The 2023 SSDI Income Limits
In 2023, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) had two income thresholds that mattered: the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit and the trial work period earnings cap. The SGA limit—the amount you could earn without risking your SSDI benefits—was $1,470 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,460 per month for blind beneficiaries. These figures changed each year based on national wage data.
The trial work period, a nine-month window when you could test your ability to work without losing benefits, had no income cap in 2023. You could earn any amount during trial work months and keep your full SSDI payment. What mattered was whether you performed what Social Security called "substantial work"—roughly, work that showed you could do your job consistently and earn close to the SGA limit.
After your trial work period ended, Social Security watched your earnings for 36 months during what is called the extended may be able to access period. If you earned above SGA in any month during this window, you lost your SSDI payment that month, though Medicare continued for eight more years.
Key Takeaways
- The 2023 SGA limit was $1,470 per month for most SSDI beneficiaries; blind beneficiaries had a higher limit of $2,460 per month.
- During your nine-month trial work period, you could earn any amount without losing benefits, as long as you did not perform substantial work.
- After trial work ended, earning above the SGA limit in any month meant losing your SSDI payment for that month, though your Medicare coverage stayed active for eight more years.
- The SGA limit changes each year in January based on national wage increases, so the 2023 figures do not explore to current beneficiaries.
How the SGA Limit Worked in 2023
The SGA limit was the main number Social Security used to decide whether you were still disabled. If you earned $1,470 or less per month (or $2,460 if blind), Social Security assumed you were not working at a substantial level and your benefits continued. This was true even if you worked part-time or had multiple jobs—what mattered was your total monthly earnings.
The limit applied to earned income only: wages from a job, net profit from self-employment, or royalties. It did not include unearned income like Social Security retirement benefits, pensions, rental income, or interest. If you received other benefits alongside SSDI, only your work earnings counted toward the SGA limit.
Social Security checked your earnings each month. If you went over the limit in even one month, you lost your SSDI payment for that month. The payment stopped automatically; you did not have to report it yourself, though Social Security expected you to tell them about work changes within 30 days.
The Trial Work Period and What It Meant
The trial work period was a nine-month window (not necessarily consecutive) during which you could work and earn any amount without losing your SSDI payment. The purpose was to let you test whether you could actually do a job before Social Security made a final decision about your disability.
A month counted as a trial work month only if you performed substantial work—meaning you worked enough hours and earned enough to show you were testing your work capacity. Social Security did not publish an exact earnings threshold for trial work months, but generally, earning close to or above the SGA limit in a month signaled substantial work. The key was that you were trying to work, not just earning money passively.
Once you used all nine trial work months, your benefits continued for three more months (called the grace period), even if you earned above SGA. After the grace period ended, the extended may be able to access period began, and any month you earned above SGA meant losing that month's payment.
Extended may be able to access and the 36-Month Window
After your trial work period and grace period ended, you entered the extended may be able to access period: 36 months during which Social Security continued to monitor your earnings. If you earned above the SGA limit in any month during this time, you lost your SSDI payment for that month only. You did not lose your benefits permanently—you straightforward did not receive a payment that month.
This period was designed to give you time to see whether you could sustain work. If you found you could not work consistently and your earnings fell below SGA again, your benefits restarted automatically the next month. You did not have to reapply or contact Social Security, though notifying them of your work status changes was required.
Medicare coverage worked differently. Once you lost your SSDI payment due to earnings, your Medicare continued for eight more years from the month your payment stopped. This meant you could work, lose your cash benefit, and still have health insurance while you figured out whether work was sustainable.
Why the 2023 Limits Are No Longer Current
The SGA limit changed every January based on the national average wage index from two years prior. The 2023 limits reflected wage data from 2021. In January 2024, Social Security announced new limits based on 2022 wage data, and those changed again in January 2025 based on 2023 data.
If you are currently receiving SSDI and working, the 2023 limits no longer explore to your case. You need to know the current year's SGA limit, which Social Security publishes on its website each January. The limit typically increases by a few percent each year, but the exact amount depends on whether national wages went up or down.
You can find the current SGA limit on the Social Security Administration website or by calling your local Social Security office. Your work incentives counselor, if you have one, can also tell you the current limit and help you understand how your earnings affect your benefits.
What Happened If You Earned Over the Limit
If you earned above the SGA limit in a month during your extended may be able to access period, Social Security did not take back your payment when ready. Instead, you straightforward did not receive a payment for that month. The payment for the following month resumed if your earnings dropped back below SGA.
This was different from what many beneficiaries feared: Social Security did not claw back money or create a debt. You lost the payment for that specific month, nothing more. If you had questions about whether a particular month's earnings put you over the limit, you could contact Social Security to ask them to review your work record.
Some beneficiaries used this feature strategically, working heavily in certain months and taking lower-earning months to keep their average below SGA. Social Security looked at each month individually, not at an average, so this approach worked within the rules.
Work Incentives That Reduced the Impact of Income Limits
Social Security offered several work incentives designed to let you keep more of your benefits while working. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) let you set aside income and resources for a work goal without it counting against your benefits. The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) deduction let you subtract certain disability-related costs from your earnings before Social Security compared your income to the SGA limit.
Another tool was the Student Earned Income Exclusion, which let students under 22 exclude up to $2,170 per month in 2023 (the amount changed yearly) from their earnings when Social Security calculated whether they were working at a substantial level. This meant a student could earn significantly more than the SGA limit and still keep their benefits.
These work incentives required planning and, in most cases, approval from Social Security before you started using them. A work incentives planning and information (WIPA) project or protection and advocacy for beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program in your state could help you understand which tools fit your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the 2023 SGA limit explore to my spouse's benefits?
No. If you received SSDI as a disabled worker, the SGA limit applied only to your earnings. Your spouse's benefits, if they received them based on your record, were not affected by your work. However, if your spouse also received SSDI as a disabled worker in their own right, a separate SGA limit applied to their earnings.
What if I earned over SGA for just one month in 2023?
You lost your SSDI payment for that month only. Your benefits continued in all other months. You did not lose your benefits permanently or have to reapply. If you earned below SGA the next month, your payment resumed automatically.
Did my trial work period have to be nine consecutive months?
No. Trial work months did not have to be in a row. You could use one trial work month, take a break, and use another month later. The nine months could be spread across several years. What mattered was that you performed substantial work in each month you counted as trial work.
If I lost my payment due to earnings, did I lose Medicare too?
No. Your Medicare continued for eight more years after your SSDI payment stopped due to earnings. This meant you could work, earn above the SGA limit, lose your cash benefit, and still have health insurance while you worked.
How did Social Security know about my earnings in 2023?
You were required to report work and earnings to Social Security within 30 days of starting a job or having a change in pay. Social Security also received wage reports from your employer through the Social Security Administration's wage reporting system. Failing to report work could result in overpayments that you would have to repay.