How Much Money Can I Make If I’m on Social Security Disability?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides financial support to individuals unable to work due to a severe medical condition. While receiving benefits, many wonder if they can work without jeopardizing their assistance. Understanding the Social Security Administration (SSA) rules is important. This article explains how working impacts SSDI benefits and the guidelines for earned income.

Understanding Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) represents the earnings threshold used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine if an individual is considered disabled. For 2025, the monthly SGA amount for non-blind individuals is $1,620. For individuals who are statutorily blind, a higher SGA amount applies, which is $2,700 per month.

“Substantial” work involves performing significant physical or mental activities. “Gainful” work activity is generally performed for pay or profit. The SSA evaluates work activity based on gross earnings, though certain work expenses can be deducted to arrive at a countable income.

The SSA also considers factors beyond the dollar amount, such as whether the work performed is comparable to that of unimpaired individuals or if special accommodations are provided. Exceeding the SGA limit indicates an individual is no longer considered disabled under SSA standards, which can lead to benefit cessation. This rule applies unless specific work incentives are utilized.

Navigating Work Incentive Programs

The Social Security Administration offers several work incentive programs to help individuals receiving SSDI benefits test their ability to work without immediately losing financial support. One incentive is the Trial Work Period (TWP), which enables beneficiaries to work and earn any amount for a specific duration without affecting their SSDI benefits. A month counts as a TWP month if gross earnings exceed $1,160 per month in 2025.

The TWP allows for nine service months within a rolling 60-month period. These nine months do not need to be consecutive, providing flexibility. During this period, the SSA does not consider the services performed as an indication that the disability has ended, allowing full benefits to continue regardless of earnings, provided the medical condition has not improved. Once all nine TWP months are used, the TWP is complete.

Following the TWP, beneficiaries enter an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which lasts for 36 consecutive months. During this EPE, benefits are paid for any month where earnings fall below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level. If earnings exceed SGA during the EPE, benefits are suspended for that month, but they can be reinstated automatically for any subsequent month where earnings drop below SGA, without a new application. This allows individuals to continue attempting work while having benefits available when needed.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) allow beneficiaries to deduct certain costs from their gross earnings when the SSA calculates countable income against the SGA limit. These are out-of-pocket expenses for items or services directly related to a disability and necessary for work. Examples include medications, medical devices, accessible transportation, or personal assistance services. Deducting IRWE can help an individual remain below the SGA threshold, preserving benefits.

For individuals who are statutorily blind, Blind Work Expenses (BWE) offer a broader range of deductible expenses compared to IRWE. These expenses do not necessarily have to be related to blindness, but rather any cost attributable to earning income. This can include federal, state, and local taxes, transportation costs, visual aids, or union dues. BWE can significantly reduce countable earnings, making it easier for blind individuals to maintain benefits while working.

The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) is another work incentive that allows individuals to set aside income and resources to achieve a specific work goal. Funds placed into an approved PASS account are not counted when determining eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. This allows beneficiaries to save for expenses such as education, vocational training, or business start-up costs, which might otherwise make them ineligible for benefits. While primarily associated with SSI, SSDI recipients may also use a PASS to become eligible for SSI benefits while pursuing their work goals.

Reporting Earnings and Benefit Adjustments

Timely and accurate reporting of all work and earnings to the Social Security Administration (SSA) is important for all disability beneficiaries. Failure to report income can lead to overpayments that must be repaid and potential suspension of benefits. The SSA requires beneficiaries to report when they start or stop working, or when there are changes to their pay rate or hours worked. This information should be reported as soon as possible, typically by the 6th or 10th day of the month following the month earned.

Earnings can be reported online through the “my Social Security” account using the “my Wage Report (myWR)” service. Reporting can also be done by phone, in person at a local SSA office, or by mail. When reporting, individuals should provide specific details such as gross monthly earnings, dates of employment, and employer contact information. Maintaining copies of paystubs and any correspondence with the SSA is advisable for personal records.

Once the Trial Work Period and Extended Period of Eligibility are exhausted, if an individual’s earnings consistently exceed the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit, their SSDI benefits will eventually cease. The SSA pays benefits for the month disability is determined to have ceased, plus an additional two grace period months.

If benefits stop due to work and earnings, but the individual later becomes unable to perform SGA again due to the same or a related disability, they can request Expedited Reinstatement (EXR). This allows benefits to be restarted quickly without needing to file a new disability application, provided the request is made within five years of the original benefit termination. During the EXR review, provisional benefits may be paid for up to six months while the SSA makes a determination.

While working can sometimes trigger a Continuing Disability Review (CDR), the SSA encourages beneficiaries to utilize available work incentives. CDRs are periodic reviews conducted by the SSA to determine if a medical condition still prevents an individual from performing Substantial Gainful Activity. Working alone does not automatically mean benefits will be terminated, especially if work incentives are properly used and reported. The SSA’s focus is on supporting a return to work when medically possible, and work incentives are designed to facilitate this process.