Many people assume they cannot work while receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). While that is generally true, there are some exceptions. Individuals with disabilities can take on part-time or limited work under some of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) work incentive programs. These initiatives aim to help SSDI recipients return to work without immediately losing their benefits.
Before taking a job or increasing work hours, it’s important to understand how even minimal earnings might affect your monthly SSDI payments. The SSA sets strict income limits and monitors work activity closely to determine whether someone is still considered eligible for benefits.
Can You Work and Collect Disability?
It is possible for individuals collecting SSDI to work, but only if earnings remain below a certain limit. The SSA uses a measurement called substantial gainful activity (SGA) to determine whether the work someone does is considered too significant to continue receiving benefits.
In 2025, the SGA limit is $1,620 per month for individuals with a disability other than blindness. Those who are blind can earn up to $2,700 per month. These amounts are based on gross income rather than take-home pay, and are adjusted each year. If your average monthly earnings surpass the SGA threshold, the SSA may determine you are no longer disabled according to their definition. Therefore, most SSDI recipients don’t work and instead live on their benefits.
What Are the Rules for Working While On SSDI?
The SSA offers several work incentives to help SSDI recipients return to work without immediately losing their benefits. These programs reduce the financial risk of going back to work by allowing benefit recipients to test their ability to earn income while still getting monthly SSDI payments.
Trial Work Period
If you think you might be capable of returning to work, you are permitted a nine-month trial work period within a rolling 60-month (five-year) span during which you will continue to get full disability benefits, regardless of how much income you earn. For 2025, any month in which you earn more than $1,160 will count as a trial work month.
Extended Period of Eligibility
After your trial work period, you have an extended period of 36 months during which you can work and still receive benefits for any monthly earnings that fall below the established SGA limit. You don’t need to reapply or undergo a new disability review to get benefits during this period, but you must regularly report your earnings. If your income exceeds the SGA amount in a given month, you won’t receive benefits for that month, but your SSDI benefits can resume the next time your earnings fall below the limit.
Expedited Reinstatement of Benefits
If your SSDI benefits stop because your earnings exceed the SGA limit, you may still qualify for expedited reinstatement. This provision allows you to request that your benefits start up again without having to file a new application, so long as you stop working within five years due to the same or a related medical condition. You may also be eligible for provisional benefits for up to six months while the SSA reviews your expedited reinstatement request.
Impairment-Related Work Expenses
When determining whether your earnings exceed the SGA limit, the SSA may deduct the cost of certain disability-related expenses from your gross income. These are called impairment-related work expenses. This benefit lowers countable income, which can help you stay under the SGA threshold and continue receiving benefits while working.
To qualify, these expenses must be paid for out of your own pocket, related to your disability, and necessary for you to work. Prescription co-pays, counseling or therapy services, assistive technology, specialized transportation, and vehicle or workstation modifications are a few common examples.
Working With an SSDI Attorney
Navigating the rules for working while receiving SSDI can be complicated, and even small mistakes in reporting or understanding the limits can put your benefits at risk. The attorneys at Jeffrey Freedman Attorneys have decades of experience helping SSDI recipients protect their benefits while exploring work opportunities. Contact our office today to learn more or to schedule an appointment.