The 2023 SSDI income limit for work is $1,550 per month
In 2023, if you earn more than $1,550 a month from work, Social Security will consider you engaged in substantial gainful activity (SGA) — meaning you are working at a level that is too high to receive SSDI payments. This is the threshold Social Security uses to decide whether your disability prevents you from working.
The $1,550 figure applies to most people receiving SSDI. There is one exception: if you are blind, your SGA limit is higher, at $2,590 per month in 2023. Social Security raises both of these numbers each year based on changes in the national average wage.
Crossing the SGA limit does not automatically end your SSDI. What it does is tell Social Security that you may no longer be disabled under their rules. They will review your case, and if your earnings stay above the limit for nine months, your benefits will stop. But the process takes time — you will not lose your check when ready.
Key Takeaways
- If you earn more than $1,550 per month in 2023, Social Security will begin a review of whether you still may have access to for SSDI.
- The income limit is higher for people who are blind — $2,590 per month in 2023 — because blindness creates different work barriers.
- These limits change every year, so you should check the current year's figure before taking a job or increasing your hours.
- Earnings above the limit do not stop your benefits when ready; Social Security will review your case first.
How Social Security counts your earnings
Social Security counts gross earnings — the money you make before taxes, not what you take home. If you are self-employed, they count your net profit (revenue minus business expenses). Payments like unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, or pension money do not count as earnings for SGA purposes.
The month matters. Social Security looks at what you earned in each individual month, not just your yearly total. You could earn $2,000 in January and $1,000 in February and still be under the limit for February. This is important if you work irregular hours or have seasonal work.
If you are self-employed, Social Security also looks at how much time you spend working, not just how much you earn. Even if your earnings are below $1,550, if you work full-time hours in your own business, they may decide you are doing SGA anyway. This is called the "services test" and it applies only to self-employment.
What happens if you earn above the limit
If you report earnings above $1,550 in a month, Social Security will send you a letter explaining that you may no longer be disabled. They will ask you to describe your work and may request medical records. This is not an when ready termination — it is the start of a review.
If your earnings stay above the SGA limit for nine consecutive months, your SSDI will stop. The nine months do not have to be in a row on the calendar; they count as nine months in which you earned over the limit. After your benefits stop, you enter a period called the trial work period (if you have not used it yet) or extended may be able to access rules that let you keep some benefits while you work.
You must report your earnings to Social Security. You can do this online through your My Social Security account, by phone, or by mail. Failing to report earnings can result in an overpayment that you will have to repay.
The trial work period and extended may be able to access
Before your benefits stop completely, you have access to a trial work period — nine months in which you can earn any amount without losing your SSDI check. These nine months do not have to be consecutive. You can use one month now, take a break, and use another month later.
After your trial work period ends, you move into extended may be able to access. For 36 months after the trial work period, you can still receive a partial SSDI payment in any month your earnings fall below the SGA limit. This means if you have a low-earning month, your check comes back that month.
Once extended may be able to access ends, if you want SSDI again, you have to reapply and go through the full review process. However, if you become unable to work again within five years of when your benefits stopped, you can request expedited reinstatement without reapplying.
Why the limit exists and how it changes
The SGA limit exists because SSDI is designed for people whose disabilities prevent them from working. If you are earning above a certain level, Social Security assumes your disability is not severe enough to may have access to. The limit is not a judgment about your worth or your effort — it is a rule about what the program covers.
Social Security adjusts the SGA limit every January based on the national average wage index from two years prior. In 2023, the limit increased from $1,470 (in 2022) to $1,550. The blind limit went from $2,310 to $2,590. These increases happen automatically; you do not have to do anything.
Because the limit changes yearly, it is worth checking the current year's figure before you start a job or ask for a raise. A job that kept you under the limit in 2022 might push you over in 2023.
Planning work while on SSDI
If you are thinking about working while receiving SSDI, the first step is to understand your own situation. Some people can work part-time and stay under $1,550. Others want to test whether they can work at all. Your trial work period is designed for exactly this — to let you try working without when ready losing your benefits.
Before you start a job, contact Social Security and ask about your trial work period status. You can call 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office. They can tell you how many trial work months you have left and explain what happens to your benefits if you earn above the SGA limit.
Keep records of your earnings and report them honestly. Social Security matches reports against tax records, so discrepancies will be caught. If you are unsure whether something counts as earnings, ask Social Security before you report it.
Income limits for SSI are different
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead of SSDI, the income rules are completely different. SSI has a much lower income limit — in 2023, you can earn only $65 per month before your SSI payment starts to reduce. SSI also counts unearned income like gifts and counts resources (savings, property) in ways SSDI does not.
Some people receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time. If that is your situation, the SSI income rules explore to your SSI portion, and the SSDI SGA rules explore to your SSDI portion. Your Social Security representative can explain which rules affect your specific payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to report my earnings every month?
Yes. You must report any month in which you earn money. Social Security uses these reports to track whether you have crossed the SGA limit and to calculate any partial payments you may owe. You can report online, by phone, or by mail.
What if I earn $1,550 exactly — does that count as over the limit?
No. The SGA limit is $1,550, so earning exactly $1,550 is at the limit, not over it. You would need to earn $1,551 or more in a month for it to count as SGA. Social Security rounds to the nearest dollar.
Can I use my trial work period months one at a time, or do they have to be consecutive?
You can use them one at a time and spread them across years. You do not have to use all nine months in a row. This flexibility is built in so you can test your ability to work without pressure to use all your months at once.
If I go over the SGA limit, will my benefits stop when ready?
No. Social Security will review your case first. Your benefits continue while they investigate. If your earnings stay above the limit for nine months, then your benefits will stop. You will receive notice before this happens.
What if I become self-employed — how does Social Security count my income?
For self-employment, Social Security counts your net profit (revenue minus business expenses). They also look at how many hours you work. Even if your profit is below $1,550, if you work full-time in your own business, they may decide you are doing SGA based on the hours alone.