Your 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 make changes depending on which phase of work you are in. The program has built-in work incentives designed to let you test your ability to work without losing your entire benefit immediately. Understanding which phase you are in — and what the current dollar limits are — determines whether your next paycheck affects your check from Social Security.

The key distinction is between your trial work period, your extended may be able to access period, and the point at which you have worked enough that your case closes. Each has different earnings rules, and the dollar amounts change every year.

Key Takeaways

  • During your nine-month trial work period, you can earn any amount without losing benefits, as long as you report your work to Social Security.
  • After the trial work period ends, you enter extended may be able to access, where you lose one dollar of benefits for every two dollars you earn above the monthly limit (which varies by year).
  • The monthly earnings threshold that triggers benefit reduction is called the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level and is set by Social Security each January.
  • If you stop working or drop below the SGA level, you can restart benefits within five years without reapplying, under the expedited reinstatement rule.
  • You must report all work and earnings to Social Security within ten days of the month you earn the money, or you risk overpayment and having to repay benefits.

The trial work period: nine months of unrestricted earnings

When you first return to work on SSDI, you enter a trial work period that lasts nine months. During these nine months, you can earn any amount — there is no upper limit — and you will continue to receive your full SSDI benefit check. This period is designed to let you test whether you can actually work without the financial risk of losing your disability payment immediately.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only the months in which you earn more than $970 per month (as of 2024; this amount increases each year). If you earn $970 or less in a given month, that month does not count toward your nine-month total. This means you could work part-time for a year, have some low-earning months, and still be in your trial work period.

You must report your work to Social Security, but as long as you do, your benefit continues unchanged. Many people use this period to work part-time, test a new job, or gradually increase their hours to see how their disability affects their stamina and pain levels.

Extended may be able to access: the earnings threshold and benefit reduction

After your nine-month trial work period ends, you enter extended may be able to access. This phase lasts for 36 months (three years). During extended may be able to access, you can still work and keep some of your benefit, but now there is an earnings limit. If you earn more than the monthly threshold, your benefit is reduced.

The threshold is called the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level. In 2024, the SGA level is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for blind individuals. These amounts change every January. If you earn more than the SGA level in a month, you lose one dollar of your SSDI benefit for every two dollars you earn above that threshold.

For example, if the SGA level is $1,550 and you earn $1,750 in a month, you are $200 over the limit. You would lose $100 of your SSDI benefit that month ($200 ÷ 2 = $100). Your benefit check would be reduced by that amount. If you earn exactly at or below the SGA level, your full benefit continues.

Extended may be able to access gives you a three-year window to work at varying levels without your case closing. If you stop working or drop below the SGA level during this time, your benefits restart automatically without a new application.

What happens after extended may be able to access ends

Once your 36-month extended may be able to access period ends, the rules change again. At this point, if you earn above the SGA level, your case closes and you are no longer considered disabled by Social Security. You lose your SSDI benefit and your Medicare coverage (though you can usually buy into Medicare for a period after your case closes).

However, Social Security has a safety net called expedited reinstatement. If you stop working or your earnings drop below the SGA level within five years of your case closing, you can restart your benefits without going through the full disability application process again. You simply report the change to Social Security, and if you meet the conditions, your benefits resume. This protection lasts five years from the month your case closed.

Reporting requirements and what happens if you do not report

You are required to report all work and earnings to Social Security within ten days of the end of the month in which you earned the money. This means if you work in January, you must report it by February 10. Reporting is usually done by phone, mail, or online through your My Social Security account.

If you do not report work, Social Security will eventually discover the earnings through tax records or wage reports from your employer. When that happens, you will be considered to have received an overpayment — money you should not have gotten. Social Security will ask you to repay the overpayment, either in a lump sum or through monthly deductions from your benefit check. Failing to report can also result in a work incentive violation, which may affect your case.

Reporting protects you because it ensures your benefit is calculated correctly from the start. If you report and your benefit should have been reduced, the reduction happens going forward, not retroactively with a large bill.

Work incentives beyond the trial work period

Social Security offers additional work incentives beyond the trial work period and extended may be able to access. One is the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without it counting against your benefits. Another is Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE), which deducts certain disability-related costs from your earnings before the SGA calculation.

For example, if you need to pay for a personal care attendant to help you get to work, or for medication that allows you to work, those costs can be deducted from your gross earnings. This can lower the amount counted toward the SGA threshold and preserve more of your benefit.

These incentives are complex and require coordination with Social Security. Many people benefit from working with a benefits planning service or a work incentive planning and assistance (WIPA) project, which are free services that help SSDI recipients understand how work affects their benefits. You can find a WIPA project in your state through the Social Security website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I earn money but do not report it to Social Security?

Social Security will discover the earnings through tax records or employer wage reports. You will then owe back the benefits you should not have received, and Social Security will collect the overpayment through benefit reductions or a repayment agreement. Unreported work can also trigger a violation that affects your case status.

Can I work part-time and keep my full benefit?

Yes, during your nine-month trial work period, you can earn any amount and keep your full benefit. After that, you can work part-time and keep some benefit as long as you stay below the SGA level. Once you exceed the SGA level, your benefit is reduced by half the overage amount.

If my case closes because I earned too much, can I get benefits back?

Yes, within five years of your case closing, you can restart benefits through expedited reinstatement if you stop working or drop below the SGA level. You do not have to reapply or go through the full disability review. After five years, you would need to reapply.

Do I lose Medicare when my SSDI case closes?

Your Medicare coverage continues for a period after your case closes, but the length depends on your situation. You can usually buy into Medicare for up to eight and a half years after your case closes. Contact Social Security or Medicare directly to understand your specific timeline.

What is the difference between the trial work period and extended may be able to access?

During the nine-month trial work period, you can earn any amount and keep your full benefit. During the 36-month extended may be able to access period that follows, you can work but your benefit is reduced if you earn above the SGA level. After extended may be able to access ends, your case closes if you are still earning above the SGA level.