Working While on SSDI in Montana: Know Your Rights

Many Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients in Montana wonder whether they can earn any income while receiving benefits. The short answer is yes—but with significant limitations and rules that, if violated, can result in suspension or termination of your benefits. Understanding how work activity interacts with your SSDI award is essential to protecting the income you depend on.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Threshold

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a standard called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine whether a beneficiary is working at a level inconsistent with disability. For 2025, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 per month for those who are blind under SSA's definition.

If your gross earnings from work consistently exceed the SGA threshold, the SSA may determine that you are no longer disabled and move to terminate your benefits. Montana residents are subject to the same federal SGA limits as beneficiaries in every other state—there are no state-specific thresholds that modify this rule.

It is important to note that SGA applies to earned income from work, not to investment income, rental income, or other passive sources. If you receive money from a family ranch, mineral rights, or rental property in Montana without actively managing it, that income generally does not count toward SGA.

The Trial Work Period: A Protected Window

One of the most valuable and underutilized protections in SSDI law is the Trial Work Period (TWP). Congress built this provision into the system specifically to encourage beneficiaries to attempt returning to work without immediately losing their benefits.

During the TWP, you can work and earn any amount for up to nine months within a rolling 60-month period without the SSA counting that work against your disability status. A month counts as a TWP month in 2025 when your earnings exceed $1,110.

• The nine months do not have to be consecutive
• You continue to receive full SSDI benefits during all nine TWP months
• The SSA must be notified that you have returned to work
• Self-employment in Montana—such as farming or freelance work—also counts toward TWP months based on hours worked or net earnings

After completing your nine TWP months, a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) begins. During this window, you receive benefits in any month your earnings fall below SGA and lose them in months where earnings exceed SGA—without having to reapply.

Reporting Work Activity in Montana

Montana SSDI recipients must report all work activity to the SSA promptly. Failure to report earnings is one of the most common causes of overpayments—and overpayments must be repaid, sometimes with significant financial hardship.

You should report:

• Starting or stopping a job
• Changes in pay rate or hours worked
• Starting self-employment or a business
• Receiving sick pay, vacation pay, or bonuses
• Any work-related expenses related to your disability

Reports can be made by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, visiting the Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, or Helena field offices, or using your My Social Security online account. Montana's rural geography means many beneficiaries rely on phone or online reporting—keep records of every contact you make with the SSA, including dates and the name of any representative you speak with.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses and Other Deductions

If you work while on SSDI, you may be able to deduct certain costs from your earnings before the SSA applies the SGA calculation. These are called Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs).

Qualifying IRWEs can include:

• Prescription medications directly related to your disabling condition
• Medical equipment or assistive devices required for work
• Transportation costs if your disability requires specialized transport
• Attendant care services needed to get to and from work

For Montana residents in rural areas, transportation costs can be particularly significant. If you must travel long distances to reach a worksite and require specialized transit due to a physical or mental impairment, document these costs carefully. A properly documented IRWE can mean the difference between exceeding SGA and remaining below it.

Additionally, if you are blind, you may qualify for Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) deductions, which allow you to set aside income or resources to pursue a work goal without affecting your benefit eligibility.

What Happens If You Earn Too Much

If your earnings exceed SGA after exhausting your Trial Work Period, the SSA will initiate a Cessation of Benefits review. You will receive written notice and have the right to appeal. In Montana, as elsewhere, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge if you disagree with the SSA's determination.

Importantly, if your benefits are terminated due to work but your medical condition later prevents you from continuing to work, you may be able to request expedited reinstatement within five years of termination—without filing a brand-new disability application. This protection is especially valuable for beneficiaries in physically demanding Montana industries such as agriculture, logging, or mining, where health conditions can fluctuate.

If you are found to have received benefits while working above SGA without reporting it, the SSA will demand repayment of the overpaid amount. You have the right to request a waiver of the overpayment if repayment would cause financial hardship and the overpayment was not your fault—but you must act quickly and request the waiver in writing.

Working while on SSDI is possible and sometimes financially beneficial, but the rules are complex and the consequences of missteps are serious. A careful, documented approach—combined with prompt reporting and an understanding of available deductions—gives Montana beneficiaries the best chance of successfully balancing work and disability benefits.

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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