What the earnings limit means for your SSDI check

Social Security has a dollar amount called Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA. If you earn more than that amount in a month, Social Security may decide you are working at a level that means you are no longer disabled, and they can stop your benefits.

The SGA limit changes once a year. For 2024, the limit is $1,550 per month if you are blind, and $1,470 per month if you are not blind. These numbers will be different in 2025 and beyond — Social Security announces the new limit each October or November for the following year.

This limit applies to earned income — money you make from work. It does not explore to unearned income like interest, rental payments, or money from family members.

Key Takeaways

  • The SGA limit for 2024 is $1,470 per month for most people and $1,550 for people who are blind; the limit changes yearly.
  • Earning more than the SGA limit in a single month does not automatically end your benefits, but it signals to Social Security that you may be able to work.
  • You have a nine-month trial work period during which you can earn any amount without losing benefits, as long as you report your work to Social Security.
  • After the trial work period ends, Social Security looks at your average earnings over a rolling 60-month window to decide whether to continue your benefits.
  • You must report all work and earnings to Social Security within 30 days of starting a job or changing your hours.

How Social Security measures your earnings

Social Security counts gross income — the money you earn before taxes are taken out. They do not subtract federal income tax, state tax, or Social Security tax from the amount they measure against the SGA limit.

If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit — the money left after you subtract business expenses. You will need to report this on your tax return, and Social Security will use those numbers.

Social Security also looks at whether your work is substantial in terms of the kind of work you do and how much responsibility it involves, not just the pay. A job that requires skills or judgment, or that takes significant time and effort, counts as substantial even if it pays less than the SGA limit. This is rare, but it can happen.

The trial work period: nine months to test your ability to work

When you first start working while on SSDI, you enter a trial work period. During these nine months, you can earn any amount of money without losing your SSDI check. Social Security will continue to pay you in full, even if you earn $5,000 a month or more.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only the months in which you earn more than $940 (in 2024) as trial work months. If you work part-time one month and earn $500, that month does not count. If you work the next month and earn $1,200, that month counts. You can spread nine counting months across several years if you work inconsistently.

You must report your work to Social Security. Call your local Social Security office or contact your work incentives planning and information (WIPA) project — a free service that helps people on SSDI understand how work affects their benefits. Failing to report work does not protect your benefits; it can lead to overpayment that you will owe back.

What happens after the trial work period ends

Once you have used all nine trial work months, Social Security enters what is called the extended may be able to access period. This lasts 36 months. During this time, you keep your SSDI benefits as long as your earnings stay below the SGA limit in that month.

If you earn more than the SGA limit in any single month during the extended may be able to access period, Social Security will suspend your benefits for that month. Your benefits resume the next month if your earnings drop back below the limit. This can happen month to month — you might lose benefits in March because you earned $1,600, but get them back in April if you only earned $1,200.

After the 36-month extended may be able to access period ends, Social Security looks at your average earnings over the past 60 months. If your average is below the SGA limit, you stay on SSDI. If your average is above it, your case goes to a medical review — Social Security will examine whether your condition has improved enough that you are no longer disabled.

Reporting your earnings to Social Security

You are required to report work within 30 days of starting a job or changing your hours. You can report by phone, by mail, or in person at your local Social Security office. Some people report online through my Social Security, though not all offices support this method yet.

When you report, have ready: the name and address of your employer, your job title, the date you started, how many hours you work per week, and how much you are paid. If you are self-employed, you will need to report your expected monthly net profit.

Social Security uses the information you report to calculate whether you have crossed the SGA threshold. Reporting does not mean you will lose benefits — it means Social Security has the information they need to make the right decision about your case. Not reporting, or reporting late, can cause problems later when Social Security discovers the work through other means.

Work incentives that can protect your benefits

Social Security has several programs designed to let you test your ability to work without when ready losing benefits. Beyond the trial work period, you can use impairment-related work expenses (IRWE) to subtract certain costs from your earnings before Social Security measures them against the SGA limit.

For example, if your disability requires you to use a personal assistant at work, or to take medication that costs money, or to use special equipment, you can subtract those costs from your gross earnings. This can lower the amount Social Security counts, keeping you below the SGA limit even if your paycheck is higher.

You can also use a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal — like training for a new job or starting a business — without those amounts counting against your benefits. A PASS is complex and requires a written agreement with Social Security, but it can be powerful if you are working toward a goal that will eventually let you earn more.

What to do if you think you will earn above the SGA limit

If you are offered a job or a raise that will push you above the SGA limit, contact a work incentives planning and information (WIPA) project before you start. These are free services funded by Social Security specifically to help people on SSDI understand how work affects their benefits. A WIPA counselor can walk you through the trial work period, the extended may be able to access period, and any work incentives you might use.

You can find your local WIPA project by calling 1-866-968-7842 or visiting the WIPA locator at askjan.org. You can also contact your local Social Security office and ask to speak with a work incentives specialist, though availability varies by location.

Do not assume that earning above the SGA limit means you will lose benefits when ready. The rules are designed to let you test work, and many people earn above the limit during the trial work period or extended may be able to access period without losing their check. Understanding which period you are in and what the rules are for that period is the key to keeping your benefits while you work.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I earn $1,600 in one month, do I lose my benefits right away?

Not necessarily. If you are still in your nine-month trial work period, you keep your full SSDI check no matter how much you earn that month. If you are in the extended may be able to access period (months 10 through 45 of work), Social Security will suspend your benefits for that month only, and they resume the next month if your earnings drop. If you are past the extended may be able to access period, Social Security looks at your average earnings over 60 months, not a single month.

Does Social Security know about my job if I don't report it?

Social Security may find out through other means — your employer might report your wages, or information might appear on your tax return. If Social Security discovers unreported work, it can result in an overpayment that you owe back, plus potential fraud charges. Reporting protects you because it shows you acted in good faith and gives Social Security the accurate information they need to manage your case correctly.

Can I use the trial work period more than once?

No. You get one nine-month trial work period in your lifetime on SSDI. Once you have used all nine counting months, you move into the extended may be able to access period. However, the nine months do not have to be used all at once — you can spread them across years if you work on and off.

What counts as work for the trial work period?

Any month in which you earn more than $940 (in 2024) counts as a trial work month. This includes part-time work, self-employment, or any other earned income. Unpaid volunteer work does not count. The amount you earn does not matter — earning $941 or $5,000 both count as one trial work month.

If I use IRWE or PASS, can I earn above the SGA limit without losing benefits?

Yes, if the work incentive is set up correctly. IRWE lets you subtract disability-related work expenses from your earnings before Social Security measures them against the SGA limit. PASS lets you set aside income for a specific work goal. Both require documentation and planning, so work with a WIPA counselor or Social Security to set them up properly.