Can I Work While Receiving SSDI Benefits?

Many Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients in West Virginia wonder whether they can work while collecting benefits. The short answer is yes—but with significant limitations and specific rules you must follow to avoid jeopardizing your monthly payments. Understanding these requirements is crucial to maintaining your financial stability while testing your ability to return to the workforce.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes that disability recipients may want to attempt working again, and they've created programs to encourage this without immediately terminating benefits. However, the rules surrounding work activity while on SSDI are complex, and violating them can result in overpayments you'll be required to repay or complete loss of benefits.

Understanding Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

The most important concept when considering work while on SSDI is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). This is the threshold the SSA uses to determine whether your work activity is significant enough to indicate you're no longer disabled. For 2024, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for those who are statutorily blind.

If your earnings exceed the SGA threshold, the SSA generally considers you capable of substantial gainful activity, which contradicts the definition of disability under Social Security law. This doesn't mean your benefits end immediately—there's a process involved—but consistently earning above SGA will eventually result in termination of your SSDI payments.

The SGA calculation includes:

• Gross wages before taxes and deductions
• Net earnings from self-employment
• The value of certain work-related benefits
• Subsidized earnings (wages higher than the actual value of work performed)

West Virginia residents should note that these are federal thresholds that apply nationwide, including throughout all counties in the state, from Kanawha to Berkeley County.

The Trial Work Period: Your Safety Net

Before the SSA will terminate your benefits due to work activity, you're entitled to a Trial Work Period (TWP). This nine-month period allows you to test your ability to work without losing benefits, regardless of how much you earn. The nine months don't need to be consecutive, but they must occur within a rolling 60-month period.

For 2024, a trial work month is any month in which you earn more than $1,110 or work more than 80 self-employed hours. During these nine months, you'll continue receiving your full SSDI payment as long as you report your work activity and continue to have a disabling impairment.

This provision is particularly valuable for West Virginia workers in industries with seasonal fluctuations, such as tourism in areas like the New River Gorge or agriculture in the Eastern Panhandle. You can test whether your condition allows you to maintain employment without immediately risking your financial safety net.

The Extended Period of Eligibility

After completing your Trial Work Period, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During this time, you'll receive SSDI benefits for any month your earnings fall below the SGA level. If your earnings exceed SGA, you won't receive benefits for that month—but your eligibility remains active.

This creates a crucial safety net for individuals whose conditions may cause intermittent work disruptions. For example, if you're a West Virginia resident with a condition that causes periodic flare-ups affecting your ability to work consistently, you can receive benefits during months when symptoms prevent substantial employment.

After the 36-month EPE concludes, if you're still working above SGA levels, your benefits will terminate. However, you may qualify for Expedited Reinstatement if you stop working within five years due to your disability, allowing you to restart benefits without filing a new application.

Work Incentives and Deductions

The SSA recognizes that people with disabilities often incur additional expenses to work. Several provisions allow deductions from your earnings when calculating whether you've exceeded SGA:

• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE): Out-of-pocket costs for items or services you need to work due to your disability, such as medications, medical devices, or transportation to medical appointments
• Subsidy and Special Conditions: If your employer provides special assistance or you're more productive due to workplace accommodations, the true value of your work may be less than your actual wages
• Unsuccessful Work Attempt: If you try to work but stop within six months due to your disability, this employment may not count against you

West Virginia SSDI recipients should maintain detailed records of all disability-related work expenses and report them to the SSA. These deductions can make the difference between staying below SGA and losing benefits.

Reporting Requirements and Penalties

If you work while receiving SSDI, you must report your work activity to the Social Security Administration promptly. Failure to report work can result in overpayments that you'll be legally obligated to repay, potentially with penalties.

You should report:

• When you start or stop work
• Changes in your pay or work duties
• Work-related expenses due to your disability
• Any changes in your medical condition

West Virginia residents can report work activity online through their my Social Security account, by phone, or at local Social Security offices in Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, or other locations throughout the state.

The SSA takes unreported work activity seriously. If they discover you've been working without reporting it, you may face not only repayment demands but also potential fraud allegations in severe cases. Even if the failure to report was unintentional, you'll still be responsible for returning any overpaid benefits.

Practical Considerations for West Virginia Workers

Before attempting to return to work while on SSDI, consider consulting with a disability attorney familiar with West Virginia employment conditions. The state's economic landscape—with significant employment in healthcare, education, natural resources, and manufacturing—presents unique considerations for disability recipients attempting to work.

Some practical steps include documenting all communication with the SSA, keeping detailed pay stubs and expense records, understanding your employer's willingness to provide accommodations, and having a plan if your condition prevents you from continuing work.

Remember that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has different work rules than SSDI. If you receive both programs, the regulations become more complex, and professional guidance becomes even more valuable.

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

Related Articles

• SSDI Approval Timeline in Kentucky
• Getting Disability Benefits for Lupus in Utah
• Disability Benefits for Multiple Sclerosis in VA