What the earnings limit is right now

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) has a monthly earnings limit called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold. If you earn more than this amount in a month, Social Security will assume you are no longer disabled and may stop your benefits.

For 2024, the SGA threshold is $1,550 per month for most people receiving SSDI. If you are blind, the threshold is higher: $2,590 per month. These amounts change each year, usually in January, based on national wage data.

The key word is "may" — earning above the threshold does not automatically end your benefits immediately. Social Security looks at whether your work shows you can do substantial work, not just whether you crossed a number. But crossing the threshold triggers a review.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn up to $1,550 per month (or $2,590 if blind) without triggering an automatic benefits review, though this amount changes yearly.
  • Work incentives like the Trial Work Period let you test your ability to work for nine months without losing benefits, even if you earn above the threshold.
  • After the Trial Work Period ends, you enter the Extended Period of may be able to access, which gives you nine more months to earn above the threshold without losing benefits.
  • Reporting your work to Social Security is required; failing to report can result in overpayments you must repay.
  • The rules are complex enough that contacting a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) project before you start working can save you money and benefits.

How the Trial Work Period protects your first nine months of work

The Trial Work Period (TWP) is a nine-month window during which you can earn any amount without losing your SSDI benefits. You do not have to tell Social Security in advance that you are starting work, but you must report your earnings once you begin.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only months in which you earn $1,050 or more (in 2024) toward your nine-month total. If you work part-time one month and earn less than $1,050, that month does not count. This means your Trial Work Period can stretch over several years if your work is sporadic.

Once you have used all nine months, your benefits continue for another nine months under the Extended Period of may be able to access (EPE). During the EPE, you can still earn above the SGA threshold without losing benefits, but Social Security will review your case more closely. If you earn above SGA during the EPE, you lose benefits for that month only — you do not lose the entire benefit.

What happens after the Extended Period of may be able to access ends

After your nine-month EPE ends, the regular SGA rules take over. If you earn more than $1,550 per month (or $2,590 if blind), Social Security will review whether you can still be considered disabled. This does not mean you automatically lose benefits, but it means Social Security will examine your work closely.

If Social Security decides your work proves you are no longer disabled, your benefits stop. You then enter a Medicaid continuation period (usually 93 months) during which you keep Medicaid even if your cash benefits end. This is one reason to understand the rules before you start working — losing cash benefits but keeping health coverage can still be a good trade-off, but you need to know it is coming.

You can request that Social Security continue your benefits even though you are working above SGA if you believe your disability still prevents you from doing substantial work. This requires medical evidence and a detailed explanation of why your work does not prove you are able to work substantially. Social Security calls this a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) when they initiate it, or a request for reconsideration when you ask for one.

How to report your earnings to Social Security

You must report your work and earnings to Social Security, even during the Trial Work Period when you will not lose benefits. You can report by phone, by mail, or through your online Social Security account. Social Security will ask for your gross earnings (before taxes), the month you earned them, and your employer's name.

Failing to report earnings is a serious problem. If Social Security later discovers unreported work, they will treat it as if you did not report it on time, which can trigger an overpayment. An overpayment is money Social Security paid you that you were not may have access to to receive, and you will have to repay it — either in a lump sum or through monthly deductions from your benefits.

Keep records of your pay stubs, invoices, or other proof of earnings. If you are self-employed, keep records of your gross income and business expenses. Social Security may ask to see these documents, and having them ready makes the process faster.

Self-employment and business ownership rules

If you are self-employed or own a business, Social Security counts your net profit (income minus business expenses) as your earnings. The calculation is more complex than a W-2 job because you have to separate legitimate business costs from personal spending.

Social Security also looks at whether you are doing substantial services in your business. If you own a business but do not work in it, or work very few hours, Social Security may not count all the business income as your earnings. This rule exists to prevent people from hiding work by putting it on paper as business income while someone else does the actual work.

If you are thinking about starting a business or increasing your role in one you own, contact a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) project before you do. They can help you understand how Social Security will count the income and whether the Trial Work Period will cover your situation.

Work incentives beyond the Trial Work Period

Social Security offers other work incentives designed to help people test their ability to work without immediately losing all benefits. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal — like training for a new job or starting a business — without those funds counting against your benefits.

The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) deduction lets you subtract certain work-related costs from your earnings before Social Security counts them. For example, if you need a personal assistant at work because of your disability, or specialized transportation, those costs can be deducted. This can lower your countable earnings and help you stay under the SGA threshold.

These programs have strict rules and require documentation. A WIPA project can help you figure out whether you may have access to and how to set them up correctly. WIPA services are free and confidential.

How to find a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance project

WIPA projects are funded by Social Security and the Department of Labor to help people on SSDI understand work incentives. They can answer questions about the Trial Work Period, SGA, PASS, IRWE, and other rules before you start working or change your work situation.

You can find a WIPA project near you by visiting the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance website or calling 1-866-968-7842. You can also ask Social Security directly for a referral. WIPA counselors do not work for Social Security, so they can give you independent advice about your options.

Many people find it worth talking to a WIPA counselor before they start working, even if they think they understand the rules. The rules are detailed, and a mistake in reporting or planning can cost you months of benefits or result in an overpayment you have to repay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work part-time and keep all my SSDI benefits?

Yes, during your nine-month Trial Work Period you can earn any amount and keep all your benefits. After that, if you earn more than $1,550 per month (or $2,590 if blind), Social Security will review your case. Part-time work that stays under the threshold does not trigger a review.

What counts as earnings for SSDI?

Wages from a job, net profit from self-employment, and business income all count. Unearned income like Social Security retirement benefits, pensions, or interest does not count toward the earnings limit. Social Security counts gross wages (before taxes) for W-2 employees and net profit for self-employed people.

If I lose my SSDI benefits because I earned too much, can I get them back?

Yes. If your benefits stop because you earned above SGA, you can request a Continuing Disability Review and provide evidence that your disability still prevents substantial work. You can also reapply for SSDI if your condition worsens. During the 93-month Medicaid continuation period after benefits end, you keep health coverage even if cash benefits stop.

Do I have to use my entire Trial Work Period before I can work above the SGA threshold?

No. You can use some months of your Trial Work Period and then stop working, or work sporadically. Only months in which you earn $1,050 or more count toward the nine-month total. You can save your remaining months for later if you want to test work gradually.

What happens to my Medicare if I lose SSDI benefits because I earned too much?

Medicare coverage continues for at least 93 months after your cash benefits end, even if you earned above the SGA threshold. After that period, you can buy into Medicare or explore other coverage options. Talk to Social Security about your specific situation before your benefits end so you understand what coverage you will have.