Can You Work While Receiving SSDI Benefits?

Many Social Security Disability Insurance recipients wonder whether earning any income while receiving benefits will cause them to lose their monthly payments. The answer is nuanced. The Social Security Administration does allow SSDI recipients to work under certain conditions, but exceeding specific income thresholds can jeopardize your benefits. Understanding the rules — and the protections built into the system — is essential before you take on any employment.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Limit

The SSA uses a standard called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine whether your work disqualifies you from SSDI. In 2025, the SGA threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 per month for those who are blind. If your gross monthly earnings from work consistently exceed the SGA limit, the SSA may determine you are no longer disabled and terminate your benefits.

It is important to understand that SGA applies to earned income from work activity — not to investment income, rental income, or other passive sources. Florida recipients who receive income from rental properties or stock dividends are generally not affected by the SGA limit, though Supplemental Security Income (SSI) rules differ significantly in this regard.

The Trial Work Period: Your Protected Window

Before the SSA can terminate your benefits based on work activity, you are entitled to a Trial Work Period (TWP). This is one of the most important — and frequently misunderstood — protections in the SSDI system.

During the Trial Work Period, you can work and earn any amount without affecting your SSDI payments, as long as you continue to have a disabling impairment. The TWP consists of 9 months within a rolling 60-month window. In 2025, any month in which you earn more than $1,110 counts as a trial work month.

Once you have used all 9 trial work months, the SSA enters a 36-month window called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, you receive benefits for any month your earnings fall below SGA, but benefits are suspended in months where your earnings exceed SGA. After the EPE expires, the SSA may permanently terminate benefits if you continue to perform substantial work.

• Trial Work Period: 9 months of unlimited earnings within 60 months
• Each month over $1,110 (2025 figure) counts as a trial work month
• Extended Period of Eligibility: 36 months following the TWP
• Benefits automatically resume if earnings drop below SGA during the EPE

Work Incentives That Protect Florida Recipients

The SSA offers several work incentives designed to encourage recipients to attempt returning to work without the fear of immediately losing benefits. Florida residents should be familiar with these programs before accepting any employment.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE): If you pay out-of-pocket for items or services that are necessary for you to work — such as prescription medications, medical devices, transportation assistance, or personal care attendants — those costs can be deducted from your gross earnings when the SSA calculates whether you are performing SGA. This effectively raises the income you can take home before your benefits are at risk.

Subsidies and Special Conditions: If your employer provides special accommodations, extra supervision, or reduced productivity expectations because of your disability, the SSA may determine that your actual earnings overstate your work capacity. The SSA can exclude the value of those subsidies when computing SGA.

Ticket to Work Program: Florida SSDI recipients can participate in the federal Ticket to Work program, which connects beneficiaries with approved Employment Networks and vocational rehabilitation services. Participants who are actively engaged in the program may receive additional protections against Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) during their participation period.

Reporting Requirements and What Happens If You Don't

Every SSDI recipient who begins working has a legal obligation to report work activity to the SSA promptly. In Florida, you can report work activity online through your my Social Security account, by calling the national SSA line, or by visiting your local Social Security field office. Failing to report earnings — even if you believe they are below SGA — can result in serious consequences.

When the SSA later discovers unreported work activity through tax records, state wage data, or other sources, it will calculate an overpayment covering all months benefits were incorrectly paid. Overpayments can reach tens of thousands of dollars and the SSA has aggressive collection authority, including withholding future benefits, garnishing tax refunds, and referring debts to collection agencies.

• Report the month you start working, even if earnings are low
• Report any changes in pay rate or hours worked
• Report if you stop working
• Keep documentation of all work expenses that may qualify as IRWEs

If you receive an overpayment notice, you have the right to request a waiver if the overpayment was not your fault and repayment would cause financial hardship. You also have the right to appeal the SSA's determination. Both options require prompt action — typically within 60 days of receiving the notice.

What Florida Workers with Disabilities Should Do Before Accepting a Job

Before accepting employment, SSDI recipients should take several concrete steps to protect their benefits and avoid costly mistakes. The rules surrounding work activity are technical, and even well-intentioned decisions can trigger unintended consequences.

First, review your current SSDI status to confirm how many trial work months you have already used. The SSA can provide this information through your my Social Security account. Second, calculate whether your expected earnings will exceed SGA after accounting for any applicable work expense deductions. Third, consider contacting a Benefits Counselor through Florida's Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program, which offers free counseling to SSDI recipients who are considering work.

Florida residents should also be aware that returning to work while on SSDI does not automatically affect Medicare coverage. After your Trial Work Period ends, you are entitled to at least 93 additional months of Medicare coverage even if your SSDI cash benefits are suspended due to substantial work activity. This is a significant protection for individuals who depend on Medicare for ongoing medical treatment related to their disability.

Working while on SSDI is legally permissible within defined boundaries, and the SSA has built meaningful protections into the system to encourage recipients to attempt gainful employment. However, navigating these rules without guidance is risky. A single misstep — an unreported month of earnings, a misunderstanding about the SGA calculation, or missing a reporting deadline — can result in benefit termination or a significant overpayment demand.

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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