Working While on SSDI: Nevada Rules Explained

Many Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients in Nevada worry that earning any income will immediately end their benefits. The reality is more nuanced. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has structured rules that allow you to test your ability to return to work without automatically losing your disability benefits. Understanding these rules is essential before you accept any employment or self-employment income.

What Counts as Work Under SSDI Rules

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

It is not only traditional employment that triggers SGA review. The SSA also evaluates:

• Self-employment income, including freelance and gig work
• Part-time wages from Nevada employers
• Income earned from operating a business, even from home
• In-kind compensation that has measurable monetary value

Nevada has no state-level disability program that supplements or modifies federal SSDI rules. Your case is governed entirely by the federal SSA framework, though your local Social Security field offices in Las Vegas, Reno, Henderson, and elsewhere can assist with reporting and inquiries.

The Trial Work Period: Your Protected Window

The SSA provides a critical safety net called the Trial Work Period (TWP). During the TWP, you can work and receive your full SSDI benefit regardless of how much you earn, as long as you report your work activity. The TWP consists of nine months within a rolling 60-month period. A month counts as a TWP month if your gross earnings exceed $1,110 (the 2025 threshold) or, if self-employed, you work more than 80 hours in a month.

These nine months do not have to be consecutive. A Nevada resident on SSDI could work a few months, stop, return to work later, and each month above the threshold counts toward the nine. Once you exhaust all nine TWP months, you move into a different phase of SSA oversight.

The TWP is designed to encourage recipients to test their capacity to work without the fear of immediate benefit termination. Use this window thoughtfully. Keep detailed records of every paycheck, hours worked, and any work-related expenses.

The Extended Period of Eligibility and Grace Period

After your Trial Work Period ends, a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) begins. During the EPE, the SSA will pay your full SSDI benefit in any month your earnings fall below the SGA limit. In any month your earnings exceed SGA, your benefit will be suspended — but not permanently terminated — during this window.

This structure means that if you attempt to return to work and your health forces you to stop, you can receive benefits again the following month without filing a new disability application, as long as you are still within the EPE. This is a significant protection that many Nevada SSDI recipients do not fully understand.

If you earn above SGA for one month within the EPE after the TWP is exhausted, the SSA provides a grace period of three consecutive benefit months before it stops payment. After the EPE ends, earning above SGA for any month will generally terminate your SSDI benefits entirely, requiring you to file a new application if your condition worsens.

Work Incentives That Reduce Countable Earnings

The SSA allows you to deduct certain expenses from your gross income before comparing it to the SGA limit. These are called Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs). If your disability requires you to purchase special equipment, pay for transportation adaptations, or incur other costs directly related to your ability to work, those amounts can reduce your countable earnings.

For example, a Nevada resident with a mobility impairment who pays for specialized transportation to reach their employer may deduct those costs. Similarly, prescription medications taken specifically to enable work may qualify as an IRWE. Documenting these expenses carefully — with receipts, prescriptions, and written explanations — is essential when reporting to the SSA.

Nevada residents who receive both SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may also benefit from the SSI earned income exclusions, which follow a separate formula. If you receive both programs, the interaction between them requires careful analysis before you accept employment.

How to Protect Yourself: Reporting and the Ticket to Work Program

The most important rule when working on SSDI is simple: report all work activity to the SSA promptly. Failure to report earnings is one of the most common causes of overpayments, which the SSA will demand repaid — sometimes years later and with interest. Nevada residents should report changes in work status by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, visiting a local field office, or using the SSA's online portal.

The SSA also administers the Ticket to Work program, a free and voluntary program for SSDI recipients between ages 18 and 64 who want to return to work. By assigning your Ticket to an Employment Network or State Vocational Rehabilitation agency, you gain access to career counseling, job placement, and other services. Participating in Ticket to Work can also protect you from certain Continuing Disability Reviews while you are actively engaged with the program.

Nevada's Vocational Rehabilitation division, administered through the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), can work in coordination with your Ticket to Work participation. Services available through Nevada VR include job training, assistive technology, and supported employment for individuals with significant disabilities.

Before accepting any job offer, consider consulting with a disability attorney or benefits counselor to map out exactly how your specific earnings will interact with your benefit amount, Medicare continuation, and the TWP calendar. A miscalculation can result in an unexpected overpayment demand or premature benefit termination that is difficult to reverse.

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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