600.
- If you have no income other than SSDI, you do not have to file, but filing anyway can sometimes get you a refund you are owed.
- Earned income from work, even part-time work, counts toward your filing threshold and may trigger a requirement to file.
- The IRS publishes updated thresholds each January, so the amount changes year to year.
How the IRS counts your income for filing purposes
The IRS looks at your gross income — the total you earn before deductions — to decide whether you must file. For SSDI recipients, this typically means adding up any wages from work, interest from savings accounts, dividends, rental income, or other payments you received during the tax year.
SSDI payments do not count toward this total. Neither do Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, if you receive those. But if you worked even part-time, earned interest on a savings account, or received other income, that counts. The threshold is the same whether your income comes from one source or many.
If you are married and file jointly, the IRS adds both your income and your spouse's income together. If you are married but file separately, each person's income is counted on their own return.
The filing thresholds for 2024 and how they change
For the 2024 tax year, the IRS thresholds are:
| Filing Status | Age Under 65 | Age 65 or Older |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $14,600 | $18,350 |
| Married filing jointly | $29,200 | $30,750 (one spouse 65+)$32,300 (both 65+) |
| Married filing separately | $5 | $5 |
| Head of household | $18,550 | $23,350 |
These numbers increase each year. The IRS announces the new thresholds in January, so if you are filing for 2025, you will use different numbers than these. You can find the current year's thresholds on the IRS website or by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
If you turn 65 during the tax year, you use the threshold for your age on December 31 of that year. If you turned 65 on December 31, 2024, you use the 65-or-older threshold for your 2024 return.
When you should file even if you do not have to
Even if your income is below the filing threshold, filing a tax return can put money in your pocket. If you had taxes withheld from paychecks or made estimated tax payments during the year, filing lets you claim a refund. The IRS will not send you that money unless you file and ask for it.
You may also be able to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) if you had work income during the year. The EITC is a refundable credit, meaning the IRS can send you money even if you owe no tax. To claim it, you must file a return. If you had very low income and worked, filing may result in a payment to you.
Similarly, if you are may be able to access for other credits — such as the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents — you need to file to claim them. These credits can also result in refunds.
What happens if you do not file when you should
If your income exceeds the threshold and you do not file, the IRS may contact you. They may assess a penalty for failing to file, though the penalty is typically small if you owe little or no tax. If you are owed a refund and do not file, you straightforward do not receive it — the IRS does not pursue you for a refund you are owed.
Failing to file can also affect other benefits. Some programs that are not tax-related — such as housing information or food programs — may ask for your tax return as proof of income. If you do not file, you may have trouble proving your income to those programs.
If you realize you should have filed in a previous year, you can still file that return. The IRS generally allows you to file back returns for up to three years if you are owed a refund, and longer if you owe tax.
How SSDI and work income interact on your tax return
If you work while receiving SSDI, your earnings count toward the filing threshold. This is separate from the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit, which is a Social Security rule that can affect your SSDI payments themselves. You can have income below the SGA limit and still be required to file a tax return, or income above the SGA limit and still not be required to file.
For example, in 2024, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals. If you earn $1,400 a month, you are below the SGA limit and Social Security will not reduce your SSDI payment. But if you earn that amount for a full year, your total income may still exceed the IRS filing threshold, and you would have to file a tax return.
The two rules operate independently. Always check both: whether you must file a tax return (based on IRS thresholds) and whether your work affects your SSDI payment (based on Social Security's SGA rules).
Where to find the current filing threshold and file your return
The IRS publishes filing thresholds each January on their website at irs.gov. You can search for "filing requirements" or "income thresholds" to find the current year's numbers. You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to ask whether you must file.
If you must file or choose to file, you have several options. You can use free tax software through the IRS Free File program if your income is below a certain level (usually around $79,000). You can read forms and instructions from irs.gov and file by mail. Or you can work with a tax professional or volunteer tax preparer.
If you cannot afford to pay a tax professional, the IRS operates the Volunteer Income Tax information (VITA) program, which offers free tax preparation at community centers, libraries, and other locations. You can find a VITA site near you on the IRS website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to file if I only received SSDI and no other income?
No. SSDI payments are not taxable income, so if SSDI is your only income, you do not have to file. However, if you also received other income — from work, interest, or other sources — you may have to file depending on your total.
What if I worked for only part of the year?
Your earnings for the entire year count toward the filing threshold, even if you worked for only a few months. Add up all wages you received during 2024 (or whichever year you are filing for) and compare that total to the threshold for your age and filing status.
Does my spouse's income affect whether I have to file?
Only if you file jointly. If you file jointly, the IRS adds both incomes together and compares the total to the threshold for married filing jointly. If you file separately, each person's income is counted on their own return.
Can I file even if I do not have to?
Yes. Filing when you are not required to can be beneficial if you had taxes withheld, are owed a refund, or are may be able to access for credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. The IRS will not penalize you for filing when you do not have to.
What if I owe taxes on my SSDI?
You cannot owe taxes on SSDI itself — it is not taxable. You might owe taxes on other income you received during the year, such as wages or investment income. If you do owe, you can pay when you file or set up a payment plan with the IRS.