The 2025 SSDI Earnings Limit

In 2025, you can earn up to $1,550 per month and still receive your full SSDI payment. This amount is called Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA. If you earn more than this in a month, Social Security will consider you able to work and may stop your benefits that month.

The $1,550 figure is set each year by Social Security and announced in December for the year ahead. It changes because it is tied to the national average wage index — when average wages rise, the SGA limit rises with it. In 2024, the limit was $1,550, so it remained the same for 2025.

This limit applies whether you work for an employer, run your own business, or do both. It is based on your gross earnings — the money before taxes are taken out. Unpaid work, like volunteering, does not count toward the limit.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn up to $1,550 per month in 2025 without losing your SSDI payment for that month.
  • The limit applies to gross earnings from any work — employment, self-employment, or both combined.
  • If you earn more than $1,550 in a single month, Social Security will stop your payment for that month only, not permanently.
  • Work incentives like the Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access Period let you test your ability to work without when ready losing benefits.
  • You must report your earnings to Social Security within 10 days of the end of the month in which you earned them.

How the Monthly Earnings Test Works

Social Security checks your earnings each month. If you earn $1,550 or less, you keep your full SSDI payment. If you earn more than $1,550 in a month, you lose that month's payment — but only that month's payment. The next month, the test resets.

The earnings test is straightforward: it looks at the calendar month, not a rolling 30-day period. If you earn $2,000 in January, you lose your January payment. If you earn $1,200 in February, you get your February payment in full. There is no averaging across months.

This is different from how other benefits work. Medicare and Medicaid do not have a monthly earnings test — they look at your work history and your ability to work over time. SSDI's monthly test is simpler but also more rigid.

What Counts as Earnings

Earnings include wages from a job, net profit from self-employment, and bonuses or commissions. They are measured before taxes, Social Security withholding, or any other deductions. If your employer pays you $2,000 gross, that is what counts — not what you take home.

Earnings do not include unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, pension payments, investment income, or money from family members. They also do not include in-kind support — if someone gives you food or lets you live in their home rent-free, that does not count.

If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit after business expenses. You will need to report your income and expenses to Social Security, usually through your tax return or a detailed accounting.

The Trial Work Period: Testing Work Without Risk

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI payment. You do not have to report your earnings during this period, and Social Security will not stop your benefits no matter how much you make.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only the months in which you earn $1,050 or more (in 2025). If you work part-time one month and earn $800, that month does not count toward your nine. If you earn $1,200, it does count. You can spread your nine trial months across several years if you want to test work slowly.

After your nine trial months end, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period. For the next 36 months, you can still earn up to $1,550 per month without losing benefits. If you earn more than $1,550 in a month during this period, you lose that month's payment, but you keep your Medicare coverage.

What Happens When You Exceed the Limit

If you earn more than $1,550 in a month, Social Security will not pay you for that month. You do not lose your benefits permanently — they straightforward pause. The next month, if your earnings are $1,550 or less, your payment resumes.

You must report your earnings to Social Security within 10 days of the end of the month in which you earned them. You can report by phone, mail, or online through your my Social Security account. If you do not report, Social Security may overpay you, and you will have to repay the money later.

If you are in your Extended may be able to access Period and you earn more than $1,550 in a month, you lose that month's SSDI payment but you keep your Medicare coverage. This is a major protection — your health insurance does not stop just because you had a high-earning month.

Self-Employment and the SGA Limit

If you own a business, Social Security counts your net profit — revenue minus business expenses — toward the $1,550 limit. You will need to provide documentation of your income and expenses, usually through your tax return or a profit-and-loss statement.

Self-employment is often more complex than wage work because you have to prove what your actual profit is. Social Security may ask for receipts, invoices, or bank statements. If you are just starting a business, you may not have a full year of records yet — in that case, Social Security will estimate your likely annual profit and use that to determine whether you have exceeded SGA.

If you are unsure whether your business income will push you over the limit, you can contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to discuss your specific situation before you report earnings.

Planning Your Work Around the Earnings Limit

Many people with SSDI work part-time or in seasonal jobs specifically to stay under the $1,550 limit. If you earn $1,500 per month, you keep your full SSDI payment plus your wages — a significant income boost. If you earn $2,000, you lose your SSDI payment that month, so your total income may actually be lower.

Some people use the Trial Work Period to test whether they can work full-time. If they find they cannot sustain full-time work, they can scale back to part-time and stay under the limit. Others use it to explore a new job or career path without the risk of losing benefits when ready.

Work incentives like the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) and Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) can also help. These programs let you set aside income or deduct certain expenses, which can lower the amount Social Security counts toward the SGA limit. Talk to a work incentives counselor at your state vocational rehabilitation agency to see whether these programs fit your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I earn $2,000 one month, do I lose my benefits permanently?

No. You lose only that one month's payment. If you earn $1,400 the next month, your payment resumes in full. The earnings test resets every month. You would lose your benefits permanently only if Social Security determines you can do substantial gainful activity on an ongoing basis — which usually requires several months of earnings above the limit, not a single high-earning month.

Does the $1,550 limit include my spouse's income?

No. Social Security counts only your own earnings toward your SGA limit. Your spouse's income does not affect whether you lose your SSDI payment. However, if your spouse also receives SSDI or SSI, their earnings are counted separately against their own limit.

What if I get a bonus or tax refund — does that count as earnings?

A bonus from your employer counts as earnings in the month you receive it. A tax refund does not count — it is a return of money you already paid, not new income. If you receive a lump-sum payment for unused vacation time when you leave a job, that counts as earnings in the month you receive it.

Can I work more than one job and stay under the limit?

Yes. Social Security adds up all your earnings from all sources. If you earn $800 from one job and $700 from another in the same month, your total earnings are $1,500, which is under the limit. If your combined earnings exceed $1,550, you lose that month's payment.

Do I have to report my earnings every month?

You must report earnings only in months when you earn money. If you do not work in a month, you do not need to report anything. If you work, you should report your earnings within 10 days of the end of that month. Many people set a calendar reminder on the last day of each work month to help them remember.