Working While on SSDI: What Wisconsin Claimants Must Know

Many people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits wonder whether they can work at all — and if so, how much. The short answer is yes, but only under specific conditions. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has strict rules about earned income while receiving SSDI, and crossing certain thresholds can trigger a review or even terminate your benefits entirely. Wisconsin residents face the same federal framework as everyone else, but understanding the rules clearly can help you protect what you've earned.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Threshold

The foundation of SSA's work rules is a concept called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). For 2025, the SGA limit for non-blind SSDI recipients is $1,550 per month in gross earnings. For recipients who are blind, that threshold rises to $2,590 per month. If your earnings exceed these figures, SSA may determine that you are no longer disabled under their definition.

It's important to understand that SGA is measured by gross wages — not take-home pay. If you earn $1,600 before taxes but only receive $1,300 after withholding, SSA still counts the $1,600 against the limit. Wisconsin workers sometimes assume net income is what matters, but that assumption can be costly.

Certain deductions can reduce your countable earnings. These include impairment-related work expenses (IRWE), such as medications, medical devices, or transportation costs directly tied to your disability. A disability attorney can help you identify all legitimate deductions to keep your countable income below the SGA threshold.

The Trial Work Period: Your Protected Window

The SSA does not immediately cut off benefits the moment you start working. Instead, it provides a Trial Work Period (TWP) — a window during which you can test your ability to work without losing benefits, regardless of how much you earn.

The TWP consists of nine months within a rolling 60-month period. In 2025, any month in which you earn more than $1,110 counts as a trial work month. During these nine months, you continue to receive full SSDI benefits even if your earnings exceed SGA.

Once you've used all nine trial work months, SSA enters a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During this window, you receive benefits for any month your earnings fall below SGA, but not for months your earnings exceed it. After the EPE concludes, working above SGA will terminate your benefits — though you may be able to have them reinstated later without a new application if your disability returns within five years.

• Track every month you earn above $1,110 — those are your trial work months
• Keep detailed records of all work activity and earnings
• Report any work activity to SSA promptly — failure to report is a common source of overpayments
• Understand that the TWP clock does not reset if you stop and restart working

Wisconsin's Ticket to Work and Vocational Rehabilitation

Wisconsin residents on SSDI have access to additional support through the Ticket to Work program, a federal initiative that connects beneficiaries with approved employment networks and vocational rehabilitation agencies at no cost. The Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) is one such provider, offering job training, assistive technology, counseling, and placement assistance.

Participating in Ticket to Work also offers a significant protection: while you are actively working toward self-sufficiency through an approved provider, SSA is generally prohibited from conducting a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) — the routine review that can result in benefit termination. This protection can give Wisconsin claimants meaningful time to test the workforce without fear of immediate review.

The Ticket to Work program is entirely voluntary. You will not lose benefits by signing up, and you can stop participating at any time. However, failing to make timely progress toward your employment goals can cause you to lose the CDR protection.

Reporting Requirements and Overpayment Risk

One of the most dangerous mistakes SSDI recipients in Wisconsin make is failing to report work activity to SSA in a timely manner. You are legally required to report any work activity — even part-time work, self-employment, or informal paid tasks — to your local SSA office. In Wisconsin, you can report by calling 1-800-772-1213, visiting a local field office, or using your My Social Security online account.

When SSA discovers unreported earnings, it does not simply stop future payments. It calculates an overpayment — the total amount it believes it paid you while you were ineligible — and demands repayment. Overpayments can reach tens of thousands of dollars. Wisconsin recipients who receive overpayment notices should act immediately. You have the right to appeal the finding and, separately, to request a waiver if repayment would cause financial hardship and you were not at fault.

Penalties for intentional failure to report can include benefit suspension, fines, and in serious cases, referral for criminal prosecution. Honest, timely reporting protects you. If you're unsure whether a particular activity counts as work, report it anyway and let SSA make the determination.

Self-Employment and Gig Work in Wisconsin

Freelance work, gig economy income, and self-employment are treated differently than traditional wages under SSDI rules. SSA does not simply look at your gross revenue — it evaluates the value of your work activity and considers whether you are performing services comparable to what an unimpaired person would do in a similar business.

For Wisconsin residents doing rideshare driving, freelance writing, or running a small online business, SSA may count only the net profit after legitimate business expenses. However, if SSA concludes you are rendering significant services to the business, it can find that you are engaging in SGA even if your net profit is modest. Self-employed SSDI recipients should keep meticulous financial records and consult with an attorney before assuming their income structure is safe.

Hours worked also matter for self-employment. SSA uses a standard of 80 hours per month as one indicator of whether a self-employed person is performing substantial services. Exceeding that benchmark, combined with meaningful profit, raises the risk of an SGA finding.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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