Yes, you can work while on Social Security Disability, but your earnings are watched closely and can reduce or stop your benefits

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) have different rules about work. With SSDI, you can earn money and keep your full benefit for a limited time through a program called a trial work period. With SSI, your benefit shrinks as you earn more, and there is no trial period — earnings reduce your payment dollar-for-dollar after a small monthly cushion. The amount you can earn before your benefits change depends on which program you receive and what year it is, because the threshold changes annually.

The reason Social Security watches your work so carefully is that both programs are designed for people who cannot work substantially. If you start earning enough to show you can work, Social Security will eventually stop your benefits. But the programs also recognize that people improve, want to try working, or need to test whether they can handle a job. That is why the trial work period exists for SSDI — it gives you nine months to earn as much as you want without losing benefits, as long as you report your work to Social Security.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI recipients get a nine-month trial work period during which they can earn any amount without losing benefits, but they must report all work to Social Security.
  • After the trial work period ends, SSDI benefits reduce by one dollar for every two dollars earned above the monthly earnings limit, which changes each year.
  • SSI recipients have no trial period; their monthly benefit reduces by one dollar for every two dollars earned above a small monthly exclusion, currently around $65 to $85 depending on your situation.
  • If you return to substantial work — earning above the "substantial gainful activity" level — Social Security will stop your benefits, but you may be able to restart them quickly if you stop working.
  • You must tell Social Security about any work, including self-employment, within ten days of starting; failing to report can result in overpayments you will have to repay.

How the SSDI trial work period works

If you receive SSDI, your first nine months of work do not affect your benefit at all. You can earn $5,000, $10,000, or more during those nine months and still receive your full monthly payment. The only requirement is that you report your work to Social Security — you do not have to ask permission first, but you do have to tell them what you are earning and when you started.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts any month in which you earn $970 or more (in 2024; this amount changes yearly) as a trial work month. If you work part-time one month and earn less than that threshold, that month does not count. You can spread your nine trial months across several years if you want to test working gradually.

Once you have used all nine trial months, your benefits enter what Social Security calls the extended period of may be able to access. For the next 36 months, you keep your benefits in any month you earn less than the monthly threshold — in 2024, that is $1,550 per month. If you earn more than that in a month, you lose your benefit for that month only. You do not lose the entire benefit; you straightforward do not receive a payment that one month.

What happens to your SSDI benefit after the trial work period

After your nine trial months end and your extended may be able to access period begins, Social Security uses a formula called the reduction formula. For every two dollars you earn above the monthly limit, your benefit reduces by one dollar. So if the monthly limit is $1,550 and you earn $1,750, you are $200 over the limit. Your benefit reduces by $100 that month.

This continues for 36 months. After 36 months of extended may be able to access, if you are still working and earning above the monthly threshold, Social Security will stop your benefits. But stopping your benefits is not permanent. If you later stop working or drop below the earnings limit, you can ask to restart your benefits without going through the approval process again — Social Security calls this expedited reinstatement, and you have five years to use it.

How SSI earnings rules differ from SSDI

SSI has no trial work period. Your benefit begins to reduce as soon as you earn money, though there is a small monthly exclusion. In 2024, Social Security excludes the first $65 of your monthly earnings, plus half of anything above that. So if you earn $200 in a month, Social Security counts $135 toward your income ($200 minus $65 equals $135). Your SSI benefit then reduces by roughly $68 (half of $135).

Because SSI is a needs-based program — meaning your benefit depends on how much money you have — any work you do affects your payment when ready. There is no grace period and no trial months. If you are receiving SSI and thinking about working, you should contact Social Security before you start to understand exactly how your specific benefit will change.

SSI also has different rules about what counts as income. Some types of earnings do not count at all, such as income from certain vocational rehabilitation programs or impairment-related work expenses (costs you have to pay because of your disability in order to work). If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit, not your gross revenue. These details matter, so ask Social Security to calculate what your benefit would be under your specific work situation before you commit to a job.

Reporting your work to Social Security

You must report work to Social Security within ten days of starting a job or changing your hours or pay. You can report by phone, by mail, or in person at your local Social Security office. When you report, tell them your job title, the name and phone number of your employer, your start date, how many hours you work per week, and how much you earn per month.

If you are self-employed, report your business name, the type of work you do, when you started, and your expected monthly net profit. Social Security may ask for tax documents or business records later, so keep those organized.

Failing to report work can create serious problems. If Social Security discovers you worked and did not tell them, they will count it as an overpayment — money you were not supposed to receive. You will have to repay it, either through reduced benefits over time or as a lump sum. It is much easier to report upfront and let Social Security adjust your benefit correctly.

Understanding substantial gainful activity

Social Security uses a term called substantial gainful activity (SGA) to decide whether you are working at a level that means you are no longer disabled. In 2024, SGA is generally $1,550 per month for non-blind workers and $2,590 for blind workers. These amounts change each year.

If you earn above the SGA level for nine months (not necessarily consecutive), Social Security will assume you can work and will stop your benefits. This is different from the extended may be able to access period described above — SGA is a separate rule that applies after your trial work period ends. If you are earning close to or above the SGA level, ask Social Security to explain how it affects your specific situation, because the rules can overlap in confusing ways.

Work incentives and programs that can help

Social Security offers several programs designed to help people on disability test work without when ready losing benefits. Beyond the trial work period, there is a program called Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without it counting toward your SSI limit. For example, if you want to save money for job training or to start a business, a PASS plan can protect that money from reducing your benefit.

There is also Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE), which lets you deduct costs related to your disability that you need in order to work — such as medication, medical equipment, or transportation to treatment — before Social Security counts your earnings. These programs have specific rules and require paperwork, but they can make a real difference if you are trying to work while on disability.

Ask your local Social Security office about these programs, or contact a Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project. WIPA projects are free services in every state that help people on disability understand how work will affect their benefits. You can find your state's WIPA project on the Social Security website.

What to ask your Social Security office before you start working

Before you take a job, call or visit your local Social Security office and ask them to calculate what your benefit will be under your specific earnings. Bring information about the job: the hourly wage or monthly salary, the number of hours per week, and the start date. Ask them to explain which trial work months you have already used (if you receive SSDI) and what your benefit will be each month once you start earning.

Ask whether any work incentive programs like PASS or IRWE might help you. Ask what counts as income in your situation — for example, whether bonuses, tips, or reimbursements count differently. Ask how to report your work and what happens if your hours or pay change. Write down the name of the person you spoke with and the date, in case you need to follow up.

When to contact Social Security about a change in your work

Contact Social Security when ready if you stop working, change jobs, or your pay changes significantly. If you lose a job, tell Social Security right away — do not wait for them to notice. If you are in your extended may be able to access period and drop below the monthly earnings limit, you may be able to restart your full benefit that month.

If you are concerned that working might cause you to lose your benefits, contact Social Security before the problem happens. It is much easier to plan ahead than to deal with an overpayment or unexpected benefit loss later.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, during your nine-month trial work period you can earn any amount part-time or full-time and keep your full benefit. After that, you can work part-time and keep your benefit in any month you earn less than the monthly threshold (currently $1,550 for SSDI in 2024). If you earn more than that threshold in a month, you lose your benefit for that month only.

What if I work and then have to stop because my disability got worse?

If you stop working because your condition worsened, tell Social Security when ready. If you are still within your extended may be able to access period (36 months after your trial work period), you can restart your full benefit. If you are past that period, you may be able to use expedited reinstatement, which lets you restart benefits within five years of stopping work without a new approval process.

Do I have to report cash payments or informal work?

Yes. Social Security counts all income, including cash, informal work, and self-employment. You must report it all within ten days of starting. Failing to report creates an overpayment that you will have to repay.

Can I use a work incentive program if I receive SSI instead of SSDI?

Yes. SSI recipients can use PASS to set aside income for a work goal, and IRWE to deduct disability-related work costs. These programs work differently for SSI than for SSDI, so ask your Social Security office or a WIPA project how they explore to your situation.

What is the difference between losing my benefit for a month and having my benefit stopped permanently?

During extended may be able to access, if you earn above the monthly threshold, you straightforward do not receive a payment that month — your benefit is not stopped. Once extended may be able to access ends (after 36 months), if you continue earning above the SGA level for nine months, Social Security stops your benefits. But you can restart them through expedited reinstatement if you stop working within five years.