Working Part Time on SSDI in Indiana

Many Indiana residents receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) wonder whether they can earn any income without losing their benefits. The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Federal rules allow limited work activity while on SSDI, but crossing certain thresholds can trigger a review — or even termination — of your benefits. Understanding exactly where those lines are drawn is essential before accepting any part-time work.

What Is Substantial Gainful Activity?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a standard called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to evaluate whether work is significant enough to affect your disability status. For 2024, the SGA threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 per month for those who are blind. If your earnings exceed the applicable limit, the SSA may determine you are no longer disabled — regardless of your medical condition.

Indiana residents are subject to the same federal SGA limits as everyone else in the country. There are no state-specific earnings thresholds that modify these federal rules. If you earn below SGA, the SSA generally will not count your work against you, though your case may still be reviewed periodically.

The Trial Work Period Explained

One of the most important and underutilized protections for SSDI recipients is the Trial Work Period (TWP). The SSA allows you to test your ability to work for up to nine months within a 60-month rolling window without losing your SSDI benefits — even if your earnings exceed SGA during those months.

A month counts as a Trial Work Period month in 2024 if you earn more than $1,110 in that month. Once you have used all nine TWP months, your case enters what is called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which lasts 36 months. During the EPE, you can still receive SSDI benefits for any month your earnings fall below SGA. However, once the EPE ends, earning above SGA in any month will result in loss of benefits for that month.

Timing matters. Many Indiana claimants make the mistake of not tracking which months count against their Trial Work Period. Keeping detailed records of your monthly earnings — whether from wages, self-employment, or gig work — is critical to avoiding surprises.

Reporting Work Activity to the SSA

If you begin any part-time work while receiving SSDI in Indiana, you are legally required to report that work to the SSA promptly. Failing to report earnings is one of the most common reasons Indiana recipients face overpayment demands, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars and require repayment even years after the fact.

You can report work activity in several ways:

• Call the SSA's national number at 1-800-772-1213
• Visit your local Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, or South Bend Social Security field office
• Use the SSA's online My Social Security portal
• Submit written notice directly to your local SSA office

When reporting, document the date you made the report, the name of the representative you spoke with, and any confirmation number provided. In the event of a dispute, this documentation can be the difference between keeping and losing your benefits.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses Can Reduce Countable Earnings

Indiana SSDI recipients who incur out-of-pocket costs related to their disability in order to work may be able to deduct those costs from their countable earnings through a provision called Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs). This can effectively lower your countable income below the SGA threshold even if your gross earnings exceed it.

Common IRWEs that the SSA may approve include:

• Prescription medications required to manage your disabling condition at work
• Medical equipment or devices, such as wheelchairs, crutches, or prosthetics
• Transportation costs to and from work if your disability prevents you from using standard transportation
• Personal attendant services needed while working
• Specialized work-related tools or software designed for individuals with disabilities

These deductions are not automatic — you must document and submit them to the SSA for approval. An attorney familiar with Indiana disability claims can help identify and properly document qualifying expenses.

How Part-Time Work Can Affect a Pending SSDI Application

If you are still waiting for your SSDI application or appeal to be decided, working part-time carries particular risks. The SSA may use your work activity as evidence that you are not as limited as your medical records suggest. Even earnings below SGA can raise questions if the work you perform appears inconsistent with your alleged functional limitations.

For example, if your application claims you cannot stand for more than 15 minutes, but your part-time job involves light retail work, a claims examiner or Administrative Law Judge may cite that inconsistency to deny your claim. This does not mean all work is off-limits during a pending application — but it does mean you should discuss any work plans with your attorney before accepting a position.

Indiana has Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) in hearing offices located in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Valparaiso. Decisions from those offices can vary, and ALJ interpretation of work activity during a pending claim is one area where having legal representation makes a measurable difference in outcomes.

Indiana's Ticket to Work Program

The SSA's Ticket to Work program provides another layer of protection for Indiana SSDI recipients who want to return to the workforce. By assigning your Ticket to an approved Employment Network or state vocational rehabilitation agency — such as Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services — you may be able to access job training, career counseling, and placement services without triggering a Continuing Disability Review (CDR).

Participation in the Ticket to Work program can suspend CDRs, which are periodic reviews the SSA conducts to determine whether you remain disabled. For individuals who want to explore employment but are not yet ready to commit to leaving the SSDI rolls, this program offers meaningful protection and resources.

Returning to full-time work successfully is the ultimate goal for many recipients, and the Ticket to Work program is specifically designed to remove financial disincentives that might otherwise discourage that transition. A benefits counselor or disability attorney can help you determine whether participating in the program makes sense for your situation.

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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