Working While Receiving Disability Benefits
Understanding SSDI and Work
SSD is short for Social Security Disability. It is part of the U.S. Social Security federal program that gives extra money each month to people who qualify. You qualify for SSD if you have a “total” disability, and you have: 1) Worked long enough and recently enough, and 2) Paid enough in social security taxes. The program is complex and has various rules and requirements. In order to determine if you are eligible for SSD benefits if you are still employed, you need to know the fundamental rules.
SSDI provides financial assistance to individuals who are unable to work due to a qualifying disability. However, the SSA encourages beneficiaries to attempt returning to work through various programs and incentives designed to facilitate this transition without immediate loss of benefits
Key Work Incentives and Earning Limits in 2025
1. Trial Work Period (TWP)
The Trial Work Period allows SSDI recipients to test their ability to work for at least nine months without affecting their benefits. In 2025, any month in which you earn more than $1,160 (before taxes) or work more than 80 hours in self-employment counts as a TWP month. These months do not need to be consecutive but must occur within a rolling 60-month period.
2. Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
After completing the TWP, you enter a 36-month EPE during which you can continue to receive benefits for any month your earnings are below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level. In 2025, the SGA amounts are:
$1,620 per month for non-blind individuals
$2,700 per month for statutorily blind individuals
If your earnings exceed the SGA limit in any month during the EPE, you will not receive benefits for that month. However, benefits can resume in subsequent months if earnings fall below the SGA threshold.
3. Expedited Reinstatement
If your benefits stop because of substantial earnings, and within five years you find yourself unable to continue working due to your disability, you can request expedited reinstatement of benefits without having to file a new application.
Reporting Earnings
Accurate and timely reporting of earnings is crucial to ensure the correct benefit amount and to avoid overpayments. You should report:
Start or stop of work
Changes in duties, hours, or pay
Self-employment activities
Reporting Methods:
Online: Use the my Social Security account to report wages.
Phone: Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778.
Mail or Fax: Send pay stubs to your local Social Security office.
In Person: Visit your local SSA office.
For SSI recipients, wages should be reported monthly within six days after the end of each month.
Common Questions
Q: Can I work part-time while receiving SSDI?
A: Yes, you can work part-time. If your earnings are below the SGA level ($1,620 for non-blind individuals; $2,700 for blind individuals in 2025), your benefits may continue.
Q: What happens if I exceed the SGA limit during the EPE?
A: If your earnings exceed the SGA limit in any month during the EPE, you will not receive benefits for that month. However, benefits can resume in subsequent months if earnings fall below the SGA threshold.
Q: Are there deductions for work-related expenses?
A: Yes, the SSA may deduct Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) from your earnings when determining if your work is substantial. These are expenses necessary for you to work due to your disability.