You can work and collect SSDI at the same time, but there are rules about how much you can earn

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not automatically stop when you work. Instead, Social Security tracks your monthly earnings against a threshold called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). As long as your earnings stay below the SGA limit—which changes each year—you keep your full SSDI payment and your health insurance.

The catch is that SGA is not the same as your total income. Social Security counts only certain types of earnings, and it subtracts certain costs before calculating what you actually earned. Understanding what counts and what does not is the difference between keeping your benefits and losing them.

Key Takeaways

  • In 2024, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers; if you earn more than this in a single month, Social Security may suspend your benefits that month.
  • Social Security subtracts impairment-related work expenses (equipment, attendant care, transportation to work) before counting your earnings, which can lower your reported income.
  • Self-employment income is counted differently than wages—Social Security uses a formula based on your net profit and hours worked, not your total revenue.
  • The Trial Work Period lets you test your ability to work for nine months without losing benefits, even if you exceed SGA during those months.
  • Once you use up your Trial Work Period, you enter the Extended may be able to access period, where you can still work above SGA for up to 36 additional months while keeping Medicare.

What counts as earnings under SSDI

Social Security counts wages from an employer, net profit from self-employment, and certain other forms of income. It does not count Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, housing information, gifts, loans, or money from selling personal property. It also does not count interest or dividends from savings.

The earnings Social Security reports to you on your annual statement are the ones that matter for SGA. If you are unsure whether a particular type of income counts, contact your local Social Security office or ask your work incentives planning and information (WIPA) counselor—these counselors are free and exist specifically to answer this question.

How impairment-related work expenses reduce your counted earnings

Before Social Security calculates whether you have exceeded SGA, it subtracts impairment-related work expenses (IRWE). These are costs you pay because of your disability and that are necessary for you to work. Examples include attendant care at work, specialized transportation to and from your job, medical devices or equipment used only at work, and medications required to work.

The expense must be directly tied to your disability and to your ability to do the job. A wheelchair ramp at home does not count; a wheelchair ramp at your workplace does. Childcare does not count unless you need it because of your disability. You must have receipts or documentation showing what you paid.

Subtracting IRWE can make a real difference. If you earn $1,800 per month but pay $300 for attendant care at work, Social Security counts your earnings as $1,500—below the SGA limit. You keep your benefits that month.

Self-employment income and how Social Security calculates it

If you are self-employed, Social Security does not straightforward count your gross revenue. Instead, it uses a formula: your net profit (revenue minus business expenses) divided by the number of hours you worked, multiplied by federal minimum wage. This is called the countable income test.

The formula protects self-employed workers who have high revenue but low profit margins or who work very few hours. If you run a business that brings in $5,000 per month but costs $4,500 to operate, and you work 20 hours per month, Social Security counts your earnings as roughly $25 (the federal minimum wage times 20 hours). You would be well below SGA.

You must keep detailed records: receipts for all business expenses, a log of hours worked each month, and your net profit calculation. Social Security will ask for these if your case is reviewed.

The Trial Work Period: nine months to test your work capacity

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which you can earn any amount—even far above SGA—without losing your SSDI benefits or your Medicare coverage. The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only months in which you earn $1,050 or more (in 2024) as a trial work month.

This period exists so you can test whether you can sustain work without the risk of losing your safety net when ready. If you work four months during the trial period, earn nothing for two months, then work three more months, you have used seven trial work months. You have two left.

Once you have used all nine trial work months, the Trial Work Period ends. You then enter the Extended may be able to access period. During this time, you can still work above SGA, but the rules change.

Extended may be able to access: working above SGA for up to 36 months

After your Trial Work Period ends, you enter Extended may be able to access, which lasts up to 36 months. During this period, you can work and earn above the SGA limit without losing your SSDI payment—but only for the months you actually exceed SGA. In months when your earnings fall below SGA, you receive your full benefit.

You also keep your Medicare coverage for the entire 36-month Extended may be able to access period, even in months when you earn above SGA. This is crucial: you do not lose health insurance while you are testing your ability to work.

After Extended may be able to access ends, the rules change again. If you are still working and earning above SGA, your benefits will suspend. You can request reinstatement if your earnings drop below SGA within five years, but you will not automatically receive payments during the suspension.

What happens if you exceed SGA in a single month

If you earn more than the SGA limit in one month and you are not in your Trial Work Period or Extended may be able to access, Social Security will suspend your benefit for that month only. You do not lose SSDI permanently. Your benefit resumes the next month if your earnings drop back below SGA.

This is different from SSI, where a single month over the limit can trigger a longer suspension. With SSDI, it is month-by-month. If you have a high-earning month followed by a low-earning month, you lose the benefit only for the high month.

Social Security reports your earnings to you on a form called the Earnings Report. You should review it carefully and report any errors when ready, because incorrect earnings information can cause an incorrect benefit suspension.

Reporting your earnings to Social Security

You are required to report your earnings to Social Security. The method depends on your state and your situation. Some states use an online portal; others use a phone line or paper form. Your local Social Security office can tell you which method applies to you.

You must report earnings within the month in which you earned them. If you do not report, Social Security will eventually discover the earnings through tax records or employer reports, and you may owe back benefits.

If you are unsure whether something counts as earnings, report it and let Social Security make the information. It is better to over-report than to under-report and face a debt later.

Work incentives planning: free help understanding your situation

Every state has at least one Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project and an Outcomes, Milestones, Expectations (OUTCOMES) project. Both are free. WIPA counselors help you understand how work will affect your benefits before you take a job. OUTCOMES counselors help you plan your return to work and connect you with job training or placement services.

A WIPA counselor can review your specific job offer, calculate what your benefits would be if you took it, and explain the Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access in the context of your situation. This is not a guess—they have access to current SGA limits and can do the math for you.

To find your state's WIPA project, visit the Work Incentives Planning and information website or call your local Social Security office and ask for a referral.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work part-time and keep my full SSDI payment?

Yes, as long as your monthly earnings stay below the SGA limit. Part-time work that pays less than $1,550 per month (in 2024) does not affect your benefit. If you have impairment-related work expenses, you can earn more and still stay below the limit after those expenses are subtracted.

What if I earn above SGA for one month but below it the next month?

You lose your benefit only for the month you exceeded SGA. The next month, if your earnings are below the limit, your full benefit resumes. This is true unless you are in your Trial Work Period, when you can exceed SGA without any suspension.

Do I lose Medicare if I work above SGA?

Not during your Trial Work Period or Extended may be able to access period. During Extended may be able to access, you keep Medicare for the full 36 months even in months when you earn above SGA. After Extended may be able to access ends, Medicare continues for an additional eight and a half years, even if your benefits suspend due to work earnings.

How do I know if my job counts as SGA?

Social Security looks at your actual earnings, not the job title. If you earn $1,550 or more per month, it counts as SGA (unless you are in Trial Work Period or Extended may be able to access). The type of work does not matter—only the money you make.

Can I use my Trial Work Period months all at once or do they have to be spread out?

They do not have to be consecutive. You can use three trial work months, take a break, then use the remaining six. Only months in which you earn $1,050 or more count toward the nine-month total. Months with no earnings or very low earnings do not count.