Can You Work While Receiving SSDI Benefits?

Many people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) wonder whether returning to work—even part-time—will cost them their benefits. The answer is not a simple yes or no. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has structured a set of rules that allow certain work activity, but crossing specific thresholds can trigger a review of your eligibility or result in benefit termination. Understanding those rules before you accept any work is critical to protecting the financial stability you depend on.

California residents face the same federal SSDI framework as everyone else, but the state's higher cost of living makes benefit preservation especially important. Losing SSDI prematurely—or having benefits suspended while you fight a wrongful termination—can be devastating. Knowing exactly where the lines are drawn protects you.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Threshold

The foundation of every work-while-on-SSDI analysis is the concept of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). The SSA defines SGA as work that earns above a set monthly dollar threshold. For 2025, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 per month for individuals who are blind.

If your gross monthly earnings consistently exceed the SGA threshold, the SSA may determine you are no longer disabled under their definition and move to terminate your benefits. This is true even if your medical condition has not improved. The earnings alone can trigger termination.

Important nuances apply:

• The SSA looks at gross earnings before taxes or deductions, not take-home pay.
• Self-employment income is evaluated differently, factoring in hours worked and the nature of services rendered.
• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs)—costs like medications, medical devices, or transportation required because of your disability—can be deducted from your gross earnings before the SGA comparison is made.

The Trial Work Period: A Built-In Buffer

The SSA created the Trial Work Period (TWP) specifically to allow SSDI recipients to test their ability to work without immediately losing benefits. During the TWP, you can receive full SSDI benefits regardless of how much you earn, as long as you continue to report your work activity and meet disability requirements.

A Trial Work Period consists of 9 months within a rolling 60-month window. A month counts as a TWP month in 2025 if you earn more than $1,110 in that month or, if self-employed, work more than 80 hours. These 9 months do not need to be consecutive.

Once you exhaust all 9 TWP months, the SSA conducts a review of your work activity. If you are earning above SGA after the TWP ends, your benefits will be terminated—though usually after a 3-month grace period. This grace period covers the month disability ceased and the two following months.

For California workers, the TWP offers a meaningful window to explore re-entering the workforce. Working part-time in a lower-wage capacity may allow you to keep income below the monthly TWP trigger, preserving those 9 months for when you genuinely need them.

The Extended Period of Eligibility

After the Trial Work Period concludes, SSDI recipients enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which lasts 36 consecutive months. During the EPE, you are entitled to receive benefits for any month in which your earnings fall below SGA—without filing a new application.

This is a significant protection. If you attempt work during the EPE and your earnings exceed SGA for several months but then drop back below it—due to a flare-up, job loss, or reduced hours—your benefits can be reinstated relatively quickly. You do not have to re-establish your disability from scratch.

Once the EPE window closes, however, reinstatement becomes more complicated. At that point, you would need to either file a new application or request Expedited Reinstatement (EXR)—a separate process available within five years of termination if your disability prevents substantial work.

Ticket to Work and Other SSA Work Incentives

The SSA administers several additional programs designed to support SSDI recipients who want to attempt employment:

• Ticket to Work Program: A free, voluntary program connecting SSDI recipients with approved Employment Networks and State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies. Participation can protect you from certain medical Continuing Disability Reviews while you work toward self-sufficiency.
• Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS): Allows you to set aside income and resources toward a specific work goal—such as education or starting a business—without those assets counting against your SSI eligibility or SSDI benefit calculations.
• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs): As mentioned above, documented disability-related costs reduce your countable income for SGA purposes, making it easier to stay under the threshold.
• Subsidies and Special Conditions: If your employer provides special accommodations—extra supervision, modified tasks, or an artificially elevated wage compared to your actual productivity—the SSA may subtract the value of those subsidies before comparing your earnings to SGA.

California residents can access Ticket to Work services through the California Department of Rehabilitation, which partners with the SSA to provide vocational counseling, job placement, and training. These state resources can supplement federal work incentives and help you plan a return to employment carefully.

Reporting Requirements and Protecting Your Benefits

One of the most common—and costly—mistakes SSDI recipients make is failing to report work activity promptly. You are legally required to report all work and earnings to the SSA, including part-time work, freelance or gig income, and self-employment. Failure to report accurately can result in overpayments that the SSA will demand back, sometimes with interest and penalties.

Best practices for protecting your SSDI benefits while working include:

• Keep detailed records of every paycheck, pay stub, and bank deposit reflecting work income.
• Track your hours if you are self-employed or paid irregularly.
• Submit wage reports monthly, either through SSA's online portal, by phone, or in writing—and keep copies of all submissions.
• Document all disability-related work expenses as they occur so you can claim IRWEs if needed.
• Consult with a disability attorney before accepting any job offer so your specific circumstances can be evaluated.

If the SSA sends you a notice about overpayment or a proposed suspension of benefits, do not ignore it. You have the right to appeal, and overpayment waivers are available in cases where you were not at fault and repayment would cause financial hardship. Strict deadlines apply, so acting immediately is essential.

Working while on SSDI is possible within carefully defined boundaries. The SSA's work incentive programs exist because Congress recognized that many recipients genuinely want to recover economically if their health permits. But the rules are detailed, the stakes are high, and an honest mistake can cost months of benefits. Taking the time to understand your specific situation before you start working—or before you report a change—is the most important step you can take.

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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