Can You Work While Receiving SSDI Benefits?

Many Social Security Disability Insurance recipients in Washington state worry that any income from work will immediately end their benefits. The reality is more nuanced. The Social Security Administration has built-in work incentive programs designed to help SSDI beneficiaries test their ability to return to employment without immediately losing their financial safety net. Understanding these rules can mean the difference between financial stability and an unexpected loss of benefits.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Threshold

The foundation of working while on SSDI is the concept of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). In 2025, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 per month for those who are blind. If your gross earnings exceed this amount, the SSA considers you capable of substantial work, which can trigger a review of your disability status.

Washington state residents should note that the SGA threshold is a federal figure and applies uniformly regardless of whether you live in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, or a rural county. However, Washington's higher-than-average cost of living and wage environment can make it easier to accidentally exceed the SGA limit, particularly in the tech and healthcare sectors where part-time work can pay premium hourly rates.

Earnings below the SGA threshold generally will not affect your SSDI cash benefits. But crossing that line — even once — can set off a chain of SSA review processes that require careful navigation.

The Trial Work Period: Your Protected Window

One of the most valuable work incentives available to SSDI recipients is the Trial Work Period (TWP). This program allows you to test your ability to work for up to nine months within a rolling 60-month window without those months counting against your benefits, regardless of how much you earn.

In 2025, any month in which you earn more than $1,110 counts as a trial work month. These nine months do not need to be consecutive. During each of these months, you receive your full SSDI payment even if your earnings far exceed the SGA limit.

Once you exhaust your nine trial work months, your case enters a different phase. The SSA then evaluates whether you are engaging in SGA. If your earnings exceed the SGA threshold after the TWP, the SSA may determine that your disability has ended. Washington beneficiaries who use their TWP strategically — for example, working seasonally or during a temporary recovery period — can gain significant financial benefit while maintaining their safety net.

The Extended Period of Eligibility and Expedited Reinstatement

After the Trial Work Period ends, SSDI recipients enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During this window, you can receive SSDI payments for any month your earnings fall below the SGA limit, without filing a new disability application. Months above SGA result in no payment; months below SGA restore your payment automatically.

If your benefits formally terminate because you exceeded SGA, you are not necessarily without recourse. The Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) provision allows former SSDI recipients to request reinstatement within five years of termination if they become unable to work again due to the same or a related disabling condition. During the reinstatement request period, you can receive provisional payments for up to six months while the SSA reviews your case.

For Washington residents dealing with chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, or degenerative back disorders — conditions that often fluctuate — the EXR provision provides a crucial financial buffer when returning to work proves unsustainable.

Work Incentives That Reduce Countable Earnings

The SSA does not simply count every dollar you earn against the SGA threshold. Several deductions can reduce your countable income:

• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs): Costs for items or services you need because of your disability to work — such as prescription medications, medical devices, specialized transportation, or personal attendant services — can be deducted from your gross earnings before the SGA calculation. In Washington, where attendant care and adaptive equipment costs can be significant, IRWEs can substantially reduce your countable income.
• Subsidies and Special Conditions: If your employer provides extra support, supervision, or accommodation beyond what a non-disabled employee would receive, the SSA may determine that only a portion of your wages reflects your actual productivity, reducing the countable amount.
• Unsuccessful Work Attempts: If you return to work but stop or significantly reduce your efforts within six months due to your disability, those earnings may be disregarded entirely in the SGA analysis.
• Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS): Washington SSDI recipients with a vocational goal may be able to set aside income or resources to fund education, training, or business startup costs through a PASS plan, which the SSA excludes from countable income.

Practical Steps for Washington SSDI Recipients Who Want to Work

Before returning to any form of employment, report your intent to work to the SSA. Failing to report work activity is one of the most common causes of overpayment debt, which the SSA will pursue aggressively — often by withholding future benefit checks.

Washington state has a network of Benefits Counselors through the Washington Assistive Technology Act Program and vocational rehabilitation services offered through the Washington Department of Social and Health Services. These counselors can provide individualized Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) services at no cost. A WIPA counselor can model exactly how different earning levels will affect your specific SSDI amount, Medicare eligibility, and any concurrent SSI benefits.

Document everything. Keep records of your pay stubs, work schedules, medical expenses related to employment, and any correspondence with the SSA. If the agency later claims you were overpaid or that your benefits should have been suspended, your documentation is your primary defense.

Consider consulting with a disability attorney before accepting employment offers. Certain job structures — such as self-employment, gig work, or positions with flexible hours — can create complicated SGA calculations. An attorney familiar with Washington SSDI claims can help you structure your work activity to stay within program rules while maximizing your income.

Finally, be aware that Medicare coverage continues for at least 93 months after your TWP ends, even if your cash benefits stop due to work. For Washington residents who rely on Medicare to cover ongoing treatment for their disabling condition, this continuation of health coverage often makes a return-to-work attempt financially viable even when cash benefits are suspended.

Working while on SSDI is legally permissible, and the SSA's work incentive programs exist precisely to encourage it. The key is understanding the rules before your first paycheck arrives — not after the SSA sends you an overpayment notice.

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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