Can You Work While Receiving SSDI Benefits?

Many Social Security Disability Insurance recipients worry that earning any income will immediately end their benefits. The reality is more nuanced. The Social Security Administration has built specific programs that allow SSDI beneficiaries to test their ability to work without automatically losing coverage. Understanding these rules — and the risks of getting them wrong — is essential for anyone receiving disability benefits in Virginia.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Threshold

The SSA uses a concept called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine whether a person is working at a level that disqualifies them from SSDI. For 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 consistently exceed the SGA threshold, the SSA may determine you are no longer disabled under their guidelines.

What matters is gross wages before deductions, not your take-home pay. Virginia workers should be aware that state-level income or deductions do not factor into the SSA's SGA calculation — it is a federal standard applied uniformly across all states.

Working below the SGA limit does not automatically guarantee your benefits are safe. The SSA evaluates the nature of your work, the hours you put in, and any accommodations your employer makes. Part-time work that requires significant employer support may still be scrutinized.

The Trial Work Period: Your Protected Window

The SSA provides a Trial Work Period (TWP) that gives SSDI recipients nine months to test their ability to work without any reduction in benefits. These nine months do not need to be consecutive — they are counted within a rolling 60-month window.

In 2025, any month in which you earn more than $1,110 counts as a trial work month. During a TWP month, you receive your full SSDI benefit regardless of how much you earn. This is a genuine opportunity to explore returning to the workforce without the immediate fear of losing income support.

After you exhaust your nine trial work months, the SSA enters a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, you receive benefits in any month your earnings fall below the SGA limit and do not receive benefits in months they exceed it. If your income drops below SGA during the EPE, benefits can be reinstated without filing a new application.

Work Incentives That Reduce Countable Income

The SSA allows certain deductions that can reduce your countable earnings for SGA purposes. These are called Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs). If you pay out-of-pocket for items or services that are necessary for you to work because of your disability, those costs may be deducted from your gross wages before the SSA applies the SGA test.

Common IRWEs include:

• Prescription medications related to your disabling condition
• Medical devices, prosthetics, or adaptive equipment
• Transportation to and from work when your disability makes standard commuting impossible
• Copayments for therapy or counseling that allows you to maintain employment
• Job coaching or supported employment services

Virginia residents who use Virginia's Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or other state vocational rehabilitation programs may also qualify for Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) arrangements, which can set aside income or resources to fund a work goal without affecting SSI or SSDI eligibility calculations.

Reporting Requirements and the Risk of Overpayments

One of the most serious — and common — mistakes SSDI recipients in Virginia make is failing to report work activity promptly. You are legally required to notify the SSA when you start working, when your earnings change substantially, and when you stop working. This applies even during the Trial Work Period.

Failure to report can result in an overpayment determination, meaning the SSA concludes you were paid benefits you were not entitled to receive. Overpayments can reach thousands of dollars and the SSA will seek recovery, including withholding future benefits. In some cases, intentional failure to report can be treated as fraud.

To protect yourself, report work activity in writing and keep copies of everything. Virginia Legal Aid and local Social Security offices in Richmond, Norfolk, and Roanoke can assist beneficiaries in understanding their reporting obligations. Do not assume that because you are below SGA or within your TWP that no reporting is required — the obligation to report is separate from the obligation to return benefits.

When Work Triggers a Continuing Disability Review

Returning to work — even within permitted limits — can prompt the SSA to conduct a Continuing Disability Review (CDR). During a CDR, the SSA reassesses whether you still meet the medical definition of disability. Work activity is one of the triggers that can initiate this process.

A CDR is not necessarily a threat if your condition remains severe, but it requires attention. You will need to provide updated medical records, treatment history, and statements from treating physicians in Virginia. Conditions like musculoskeletal disorders, mental health diagnoses, and chronic pain conditions — common bases for SSDI awards — can fluctuate, and SSA reviewers may weigh your work activity as evidence of improvement.

If the SSA proposes to terminate your benefits following a CDR, you have the right to appeal. Filing a timely appeal within 10 days of the notice allows you to receive continuing benefits during the appeal under the Continuation of Benefits provision. Missing that deadline means benefits stop while your appeal is pending.

Virginia SSDI recipients who receive a CDR notice should consult a disability attorney immediately. The appeals process — Request for Reconsideration, Administrative Law Judge hearing, Appeals Council, and federal court — mirrors the initial claims process and benefits from the same level of professional representation.

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 Disability Hearings in West Virginia
• SSDI Work Credits: Vermont Claimants' Guide
• How Long Does SSDI Take in Michigan?