The earnings limit depends on whether you are still in your trial work period
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) allows you to earn money, but the amount you can keep without losing benefits changes based on how long you have been receiving them. During your first nine months of work — called the trial work period — you can earn any amount without affecting your monthly benefit. After those nine months end, a different rule takes over: you can earn up to a set monthly amount (called the substantial gainful activity, or SGA, threshold) and keep your full benefit.
If you earn more than the SGA threshold, Social Security will review whether your condition still prevents substantial work. This does not automatically end your benefits, but it starts a process that may. The exact dollar amounts change each year, so you need to check the current figure with Social Security before you start working or increase your hours.
Key Takeaways
- During your nine-month trial work period, you can earn any amount without losing SSDI benefits.
- After the trial work period ends, you can earn up to the current SGA threshold (which changes yearly) without triggering a medical review.
- Earnings above the SGA threshold do not automatically stop your benefits but signal to Social Security that you may be able to work substantially.
- You must report all earnings to Social Security, and the amount that counts includes wages, net self-employment income, and certain other forms of payment.
- If you lose benefits due to earnings, you may be able to get them back quickly under the expedited reinstatement rules if your work does not last.
Your trial work period: nine months of unlimited earnings
When you first start working after being approved for SSDI, Social Security gives you a nine-month window where earnings do not affect your benefit. These nine months do not have to be consecutive — they are counted based on the months in which you actually earned money. If you work three months, take two months off, then work again, you are still using up your trial work period one month at a time.
During this period, report your earnings to Social Security, but your benefit payment stays the same no matter how much you earn. This is designed to let you test your ability to work without the immediate risk of losing income. Once you have used all nine trial work months, the rules change.
The substantial gainful activity threshold and what happens when you cross it
After your trial work period ends, Social Security measures your earnings against the SGA threshold. For 2024, the SGA threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 per month for blind individuals. These amounts increase each year based on national wage trends, so the 2025 figure will be different. You can find the current year's threshold on the Social Security website or by calling your local office.
If you earn less than the SGA threshold in a month, your SSDI benefit continues without change. If you earn more than the threshold, Social Security does not immediately stop your benefits. Instead, it signals that you may be performing substantial work, and the agency will conduct a medical review to determine whether your condition still prevents you from working. This review can take weeks or months.
The key point: crossing the SGA threshold does not equal losing benefits. It means Social Security will examine whether you are still disabled. Some people continue to receive benefits even while earning above the threshold if their medical condition has not improved enough to support full-time work.
What counts as earnings and what does not
Social Security counts wages from employment, net income from self-employment, and certain other payments as earnings. If you are self-employed, you report your net profit (income minus business expenses), not your gross revenue. Irregular payments, bonuses, and back pay all count in the month you receive them.
Some income does not count toward the earnings limit. Unearned income — such as interest, dividends, rental income, or money from family members — does not affect your SSDI benefit. Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE), such as the cost of a personal attendant or specialized equipment you need to work, can reduce your countable earnings. Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) programs also allow you to set aside income and resources for a work goal without it counting against you.
If you receive a lump sum payment (such as a settlement or back pay covering multiple months), Social Security divides it across the months it covers to determine whether you crossed the SGA threshold in any of those months.
Reporting your earnings to Social Security
You are required to report all earnings to Social Security within the month you earn them. You can report by phone, mail, or online through your Social Security account. Failing to report earnings can result in an overpayment — money Social Security paid you that you were not may have access to to — which you will have to repay.
Social Security also receives wage reports directly from your employer through the Social Security Administration's wage reporting system, so discrepancies between what you report and what your employer reports will be caught. If there is a mismatch, Social Security will contact you to clarify.
What happens if you earn too much and lose benefits
If Social Security determines that your earnings show you can perform substantial work, your benefits may stop. However, you do not lose access to benefits permanently. Under the expedited reinstatement rule, if you stop working or drop below the SGA threshold within five years, you can request that your benefits restart without going through the full approval process again.
You also have access to continued Medicare coverage for up to 93 months (about 7.5 years) after your benefits end due to work, even if you are no longer receiving payments. This is called Extended Medicare Coverage and gives you time to see whether your work is sustainable before losing health insurance.
Planning to work: what to do before you start
Before you begin working, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to discuss your situation. Social Security has work incentive programs — such as IRWE and PASS — that can help you keep more of your earnings while staying on SSDI. An employee at your local office can explain how these programs work and whether you might benefit from them.
Keep records of all work-related expenses, such as transportation, equipment, or attendant care, because these can reduce your countable earnings. If you are self-employed, keep detailed records of income and expenses for tax purposes and for Social Security reporting.
If you are unsure whether a particular job or income will affect your benefits, ask Social Security before you start, not after. The agency can give you a written estimate of how your benefits would change based on your expected earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work part-time and keep my full SSDI benefit?
Yes, if you earn below the SGA threshold in each month. Part-time work that pays less than the current threshold (currently $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals) does not trigger a medical review. During your nine-month trial work period, you can work part-time or full-time with no earnings limit.
What if I earn money one month but not the next?
Social Security counts earnings month by month. If you earn $2,000 in January and $500 in February, January's earnings are measured against the SGA threshold separately from February's. You do not average earnings across months. Both months count toward your trial work period if you are still in it.
Do I have to report tips and cash payments?
Yes. All income you receive, including tips, cash, and informal payments, must be reported to Social Security. Failing to report creates an overpayment that you will owe back. Social Security also cross-checks wage reports from employers, so discrepancies are usually discovered.
What if my employer pays me irregularly or in lump sums?
Lump sum payments are divided across the months they cover. If you receive six months of back pay in one check, Social Security divides that amount by six to determine your monthly earnings for each of those months. Report the full amount and the months it covers so Social Security can allocate it correctly.
Can I use a work incentive program to earn more without losing benefits?
Yes. Programs like IRWE (which deducts work-related expenses) and PASS (which allows you to set aside income for a work goal) can reduce your countable earnings. Contact your local Social Security office to learn whether either program fits your situation and how to set one up.