How much you can earn while receiving SSDI in 2024

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) has two income thresholds in 2024 that determine whether you keep your benefits. The first is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), set at $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,590 per month for blind beneficiaries. If you earn more than these amounts in a month, Social Security will assume you are not disabled and may stop your benefits.

The second threshold is the Trial Work Period (TWP), which lets you test your ability to work without losing benefits. During your TWP, you can earn any amount in months you designate as "work months" — there is no income limit. You get nine work months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-month window. After your TWP ends, the SGA limit applies again.

These are federal figures that explore nationwide. They change each year in January based on wage growth. The amounts above are the 2024 figures; if you are reading this in 2025 or later, Social Security will have posted updated amounts on their website.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn up to $1,550 per month (non-blind) or $2,590 per month (blind) without triggering a benefit review in 2024.
  • The Trial Work Period gives you nine months to test work without any income limit, as long as you report those months to Social Security.
  • Earnings above the SGA limit do not automatically stop your benefits — Social Security reviews your case, but you may still may have access to if your work is part-time or temporary.
  • You must report your earnings to Social Security within the month you earn them, or you risk overpayment and having to repay benefits.
  • Self-employment income counts toward the SGA limit and is calculated differently than wages — you report net profit, not gross revenue.

What counts as income under SSDI rules

Not all money you receive counts as "earnings" under SSDI. Wages from a job count. Self-employment net income counts. Bonuses, commissions, and tips count. But certain types of income do not: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, food stamps, housing information, gifts, loans, tax refunds, and money from selling your home or car do not reduce your SSDI benefits.

The key distinction is whether you earned the money through work. If you did, it counts toward the SGA limit. If you did not — if it was a transfer of money or property with no work attached — it does not. Royalties from a book or song you wrote in the past do count, because they are tied to past work. Inheritance does not.

If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit (revenue minus business expenses) as your earnings. You will need to report your Schedule C from your tax return or a profit-and-loss statement. If your net profit is below the SGA limit, you keep your benefits even if your gross revenue is much higher.

How the Trial Work Period works and when it ends

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which you can work and earn any amount without losing SSDI. You do not have to use all nine months at once — you can spread them across 60 months (five years). For example, you might work three months, take a break, work two more months, take another break, and so on.

You choose which months count as work months. A month counts as a work month if you earn $1,050 or more (in 2024) or if you work 40 or more hours in self-employment. You must report these months to Social Security. If you earn less than $1,050 in a month and work fewer than 40 hours in self-employment, that month does not count against your nine.

Once you have used all nine work months, the Extended may be able to access Period (EPE) begins. During the EPE, which lasts 36 months, the SGA limit applies again — if you earn more than $1,550 per month, Social Security will review your case. After the EPE ends, if you are still working above the SGA limit, your benefits will stop. However, you can request reinstatement of benefits within five years if your earnings drop below SGA again.

What happens if you earn above the SGA limit

Earning more than the SGA limit does not automatically stop your benefits. Instead, Social Security will review your case to determine whether you are still disabled. The review is called a Continuing Disability Review (CDR). They will look at your current medical condition, the type of work you are doing, how many hours you work, and whether the work is substantial enough to show you are no longer disabled.

If Social Security decides you can do substantial work, they will send you a notice explaining the decision and your right to appeal. You have 60 days from the date on the notice to request an appeal. During the appeal process, you keep your benefits while your case is being reviewed. If you win the appeal, your benefits continue. If you lose, you may owe back benefits depending on when the overpayment occurred.

Some people work above the SGA limit and keep their benefits because the work is part-time, temporary, or because their medical condition has not improved enough to support full-time work. The SGA limit is a screening tool, not an automatic cutoff. Your actual ability to work is what matters.

Reporting your earnings to Social Security

You are required to report your earnings to Social Security within the month you earn them. You can report by phone, mail, or online through your my Social Security account. If you miss the important date, Social Security may overpay you, and you will have to repay the extra benefits later.

When you report, have your pay stubs or income records ready. If you are self-employed, you will need to report your net profit for the month. Social Security will ask for the amount you earned, the dates you worked, and whether the month should count as a work month (if you are still in your Trial Work Period).

If you receive wages, your employer may report your earnings directly to Social Security through the Wage Reporting Service. You can still report yourself to make sure the information is correct. If there is a discrepancy between what your employer reported and what you reported, Social Security will contact you to clarify.

How the SGA limit changes year to year

The SGA limit is adjusted each January based on the national average wage index from two years prior. In recent years, the limit has increased by $50 to $100 annually. The 2024 limit of $1,550 (non-blind) represents an increase from $1,470 in 2023. The blind SGA limit of $2,590 in 2024 was $2,460 in 2023.

Social Security publishes the new SGA limits in December of the prior year on their website and in the Federal Register. If you are working and approaching the limit, check the Social Security website in late November or early December to see what the new limit will be. This helps you plan your work hours and earnings for the coming year.

The SGA limit applies the same way regardless of your age, the type of disability you have, or how long you have been receiving benefits. It is a uniform threshold across all SSDI beneficiaries (except those who are blind, who have a higher limit).

Work incentives that protect your benefits beyond the SGA limit

Social Security offers several work incentives designed to help you return to work without losing benefits when ready. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) allows you to set aside income and resources for a work goal without it counting against your benefits. For example, if you want to go back to school to change careers, you can exclude your student loan and part of your wages from your income calculation.

The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) deduction lets you subtract the cost of items or services you need because of your disability in order to work. If you need a personal assistant, specialized transportation, or medical equipment to work, those costs can be deducted from your earnings before the SGA limit is applied.

The Expedited Reinstatement provision means that if you stop working and your earnings drop below SGA within five years, you can request your benefits back without going through a new process. Your benefits can be reinstated for up to three months while Social Security reviews your case, even if you are still earning above SGA during that time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my benefits the month I earn over the SGA limit?

Not automatically. Earning over the SGA limit triggers a review, but you keep your benefits while Social Security decides whether you are still disabled. If they determine you can do substantial work, they will notify you and give you the right to appeal. You continue receiving benefits during the appeal.

Can I work part-time and keep my SSDI?

Yes. Part-time work that stays below the SGA limit ($1,550 per month in 2024) does not trigger a review. Even if you work above the limit, part-time work may not be considered substantial enough to stop your benefits. Social Security looks at hours worked, type of work, and whether your medical condition supports that level of work.

What if my employer reports my earnings wrong?

Contact Social Security when ready with your correct pay stubs or income records. Social Security will investigate the discrepancy. If you were overpaid because of the error, you may be able to request a waiver of repayment if you were not at fault and cannot afford to repay.

Do I have to use all nine months of my Trial Work Period?

No. You can use fewer than nine months if you want. However, once you use all nine, the Extended may be able to access Period begins and the SGA limit applies again. If you think you might need to test work again later, you can space out your work months across the 60-month window.

How do I report my self-employment income?

Report your net profit (revenue minus business expenses) to Social Security each month you earn it. You will need your profit-and-loss statement or Schedule C from your tax return. Social Security counts net profit toward the SGA limit, not gross revenue, so a high-revenue business with high expenses may not trigger a review.