Yes, you can work part-time and collect SSDI, but your earnings trigger a dollar limit that reduces or stops your benefits

The Social Security Administration does not forbid you from working. What it does is count your earnings against a monthly threshold called the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit. In 2024, that limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries. If you earn more than that in a month, Social Security treats that month as a month in which you performed substantial gainful activity—meaning you were working at a level that contradicts your disability claim. Enough such months, and your benefits stop.

But the system includes a grace period and several work incentives designed to let you test whether you can work without when ready losing all support. Understanding which months count, which earnings don't, and which programs protect your benefits is the difference between a sustainable work arrangement and an accidental overpayment you will have to repay.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn up to $1,550 per month (2024 figure) without triggering a finding that you performed substantial gainful activity, but this limit changes yearly.
  • Your first nine months of earnings above the SGA limit do not automatically stop your benefits—Social Security counts them toward a nine-month trial work period that protects you while you test your work capacity.
  • The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program lets you set aside income and resources for a work goal without losing benefits, as long as you file a written plan with Social Security.
  • Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) reduce your countable earnings by deducting costs directly tied to your ability to work—such as attendant care, medications, or mobility aids.
  • If you stop working or drop below the SGA limit, you can request reinstatement of benefits within five years without filing a new claim.

How the Substantial Gainful Activity Limit Works

The SGA limit is a dollar amount, not a work hour or job type. Social Security looks only at your monthly earnings. If you earn $1,550 or less in a calendar month, that month does not count as a month of substantial gainful activity, even if you worked full-time hours at minimum wage or part-time hours at a high rate.

The limit changes each year. Social Security publishes the new figure in December for the following year. For 2024, it is $1,550; for 2023, it was $1,470. If you are blind, the limit is higher—$2,590 in 2024. You can find the current year's limit on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

Earnings include wages from an employer, net income from self-employment, and some forms of compensation like bonuses or back pay. They do not include food, housing, or other in-kind support. They also do not include certain work incentive payments, which are discussed below.

The Trial Work Period: Nine Months to Test Your Work Capacity

When you start working, Social Security does not when ready stop your benefits. Instead, you enter a trial work period that lasts nine months. During these nine months, you can earn any amount—there is no upper limit—and still receive your full SSDI benefit check each month. Social Security counts only months in which you earn $1,050 or more (2024 figure; this threshold is separate from and lower than the SGA limit) toward the nine-month count.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. If you work three months, stop for two months, then work again, only the months in which you earned $1,050 or more count. You could stretch a trial work period across two or three years if your earnings are sporadic.

After you have used nine trial work months, you enter the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During this period, if you earn more than the SGA limit in any month, your benefits stop for that month only—you do not lose SSDI itself. Once your earnings drop below the SGA limit again, your benefits resume the following month. This gives you a cushion: you can have months of high earnings without triggering a permanent termination.

If you have not worked in more than 60 months, your trial work period resets. This means you get another nine months of unlimited earnings if you return to work after a long gap.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses: Reducing Your Countable Earnings

An Impairment-Related Work Expense (IRWE) is a cost you pay because of your disability and that you need in order to work. Social Security subtracts IRWE from your gross earnings before comparing your income to the SGA limit. Common IRWEs include attendant care or personal information, medications or medical devices, mobility aids, specialized transportation, or therapy sessions related to your condition.

The expense must be reasonable, necessary for you to work, and directly caused by your impairment. If you pay $300 per month for an aide to help you get ready for work, and you earn $1,700 per month, your countable earnings are $1,400—below the SGA limit. You keep your benefits even though your gross income exceeds the threshold.

To claim an IRWE, you must report it to Social Security and provide documentation: receipts, invoices, or a letter from a provider stating what the expense is and why it is necessary. You report IRWEs on a form called the Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) report or directly to your local Social Security office. Not all offices proactively ask about IRWEs, so you may need to bring them up yourself.

The Plan to Achieve Self-Support: Setting Aside Income for a Work Goal

A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is a written agreement between you and Social Security in which you set aside income and resources to reach a specific work goal. While you are following an approved PASS, Social Security does not count the money you set aside toward the resource limit that would otherwise make you ineligible for benefits. This is powerful if you are saving for education, equipment, or business startup costs.

For example: you earn $2,000 per month and want to save for a vocational certificate that costs $5,000. You file a PASS saying you will set aside $1,000 per month for 12 months to pay for the course. Social Security counts only the $1,000 you keep as income; the $1,000 you set aside does not count. Your countable income drops, and you may remain may be able to access for benefits while you save and study.

A PASS must be in writing and must include your work goal, the steps you will take to reach it, a timeline, and how much money you will set aside each month. You work with a PASS planner—often at a WIPA project or a Benefits Planning, information, and Work Incentives (BPAO) organization—to draft and submit the plan to Social Security. Once approved, you must follow it. If you deviate significantly, Social Security can terminate the PASS and count all your income again.

What Happens When You Stop Working or Earn Less

If you work for a while and then stop, or if your earnings drop below the SGA limit, your benefits do not restart automatically. You must report the change to Social Security. Once you report it, benefits usually resume the following month.

If you have used your trial work period and extended may be able to access period and your benefits have stopped, you can request reinstatement within five years of the month your benefits ended. Reinstatement means Social Security restarts your benefits without requiring you to file a new claim or undergo a new medical review. You must show that your condition has not improved and that you are no longer working at a substantial gainful level. This is a significant protection: you do not lose your SSDI status just because you tried to work and it did not work out.

After five years, you lose the right to reinstatement. At that point, if you want benefits again, you must file a new SSDI claim and go through the full medical and financial review process.

How Part-Time Work Affects Medicare and Medicaid

SSDI comes with Medicare may be able to access after 24 months of receiving benefits. Part-time work does not change this. You remain may be able to access for Medicare even if your earnings are high, as long as you are still receiving an SSDI benefit check—even if that check is $1 per month.

Medicaid is state-run and varies. In most states, if you lose your SSDI benefit because your earnings exceed the SGA limit, you also lose Medicaid. However, many states have a Medicaid continuation program that lets you keep Medicaid for a limited time after your SSDI stops. Some states offer a Medicaid buy-in program that lets you purchase Medicaid coverage based on your income and resources, even if you are no longer SSDI-may be able to access. Contact your state Medicaid office or your local WIPA project to learn what is available in your state.

Reporting Your Earnings to Social Security

You are required to report your work and earnings to Social Security. The timing and method depend on your situation. If you are working and receiving benefits, Social Security will send you a form called the Earnings Report (Form SSA-777) each year. You fill it out with your expected earnings for the year and return it. Social Security uses this to estimate whether your benefits will stop.

You can also report earnings by phone, mail, or online through your my Social Security account. If you are unsure whether you need to report, call 1-800-772-1213 and ask. Failing to report earnings can result in an overpayment—money you will have to repay—so it is better to report even if you think your earnings are below the limit.

Keep records of all pay stubs, invoices (if self-employed), and any IRWE receipts. Social Security may ask for documentation to verify your earnings, especially if they are close to the SGA limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work and collect SSDI at the same time?

Yes. You can work part-time or full-time and collect SSDI as long as your earnings stay below the substantial gainful activity limit ($1,550 per month in 2024) or you are within your trial work period or extended may be able to access period. The key is reporting your earnings to Social Security and understanding which months count toward your work incentive protections.

What if I earn more than the SGA limit one month but less the next?

During your extended may be able to access period (after your nine trial work months), benefits stop only for the month you exceed the SGA limit. The following month, if your earnings are below the limit, your benefits resume. You do not lose SSDI permanently. If you are still in your trial work period, high earnings do not affect your benefits at all.

Do I have to tell Social Security about my job before I start working?

No, but you must report your earnings once you start. Social Security does not need advance notice. However, if you are considering work and want to understand how it will affect your benefits, you can contact a WIPA project or BPAO for a free benefits planning consultation before you start.

What if my work expenses are very high because of my disability?

Impairment-Related Work Expenses reduce your countable earnings. If you pay for attendant care, specialized transportation, medications, or other disability-related costs needed to work, report them to Social Security with documentation. You may also benefit from a PASS if you are saving for a specific work goal.

Can I get my benefits back if I stop working?

Yes. If you stop working or your earnings drop below the SGA limit, report the change to Social Security and your benefits will resume the following month. If your benefits have already stopped and it has been less than five years, you can request reinstatement without filing a new claim.