You can work while receiving SSDI, but your earnings will reduce or stop your payments once you cross the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold

SSDI does not automatically end when you work. Social Security allows you to earn money and keep your full benefit for a limited time through a program called a trial work period. After that, your payments shrink as your earnings rise, and stop entirely once you earn above the SGA amount for your year.

The key is understanding which earnings count, when they count, and what happens to your benefit at each income level. Most people can work part-time or at reduced hours and still receive some SSDI. The exact amount you keep depends on how much you earn and which work incentive program you use.

Key Takeaways

  • Your trial work period lets you earn any amount for nine months without losing SSDI, but Social Security must count those months as you use them.
  • After your trial work period ends, your SSDI stops if you earn above the SGA threshold, which is $1,550 per month in 2024 (this amount changes yearly).
  • Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) are two ways to reduce your countable earnings and keep more of your benefit.
  • You must report all work and earnings to Social Security within the month they occur, or you risk overpayment and having to repay benefits.

How the Trial Work Period Works

When you first return to work, you enter a trial work period that lasts nine months. During these nine months, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI check. Social Security counts a month toward your trial work period only if you earn $240 or more in that month (this threshold is adjusted yearly for inflation).

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. If you work three months, stop for six months, then work again, you still have six months of trial work period left. You can spread those nine months across several years if you need to. Once you have used all nine months, your trial work period ends and the earnings rules change.

During your trial work period, you must still report your earnings to Social Security each month. Failure to report can result in an overpayment notice later, even though you were may have access to to your full benefit during that time.

What Happens After Your Trial Work Period Ends

Once you have used all nine months of your trial work period, you move into what Social Security calls the extended may be able to access period. This period lasts 36 months. During these 36 months, your SSDI payment reduces or stops based on how much you earn each month.

If you earn above the SGA threshold for your year, your SSDI stops for that month. In 2024, the SGA threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers and $2,590 for blind workers. These amounts increase each January. If you earn $1,551 or more in a month, you do not receive an SSDI payment that month, even if you earned that amount for only one day.

The extended may be able to access period gives you a safety net: if your work ends or your earnings drop below SGA, your SSDI automatically restarts without a new process. You do not have to reapply or wait for approval. This protection lasts 36 months from the month your trial work period ended.

Using Work Incentives to Keep More of Your Benefit

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are costs you pay because of your disability that let you work. Examples include special transportation to your job, medication you need to work, medical equipment, or a personal assistant who helps you at work. You subtract IRWE from your gross earnings before Social Security counts them toward SGA. If you earn $2,000 but spend $600 on disability-related work costs, Social Security counts only $1,400 toward the SGA limit.

A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is a written plan you submit to Social Security that sets aside income and resources for a specific work goal—like training for a new job, starting a business, or buying equipment. Money set aside under a PASS does not count toward your SGA limit. PASS plans are complex and require detailed budgets, but they can let you earn significantly more while keeping your SSDI.

Both IRWE and PASS require documentation. For IRWE, you need receipts or invoices showing what you spent. For PASS, you need a detailed plan showing your goal, timeline, and budget. Social Security has a PASS specialist in each field office who can help you write the plan.

Reporting Your Work and Earnings

You must report all work to Social Security within the month it occurs. This includes self-employment, part-time jobs, and any wages you receive. You can report by phone, mail, or online through your my Social Security account. Failure to report is one of the most common reasons for overpayments.

When you report, tell Social Security the name of your employer, the date you started, how many hours you work per week, and your gross monthly earnings. If you are self-employed, report your net profit (income minus business expenses). Social Security uses this information to determine whether you are above or below SGA and whether your SSDI continues.

Keep copies of your pay stubs and any earnings statements. If Social Security sends you an overpayment notice, you will need these documents to show what you actually earned. Overpayments happen when you do not report earnings, report them late, or Social Security miscalculates your benefit.

What Happens If You Earn Above SGA

If you earn above the SGA threshold during your extended may be able to access period, your SSDI stops for that month. You do not receive a partial payment. However, your case remains open, and if your earnings drop below SGA the next month, your payment restarts automatically.

After your 36-month extended may be able to access period ends, the rules change again. At that point, if you earn above SGA, your SSDI terminates entirely. You would have to reapply and go through the full approval process again if you later become unable to work. This is why the extended may be able to access period is important—it gives you time to test your ability to work without permanently losing your benefit.

If you are earning above SGA and your SSDI has stopped, you may still be may have access to to Medicare for up to 93 months (about 7.5 years) from the month your trial work period ended. This is called Medicare continuation, and it covers your medical costs even though you are not receiving a cash benefit.

Returning to Work After Time Away

If you have been off SSDI for a while and return to work, you may be may be able to access for a second trial work period. Social Security allows one trial work period per entitlement. If you lost SSDI because you earned too much, worked, then stopped working and reapplied, you would use a new trial work period when you return to work.

The rules for a second trial work period are the same: nine months of trial work, then 36 months of extended may be able to access. You must report your earnings during both periods. If you are unsure whether you have already used your trial work period, contact your local Social Security office or ask your representative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work part-time and keep some of my SSDI?

Yes, during your trial work period you can earn any amount and keep your full benefit. After that, if you earn below SGA, you keep your full benefit. If you earn above SGA in a month, your payment stops that month only. Using IRWE or PASS can lower your countable earnings and let you work more hours while keeping your benefit.

What if I earn money one month but not the next?

SSDI is counted month by month. If you earn above SGA in one month, your payment stops that month. If you earn below SGA the next month, your payment restarts. This applies during your extended may be able to access period. After that period ends, one month above SGA can terminate your entire case.

Do I lose Medicare if my SSDI stops because I am working?

No. You can keep Medicare for up to 93 months after your trial work period ends, even if your SSDI payment has stopped because you are earning above SGA. You must pay the monthly premium, but coverage continues. This is called Medicare continuation.

What counts as earnings for SSDI?

Wages from a job, self-employment income, and any money you receive for work count as earnings. Unearned income like SSI, pensions, or gifts does not count. Social Security counts gross wages (before taxes) for employees and net profit (income minus business expenses) for self-employed people.

Can I use a PASS to go back to school while working?

Yes. A PASS can set aside income for education, training, or both. You can work, earn money, and set aside part of your earnings under a PASS to pay for school. The money set aside does not count toward your SGA limit, so you can earn more while keeping your SSDI.