The income limit depends on whether you're working
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) has no income limit for unearned money — you can receive investment income, rental income, or gifts without affecting your benefits. But if you work, there is a limit called Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA. In 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month if you are blind, and $1,470 per month if you are not blind. If your monthly earnings stay below these amounts, your SSDI payment continues in full.
These dollar amounts change each year. The Social Security Administration updates them in October based on national wage trends. The limit for next year is published on the Social Security website by November, so you can plan ahead if you're thinking about working.
The key word is "earnings" — this means what you actually make from work, not what you're offered or what's on your paystub before taxes. Social Security counts your gross income (before taxes are taken out), but they subtract impairment-related work expenses, which are costs you pay specifically because of your disability to do the job.
Key Takeaways
- You can receive unlimited unearned income (investments, gifts, rental income) without losing SSDI benefits.
- If you work, your monthly earnings must stay below $1,470 (or $1,550 if blind) in 2024 to keep your full SSDI payment.
- Social Security counts gross earnings before taxes, but subtracts disability-related work costs like special equipment or transportation.
- The SGA limit increases each year in October, so check the current year's amount before you start working.
- Earnings above the SGA limit do not when ready stop your benefits — there are work incentives that let you test work without losing coverage.
What counts as earnings under SGA
Social Security counts money you earn from work — wages from a job, self-employment income, or any other payment for services you provide. They count this income in the month you earn it, not the month you receive the paycheck. If you're paid weekly but work across two calendar months, Social Security divides your earnings by the months you worked in.
They do not count certain types of income: Social Security benefits themselves, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), veterans benefits, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, or food and housing information. They also do not count loans, inheritances, or money you receive as a gift.
If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit (income minus business expenses), not your gross revenue. You will need to report your business income on a tax return or a form called the Schedule C (for sole proprietors) or Schedule F (for farming). Keep records of all business expenses because Social Security will ask for them.
How work incentives protect you while you test employment
If your earnings go above the SGA limit, you do not lose benefits when ready. Social Security has work incentives designed to let you try working without the fear of losing health coverage or your entire payment at once.
The most common work incentive is the Trial Work Period. During this nine-month period, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI payment. The months do not have to be consecutive — Social Security counts only the months in which you earn $1,050 or more (in 2024). After the Trial Work Period ends, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, you keep your benefits in any month your earnings fall below the SGA limit, even if you earned more in other months.
Another option is Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE). These are costs you pay because of your disability to work — a wheelchair ramp at your workplace, special transportation, medication needed to work, or equipment. You subtract these costs from your gross earnings before Social Security checks whether you've crossed the SGA limit. This can lower your countable income significantly.
Reporting your earnings to Social Security
You are required to report work income to Social Security. The easiest way is to call your local Social Security office or use your online my Social Security account. You can also mail a written report, but calling or using the online account is faster and creates a record.
Report your earnings within the same month you earn them, or as soon as possible after. If you wait months to report, Social Security may overpay you and then ask you to repay the difference. The overpayment can be large if you've been working above the SGA limit without reporting.
If you are self-employed, you will report your net profit on your tax return. Social Security will cross-check this with the IRS, so the income will be recorded even if you do not call them directly. However, it is still a good idea to report it to Social Security when you file your taxes, so there is no confusion about which year the income belongs to.
What happens if you earn above the SGA limit
If your monthly earnings exceed the SGA limit and you are not in a work incentive period, Social Security will reduce or stop your SSDI payment. However, this does not happen in the month you earn the money — there is a delay. Social Security processes earnings reports monthly, and the change to your payment takes effect the following month.
If you earn above SGA for nine months total (not necessarily consecutive), your Trial Work Period ends. After that, you enter Extended may be able to access. During Extended may be able to access, you keep your full SSDI payment in any month you earn below SGA, even if you earned above it in other months. This gives you flexibility to have high-earning months without losing benefits.
Once Extended may be able to access ends (36 months after your Trial Work Period began), your benefits will stop in any month you earn at or above the SGA limit. At that point, you can still request benefits to restart if your earnings drop below SGA again, but there is a waiting period and a new medical review.
Self-employment and SGA
If you own a business, Social Security measures your SGA using your net profit, not your revenue. They also consider whether you are working full-time or part-time, and whether the work is comparable to what you did before your disability. A business that generates $1,200 per month in profit but requires only five hours of work per week may not be considered SGA, while a business that generates $1,500 per month and requires 30 hours per week likely is.
Social Security will ask for your business tax returns, profit and loss statements, and records of hours worked. If you are just starting a business, you may not have tax returns yet. In that case, keep detailed records of income and expenses from day one, and report them to Social Security as soon as you have three months of data.
Self-employment income is often lower in the first year while you build the business. If you are concerned that your business will eventually exceed the SGA limit, talk to a work incentives counselor before you start. Many states have free counselors through the Ticket to Work program who can help you plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn money from a part-time job and keep my SSDI?
Yes, as long as your monthly earnings stay below the SGA limit ($1,470 in 2024 if you are not blind). Part-time work is often the easiest way to stay under the limit. If you earn above it, you still have the Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access to protect you while you test working.
Do I lose my Medicare if I earn above the SGA limit?
No. Your Medicare coverage continues even if your SSDI payment stops due to work earnings. You keep Medicare for at least 93 months (about 7.5 years) after your Trial Work Period ends, as long as you report your earnings. This is one of the biggest work incentives — you can work and earn above SGA without losing health coverage.
What if I earn a large amount one month but plan to earn less the next month?
Social Security counts earnings month by month. If you earn $3,000 in January but $800 in February, they will count January as a month above SGA and February as a month below. During your Trial Work Period or Extended may be able to access, the high-earning month does not affect your payment in the low-earning month.
Do I have to report cash income or informal work?
Yes. Social Security counts all income from work, whether you receive a W-2, a 1099, cash, or any other form. Failing to report income is considered fraud and can result in overpayment demands and loss of benefits. Report all work income, even if it is informal or paid in cash.
Can I use impairment-related work expenses to lower my earnings below SGA?
Yes. If you earn $1,600 per month but spend $200 on disability-related work costs (like special transportation or equipment), your countable earnings are $1,400, which is below the SGA limit. Keep receipts and document what each expense is for, because Social Security will ask.