The 2025 earnings limit for SSDI is $1,550 per month
If you earn more than $1,550 a month in 2025, Social Security will consider you able to work and may stop your SSDI payments. This dollar amount is called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level, and it changes each year. The Social Security Administration sets it based on changes in the national average wage.
The $1,550 figure applies to most people receiving SSDI. There are narrow exceptions — blind individuals have a higher limit of $2,590 per month in 2025 — but for the vast majority of SSDI recipients, $1,550 is the threshold that matters.
Reaching or exceeding this amount in a single month does not automatically end your benefits that month. Social Security looks at whether you can sustain work at this level over time. But crossing it repeatedly, or earning above it for nine months in a row, will trigger a review of your case.
Key Takeaways
- The 2025 SGA limit is $1,550 per month for most SSDI recipients; blind individuals have a separate limit of $2,590 per month.
- Earnings above the SGA limit do not stop benefits when ready, but Social Security will review your case if the pattern continues.
- The SGA limit increases most years; you can check the current year's amount on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
- Work incentive programs like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) may let you earn above the SGA limit while keeping benefits.
- You must report your earnings to Social Security within the month you earn them to avoid overpayment.
How Social Security counts your earnings
Social Security counts gross earnings — the money you make before taxes, not what you take home. This includes wages from a job, net profit from self-employment, and certain other forms of income. It does not include Social Security benefits you receive, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, housing information, or most other government benefits.
The month you earn the money is the month Social Security counts it, regardless of when you receive the paycheck. If you work in January but do not get paid until February, Social Security counts it as January earnings. This matters because one high-earning month can trigger a review even if other months are low.
If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit — what you make after business expenses. You will need to report these figures to Social Security and may need to provide tax returns or business records to prove them.
What happens if you earn above $1,550
Earning above $1,550 in a single month does not end your SSDI when ready. Social Security distinguishes between a one-time overage and a pattern of work at the SGA level. A single month above the limit may not trigger any action, especially if your other months are well below it.
However, if you earn above $1,550 for nine months in a row — whether consecutive or not — Social Security will conduct a medical review of your case. This review examines whether your condition has improved enough that you can work at a substantial level. The outcome could be that your benefits continue, your case is closed, or you enter a period called Extended may be able to access where you keep benefits for a few more months while you look for work.
If you cross the SGA limit and then your earnings drop back below it, you do not automatically lose benefits. But you must report the higher earnings to Social Security. Failing to report earnings is considered fraud and can result in overpayment demands, benefit termination, and criminal charges in serious cases.
Work incentives that let you earn more
Social Security offers programs designed to help SSDI recipients work without losing benefits. The most common are Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS).
IRWE lets you subtract certain work-related costs from your earnings before Social Security counts them toward the SGA limit. If you need a personal assistant at work, specialized transportation, medication related to your condition, or medical equipment to do your job, those costs can reduce your countable earnings. For example, if you earn $1,800 but spend $300 on disability-related work costs, Social Security counts only $1,500 toward the SGA limit. You must be able to show that you would not need these expenses if you did not have your disability.
PASS is a written plan you create with a Social Security representative. It sets aside income and resources for a specific work goal — like finishing a degree, getting a certification, or starting a business. While you are following an approved PASS, earnings set aside for that goal do not count toward the SGA limit. PASS plans typically last one to two years and require regular reporting, but they can allow you to earn significantly above $1,550 while keeping benefits.
Both programs require advance approval from Social Security. You cannot use them retroactively. If you think either might explore to your situation, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to speak with a work incentives planner.
How the SGA limit changes year to year
The SGA limit is not fixed. Social Security adjusts it each year in January based on changes in the national average wage index from two years prior. In recent years, the limit has increased by $50 to $100 annually, though the exact amount varies.
The 2025 limit of $1,550 represents an increase from 2024. If you are currently receiving SSDI, you do not need to do anything when the limit changes — Social Security applies the new amount automatically. But if you are working and your earnings are close to the old limit, you should know that you may have a little more room to earn in the new year.
You can find the current year's SGA limit on the Social Security website at ssa.gov, or you can call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the amount. The limit for blind individuals is always higher and also changes each year.
Reporting your earnings to Social Security
You are required to report your earnings to Social Security within the month you earn them. If you fail to report, Social Security may overpay you, and you will owe the money back — even if the overpayment was not your fault. Intentional failure to report is fraud.
You can report earnings by phone at 1-800-772-1213, by mail, or through your online my Social Security account at ssa.gov. When you report, have your pay stubs or business records ready so you can give Social Security an accurate figure. If your earnings vary month to month, report each month separately rather than trying to estimate an average.
Some SSDI recipients are assigned a work incentives planner or benefits counselor who can help track earnings and make sure you are reporting correctly. If you are working, ask your local Social Security office whether you may have access to for this support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does one month of earnings above $1,550 end my benefits?
No. A single month above the limit does not automatically stop your benefits. Social Security looks at the overall pattern of your work. However, you must report the earnings, and if high earnings continue, Social Security will review your case after nine months of earnings above $1,550.
If I earn $1,600 one month and $1,200 the next, do I lose benefits?
Not necessarily. Social Security does not average your earnings across months. Each month stands alone. One month at $1,600 does not disqualify you, but if this pattern repeats, it will trigger a review. Report both months accurately to Social Security.
Do I have to report cash earnings or informal work?
Yes. All earnings count, whether you receive a pay stub or not. This includes cash work, gig economy jobs, and informal self-employment. Failing to report any earnings is fraud and can result in serious consequences, including overpayment demands and benefit termination.
What if my employer pays me late — which month do I report the earnings?
Report earnings in the month you earned them, not the month you were paid. If you worked in January but received the check in February, report it as January earnings. Use your pay stub date or work records to determine when the work occurred.
Can I use a work incentive program if I am already earning above $1,550?
IRWE and PASS require advance approval from Social Security before you use them. You cannot explore them retroactively to earnings you have already reported. If you are earning above $1,550 and want to explore work incentives, contact your local Social Security office when ready to discuss your options.