You can work on Social Security Disability, but your earnings are tracked and can reduce or stop your benefits

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) have different rules about work. With SSDI, you can earn money and keep your full benefit for a limited time through a program called a trial work period. With SSI, your benefit amount shrinks as you earn more. Both programs allow work, but the financial outcome depends on which program you receive and how much you earn.

The Social Security Administration does not penalise you for trying to work. Instead, it uses your earnings to measure whether your disability still prevents substantial work. If you earn above a certain threshold — called substantial gainful activity — Social Security may decide your condition has improved enough that you no longer may have access to for benefits. That threshold changes each year and differs for blind and non-blind recipients.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients get a nine-month trial work period during which they can earn any amount without losing benefits, though they must report all work to Social Security.
  • After the trial work period ends, SSDI benefits stop if you earn more than the substantial gainful activity threshold, which was $1,550 per month in 2024 for non-blind workers.
  • SSI recipients lose one dollar of benefits for every two dollars earned above a small monthly exclusion, so part-time work usually reduces rather than eliminates benefits.
  • Both programs offer work incentives including impairment-related work expenses, plans to achieve self-support, and continuation of Medicare or Medicaid while you work.
  • You must report all work and earnings to Social Security within the month they occur, or you risk overpayment and having to repay benefits.

How the SSDI trial work period works

If you receive SSDI, your first nine months of work do not affect your benefit check. This is called the trial work period, and it is designed to let you test whether you can work without losing your safety net. During these nine months, you can earn any amount — there is no earnings cap. You keep your full SSDI payment every month, regardless of how much you make.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts any month in which you earn $1,010 or more (in 2024) as a trial work month. If you work part-time one month and not at all the next, only the working month counts. You can spread nine trial work months across several years if you need to.

You must report your work to Social Security. Call your local Social Security office or log into your account at ssa.gov to report your job and expected earnings. Failing to report work can result in an overpayment — money Social Security says you owe back — even though you were allowed to earn it during the trial period.

What happens after your trial work period ends

Once you have used all nine trial work months, SSDI benefits stop if your earnings exceed the substantial gainful activity (SGA) threshold. In 2024, that threshold is $1,550 per month for workers who are not blind, and $2,590 per month for workers who are blind. These amounts increase each year. If you earn less than the threshold, your benefits continue.

The threshold is based on your gross earnings — the money before taxes and deductions. Social Security does not count certain expenses, such as impairment-related work expenses (costs you pay specifically because of your disability) or plans to achieve self-support (a formal plan to become self-sufficient). These deductions can lower your countable earnings and help you stay under the SGA threshold.

If your earnings rise above SGA for nine months or more, Social Security will send you a notice that your benefits are ending. You have the right to request reconsideration or appeal if you believe the decision is wrong. If your condition worsens or you stop working, you can request that benefits restart, though you will have to go through a review process.

How SSI earnings rules differ from SSDI

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a needs-based program, not an insurance program, so it treats earnings differently. Your SSI benefit amount decreases as you earn more money. For every two dollars you earn above a monthly exclusion, Social Security subtracts one dollar from your benefit.

In 2024, the first $65 of monthly earnings are excluded, plus an additional $20 of any income. After that, your benefit drops by 50 cents for every dollar earned. If you earn $200 per month, Social Security counts $115 as countable income ($200 minus $65 minus $20), and your SSI benefit drops by about $58.

Unlike SSDI, there is no trial work period with SSI. Your earnings affect your benefit from the first dollar earned above the exclusion. However, SSI also offers work incentives — such as plans to achieve self-support and impairment-related work expenses — that can reduce your countable earnings and preserve more of your benefit.

Work incentives that protect your benefits and healthcare

Both SSDI and SSI recipients can use work incentives to keep more of their benefits while working. These are rules built into the programs specifically to encourage work without penalising you for earning money.

Impairment-related work expenses (IRWE) are costs you pay because of your disability — for example, a personal assistant, medication, medical equipment, or transportation to work that you would not need if you did not have a disability. You can deduct these expenses from your countable earnings, which lowers the amount Social Security counts against your benefits.

Plans to achieve self-support (PASS) let you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal — such as education, training, or starting a business — without those funds counting against your SSI or SSDI. A PASS is a written plan you submit to Social Security that shows how the money will help you reach self-sufficiency.

Medicare continuation is available to SSDI recipients who work. You can continue Medicare coverage for up to 93 months after your trial work period ends, even if your benefits stop because of earnings. This means you can work and keep your health insurance without a gap.

Medicaid continuation is available to SSI recipients in most states. If you work and your SSI benefit drops to zero because of earnings, you can keep Medicaid for a set period — usually several months — depending on your state's rules.

Reporting your work and earnings to Social Security

You must report all work to Social Security within the month it occurs. This includes self-employment, part-time jobs, and any money you earn. Failing to report work is one of the most common reasons people receive overpayments and have to repay benefits they thought they were may have access to to keep.

You can report work by calling your local Social Security office, by logging into your account at ssa.gov, or by mailing a report to your local office. Social Security will ask for your job title, employer name, start date, hours per week, and expected monthly earnings. If your earnings change, report the change within the month it happens.

Keep records of all pay stubs and earnings statements. Social Security may ask to see them to verify your income. If you are self-employed, keep records of income and expenses. Having clear documentation protects you if Social Security questions your earnings later.

What happens if you earn too much and lose benefits

If your SSDI benefits stop because you earn above the SGA threshold, you do not lose your benefits permanently. You enter a period called the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, if your earnings drop below SGA in any month, your benefits restart automatically for that month. You do not have to reapply.

After the 36-month extended may be able to access period ends, if you stop working or your earnings drop below SGA, you can request that benefits restart. Social Security will review your case, but you will not have to prove your disability again if you request reinstatement within five years of the month your benefits ended.

If you lose SSI benefits because of earnings, the same extended may be able to access rules apply. Your benefits can restart in any month your earnings drop below the SGA threshold, and you have five years to request reinstatement without having to reprove your disability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to tell my employer I receive disability benefits?

No. Your disability status is private information. You do not have to disclose it to your employer. However, you must report your work and earnings to Social Security, regardless of what your employer knows about your benefits.

Can I work part-time and keep some of my SSDI benefit?

During your nine-month trial work period, yes — you keep your full benefit no matter how much you earn. After that, if you earn below the SGA threshold (currently $1,550 per month for non-blind workers), your benefits continue. If you earn above it, benefits stop, though they can restart in months when earnings drop below the threshold.

What if I am self-employed — how do I report that income?

Self-employment income counts the same way as wages. You must report it to Social Security within the month you earn it. Social Security counts your net profit (income minus business expenses) as your earnings. Keep detailed records of income and expenses to support your reports.

Will working affect my Medicare or Medicaid?

SSDI recipients can keep Medicare for up to 93 months after the trial work period ends, even if benefits stop due to earnings. SSI recipients can keep Medicaid for a set period after benefits end, depending on state rules. Contact your state Medicaid office or Social Security to learn your state's specific continuation rules.

What is a plan to achieve self-support, and how do I set one up?

A PASS is a written plan showing how you will use income or resources to reach a work goal, such as education or starting a business. The money set aside in a PASS does not count against your SSI or SSDI. You submit the plan to Social Security for approval. Contact your local Social Security office or a work incentives planning and assistance (WIPA) project for help writing a PASS.