SSDI and Working While Disabled

For individuals receiving SSDI, the amount of work you can do is governed by a concept called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). The SSA sets a monthly income threshold to determine whether you are engaging in SGA.

• Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA): In 2025, the SGA threshold for non-blind individuals is $1,470 per month. If you earn more than this amount, the SSA may consider that you are capable of working and may stop your SSDI benefits.
• Blind individuals: The SGA threshold for blind individuals is higher. In 2025, the SGA for blind individuals is $2,460 per month.

If you earn more than the SGA limit, the SSA may consider you no longer disabled for the purposes of receiving benefits. However, working part-time or earning less than the SGA limit will not affect your benefits.

Trial Work Period (TWP)

The SSA offers a Trial Work Period (TWP) that allows individuals to test their ability to work without immediately losing benefits. Here’s how it works:

• During the Trial Work Period, you can earn more than the SGA limit, and your SSDI benefits will continue.
• For 2025, any month in which you earn more than $1,050 counts as a TWP month.
• You can use up to 9 Trial Work Period months during a 60-month period (5 years). These months don’t have to be consecutive.
• After you use all 9 TWP months, the SSA will review whether your work is considered SGA. If it is, your benefits may stop.

The Trial Work Period gives you the opportunity to test your ability to work without the fear of losing benefits immediately. It helps to ensure that individuals are not penalized for trying to return to work.

SSI and Working While Disabled

Unlike SSDI, SSI benefits are based on both financial need and disability. When you work while receiving SSI, your benefits may be reduced based on how much you earn, but you may still be eligible for partial benefits. The key factors for SSI recipients are:

• Income Limit: The SSA has specific income limits for SSI, and your benefits will be reduced if you earn above a certain threshold. In 2025, for an individual, the SSI income limit is generally around $1,914 per month (this amount varies depending on where you live).
• Earned Income Exclusion: The SSA allows you to exclude a portion of your earned income. In 2025, the first $65 of earned income plus half of the remaining earnings are excluded when calculating your SSI benefits. This means that you can earn a certain amount before your SSI benefits are reduced.
• Resource Limits: If you earn more and your resources (such as savings or property) exceed the SSA's limit, your SSI eligibility may be impacted. The resource limit for an individual is generally $2,000, and for a couple, it’s $3,000.

What Happens If You Exceed the Limits?

If you exceed the income limit for SSI or the SGA threshold for SSDI, your benefits may be reduced or stopped. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you will lose your eligibility permanently. If your income or work efforts decrease, you can reapply for benefits.

The SSA has programs like the Ticket to Work program that can assist individuals with returning to work while keeping their disability benefits intact. If you lose your benefits due to work but later become unable to continue working, you can request expedited reinstatement of benefits.

Key Considerations When Working on Disability

• Impact on Health Insurance: If you are receiving SSDI, you may be eligible for Medicare after 24 months of receiving benefits. If you work while receiving benefits, you may still be able to keep your Medicare coverage even if your SSDI benefits stop.
• Report Any Work Activity: It’s crucial to report any work activity to the SSA. Failing to report your work can lead to overpayments or penalties. Always inform the SSA about any changes in your employment status, income, or working hours.
• Work Incentives: The SSA has various work incentives that allow you to keep your benefits while you transition back to the workforce. These programs can help with things like job training, transportation, and education to help you succeed.