You can work and keep SSDI, but only if your earnings stay below a monthly threshold and you follow reporting rules

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not automatically stop when you work. The program has built-in work incentives designed to let you test your ability to work without when ready losing your entire benefit. The key is understanding the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold — a dollar amount that changes each year — and the Trial Work Period, which gives you nine months to earn any amount without affecting your check.

If you earn more than the SGA threshold in a month, Social Security will count that month against your Trial Work Period. Once you use all nine months, your benefits will stop if your earnings stay above SGA. But stopping is not the same as ending: you can restart benefits within five years if your earnings drop back below the threshold, and you keep your Medicare coverage for at least 93 months after your Trial Work Period ends.

Key Takeaways

  • The Trial Work Period lets you earn any amount for nine months without losing SSDI, but you must report your work to Social Security within the month you start.
  • The SGA threshold for 2024 is $1,550 per month; if you earn more than this in a month after your Trial Work Period ends, your benefits stop that month.
  • You keep Medicare for at least 93 months after your Trial Work Period ends, even if your benefits stop due to work earnings.
  • Work incentives like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) can reduce your countable earnings and extend your benefits while you work.
  • You must report all work to Social Security within the month you start; failing to report can result in overpayment and benefit suspension.

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

Your Trial Work Period begins the first month you work after starting SSDI. During these nine months, you can earn any amount — $100 a month or $5,000 a month — and your SSDI check will not change. Social Security counts a month toward your Trial Work Period only if you earn $940 or more in that month (this threshold also changes yearly). If you earn less than $940 in a month, that month does not count, and you can use it later.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. If you work three months, stop for six months, then work again, the second work period continues your count. This flexibility lets you test work, take breaks if your condition flares, and return without losing progress toward the end of your Trial Work Period.

You must report your work to Social Security within the month you start. Call your local Social Security office, log into your my Social Security account online, or mail a report. If you do not report, Social Security will eventually discover the work through tax records and may overpay you, creating a debt you will have to repay.

What Happens After Your Trial Work Period Ends

Once you have used all nine months of your Trial Work Period, the Extended may be able to access Period begins. This period lasts 36 months. During Extended may be able to access, your benefits will stop in any month your earnings exceed the SGA threshold ($1,550 in 2024), but you can restart them the next month if your earnings drop below the threshold again.

This on-and-off pattern can continue for the full 36 months of Extended may be able to access. If you earn $1,600 in January, your February check stops. If you earn $1,400 in February, your March check resumes. You do not lose SSDI permanently — you are in a status called Expedited Reinstatement, which means you can restart benefits without a new medical review as long as you are still within the 36-month window and your condition has not improved.

After Extended may be able to access ends, the rules change. If you continue to work and earn above SGA, your benefits will stop and will not restart without a new medical review. This is why the Extended may be able to access period is critical: it gives you a window to test whether you can sustain work at a higher earning level.

Work Incentives That Reduce Your Countable Earnings

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are costs you pay because of your disability that allow you to work. Examples include prescription medications, therapy sessions, medical equipment, transportation to work related to your disability, or a personal assistant. If you pay $200 a month for a medical aide to help you get ready for work, that $200 can be deducted from your gross earnings before Social Security counts them toward the SGA threshold.

To claim IRWE, you must document the expense and explain why it is necessary because of your disability. Social Security will review your claim and approve or deny each expense. IRWE can significantly extend your ability to work and keep benefits: if you earn $2,000 a month but have $600 in approved IRWE, your countable earnings are $1,400 — below the SGA threshold.

Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is a more complex tool. A PASS is a written plan that sets aside income and resources for a specific work goal — starting a business, getting a degree, buying equipment. Money set aside under a PASS does not count toward your earnings limit or resource limit. If you want to start a freelance business and set aside $800 a month of your earnings for equipment and training, that $800 does not count as income for SSDI purposes.

PASS requires a formal process and approval from Social Security. You will need to work with a Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project or Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) — both are free services that help you design a PASS. Your local WIPA or PABSS office can be found through the Social Security website.

Medicare Coverage While You Work

One of the strongest reasons to work while on SSDI is that your Medicare coverage does not automatically stop when your benefits do. After your Trial Work Period ends, you enter a period called Medicare Continuation Coverage that lasts at least 93 months (about 7.75 years). During this time, you keep Medicare Part A and Part B even if your earnings cause your SSDI check to stop.

After the 93-month period, you can keep Medicare by paying the Part B premium yourself, even if you are no longer on SSDI. This is a major advantage: you can work, lose your SSDI check due to earnings, but keep your health insurance. Many people on SSDI stay in the program partly for Medicare, not the cash benefit.

If you are also on Medicaid (which varies by state), Medicaid rules are different and often more restrictive. Some states will end Medicaid when your SSDI stops; others have work incentives that let you keep Medicaid while working. Contact your state Medicaid office to understand your specific rules.

Reporting Requirements and What Happens If You Do Not Report

You must tell Social Security about any work within the month you start. This includes part-time work, self-employment, unpaid work, and work-study positions. You do not need to report volunteer work that is truly unpaid, but if you receive any payment — even a small stipend — you must report it.

Social Security uses your reports to track your Trial Work Period, calculate your countable earnings, and determine whether your benefits should stop. If you do not report and Social Security discovers the work through tax records or other means, you will be overpaid. An overpayment is money you received but were not may have access to to, and you will have to repay it — either through reduced future benefits or a lump-sum payment.

Overpayments can be substantial. If you worked for six months without reporting and Social Security later finds out, you could owe back several months of benefits. You can request a waiver of the overpayment if you can show you were not at fault and repaying would cause hardship, but waivers are not automatic and require documentation.

Self-Employment and SSDI

Self-employment is treated differently from wage work. Social Security counts your net profit (income minus business expenses) as your earnings. If you run a small business and earn $3,000 in gross revenue but spend $2,000 on supplies and rent, your countable earnings are $1,000.

Self-employment also triggers additional scrutiny. Social Security will want to see business records, tax returns, and documentation of your business expenses. If you are self-employed, you should work with a WIPA counselor to make sure you are reporting correctly and taking advantage of all available deductions.

Self-employment can also affect your Medicaid in some states. If your net profit is high, your income may exceed your state's Medicaid limit. Again, a PASS can help: you can set aside business income for reinvestment or expansion, reducing your countable income for both SSDI and Medicaid purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work part-time and keep my full SSDI check during the Trial Work Period?

Yes. During your nine-month Trial Work Period, you can earn any amount and your SSDI check will not change. A month only counts toward the nine months if you earn $940 or more, so you can work small amounts without using up your Trial Work Period months.

What if I earn $1,600 one month and $1,400 the next month after my Trial Work Period ends?

Your benefits will stop in the month you earn $1,600 (above the SGA threshold) and restart in the month you earn $1,400 (below the threshold). This can happen repeatedly during your 36-month Extended may be able to access period without a new medical review.

Do I lose Medicare if my SSDI stops because I earn too much?

No. You keep Medicare for at least 93 months after your Trial Work Period ends, even if your SSDI check stops due to work earnings. After 93 months, you can continue Medicare by paying the Part B premium yourself.

What counts as work that I have to report?

Any paid work counts: wages, self-employment, part-time jobs, work-study, and even small payments for occasional work. Unpaid volunteer work does not count. You must report within the month you start, even if you earn very little.

Can I use a PASS to start a business while on SSDI?

Yes. A PASS lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal, including starting a business. Income set aside under an approved PASS does not count toward your earnings limit. You will need to work with a WIPA project to design and submit your PASS.