The income limit that matters for SSDI is called Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA
SSDI does not have a straightforward income cap that disqualifies you. Instead, Social Security looks at whether you are earning enough money to be considered substantially gainfully employed. If you cross that threshold, Social Security will assume you are no longer disabled and will stop your benefits.
The SGA amount changes every 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 are set by federal law and explore nationwide. In 2025, these amounts will increase again — Social Security announces the new figures each October.
The key word is "substantially." You can earn some money and keep your benefits. You only lose them when your earnings cross the SGA line.
Key Takeaways
- SSDI stops when you earn more than the SGA amount ($1,470 monthly for non-blind recipients in 2024), which increases each year.
- Social Security counts only your net earnings — what you keep after taxes and legitimate business expenses — not gross income.
- Work incentives like the Trial Work Period let you test employment for nine months without losing benefits, even if you exceed SGA.
- You must report your earnings to Social Security; they do not automatically know what you earn from your employer.
- If you go over the limit, benefits do not stop when ready — Social Security sends a notice first, and you have a chance to respond.
What counts as income for SSDI purposes
Social Security counts wages from a job, self-employment income, and certain other earnings. They do not count all money you receive. For example, gifts, loans, inheritances, and most government benefits (like food stamps or housing vouchers) do not count as income for SSDI.
If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit — the money left after you subtract legitimate business expenses. If you run a small business and gross $3,000 a month but spend $1,800 on supplies and rent, Social Security counts $1,200. Keep receipts and records of all business expenses, because you will need to report them.
If you work for someone else, Social Security counts your gross wages before taxes. They do not subtract federal income tax, Social Security tax, or Medicare tax. They do subtract certain impairment-related work expenses — costs you pay specifically because of your disability, like a personal attendant or special transportation to work.
How the Trial Work Period protects you while you test employment
Before you lose benefits for earning too much, you get a nine-month window called the Trial Work Period. During these nine months, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI payment. The months do not have to be consecutive — they are counted over a rolling 60-month period.
The purpose is to let you try working without the fear that one good month will end your benefits. You report your earnings to Social Security each month, but your check does not change. After the nine trial months are used up, Social Security looks at your average earnings. If you are earning over SGA on average, your benefits will stop.
You must report your earnings during the Trial Work Period. Social Security does not automatically know you are working. If you do not report and they find out later, you may have to repay benefits you were not supposed to receive.
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 benefits for any month you earn less than the SGA amount, even if you earned over SGA in other months.
This means you could have a high-earning month, lose your check that month, then earn less the next month and get your check back. You are not permanently off the rolls — you move on and off benefits based on what you earn each individual month.
After the Extended may be able to access Period ends, the rules change again. If you go over SGA, your benefits stop and you enter a period called Expedited Reinstatement, which lasts 24 months. During this time, if you drop back below SGA, you can get your benefits restarted without filing a new process or going through medical review.
How to report your earnings to Social Security
You are responsible for telling Social Security how much you earn. They do not receive this information automatically from your employer. You can report earnings by phone, by mail, or through your online my Social Security account.
Report your earnings for the month in which you earned them, not the month you receive the paycheck. If you are paid twice a month, report both payments in the month they were earned. Keep pay stubs and records of all income — Social Security may ask to see them.
If you do not report earnings and Social Security finds out you were working, you will have to repay any benefits you received while you were over the SGA limit. This debt can be large. The safest approach is to report honestly and on time, even if you think you might lose benefits.
Other work incentives that can help you keep benefits while earning
Beyond the Trial Work Period, Social Security offers other programs designed to help people with disabilities work. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal — like paying for training or buying equipment — without it counting against your benefits.
The Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) program lets you deduct costs directly related to your disability from your earnings before Social Security calculates whether you are over SGA. If you need a personal assistant at work, special transportation, or medical devices to do your job, these costs can be subtracted.
These programs are complex and have strict rules about what qualifies. A Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project in your state offers free help understanding these options. You can find your local WIPA by searching the Ticket to Work website or calling 1-866-968-7842.
What to do if you think you might go over the SGA limit
If you are offered a job or your hours are increasing, contact Social Security before you start or before the change takes effect. Explain your situation and ask about the Trial Work Period and other work incentives. Do not assume you will lose benefits — you may have months of protection you do not know about.
If you have already gone over the SGA limit and Social Security sends you a notice, read it carefully. The notice will explain why they think you are no longer disabled and what you can do to respond. You have the right to request a hearing before an administrative law judge if you disagree.
Keep all records of your work and earnings. If you are self-employed, keep receipts for every business expense. If you work for someone else, keep all pay stubs. These documents protect you if there is ever a disagreement about how much you earned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work part-time and keep my SSDI benefits?
Yes, as long as you earn less than the SGA amount ($1,470 monthly in 2024 for non-blind recipients). You can work part-time indefinitely and keep your full benefit. During the nine-month Trial Work Period, you can earn any amount and still receive your full check.
Does Social Security know how much I earn from my job?
Not automatically. Your employer does not report your wages to Social Security. You must report your earnings yourself each month. If you do not report and Social Security discovers you were working, you will have to repay benefits you received while over the SGA limit.
What if I earn money from a side business, not a regular job?
Self-employment income counts the same way as wages. Social Security counts your net profit after business expenses. Keep detailed records of all income and all expenses — supplies, rent, equipment, anything directly related to the business. Report this net amount to Social Security each month.
If I go over SGA one month, do I lose all my benefits?
Not when ready. During the Trial Work Period, you do not lose benefits no matter how much you earn. After that period, you lose your check only for the months you earn over SGA. If you earn less the next month, your benefits restart. You stay in this month-to-month status during the Extended may be able to access Period.
Can I get my benefits back if I stop working?
Yes. If you go over SGA and your benefits stop, you can restart them within 24 months (the Expedited Reinstatement period) without a new process or medical exam, as long as you drop back below SGA. After 24 months, you would need to file a new process.