Working Part Time on SSDI in Louisiana

Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not automatically mean you must stop working entirely. Many Louisiana residents on SSDI have questions about whether they can take on part-time work without losing their benefits. The answer depends on specific rules set by the Social Security Administration (SSA), and understanding those rules can mean the difference between keeping your benefits and triggering an overpayment demand.

The SSA uses a concept called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine whether a person is working too much to qualify for or continue receiving SSDI. Getting this wrong — even unintentionally — can result in benefit termination and a requirement to repay thousands of dollars.

What Is Substantial Gainful Activity?

Substantial Gainful Activity is the SSA's primary threshold for evaluating work activity. For 2025, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 per month for statutorily blind individuals. If your gross earnings consistently exceed these amounts, the SSA will generally consider you capable of substantial work and may terminate your SSDI benefits.

Part-time work often falls below the SGA limit, which is why many Louisiana disability recipients can work limited hours without immediately jeopardizing their benefits. However, gross earnings are not the only factor the SSA examines. They also evaluate:

• The nature of the work and whether it is comparable to work performed by non-disabled individuals
• The hours worked per week
• Any subsidies or special accommodations provided by the employer
• Impairment-related work expenses (IRWEs) that may be deducted from your gross earnings

Louisiana does not have its own separate SGA threshold — the federal limits apply statewide. However, the state's cost of living and wage rates can affect how quickly part-time work approaches those federal thresholds.

The Trial Work Period: A Critical Protection

One of the most valuable and underused provisions in federal disability law is the Trial Work Period (TWP). The SSA allows SSDI recipients to test their ability to work for up to nine months within a rolling 60-month window without any reduction in benefits, regardless of how much they earn during those months.

In 2025, a month counts as a Trial Work Period month if your earnings exceed $1,050. These nine months do not need to be consecutive. Once you exhaust your nine TWP months, the SSA enters a review period called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which lasts 36 months. During the EPE, you receive benefits in any month where your earnings fall below the SGA limit.

For Louisiana residents who want to test returning to part-time or full-time employment, the Trial Work Period provides meaningful runway. Many individuals are unaware of this protection and either avoid work entirely or fail to report earnings properly, both of which can create serious legal and financial problems.

Reporting Requirements You Cannot Ignore

Whether your part-time earnings are above or below SGA, you are legally required to report all work activity to the SSA. This is not optional. Failure to report can result in an overpayment that the SSA will demand back — sometimes years after the fact. Louisiana residents have faced overpayment notices exceeding $20,000 due to unreported part-time income.

You must report the following to the SSA promptly:

• Starting any new job, including part-time, seasonal, or gig work
• Changes in your hours or pay rate
• Stopping work
• Any work-related expenses related to your disability
• Receipt of any other income, including workers' compensation

Reports can be made to your local SSA field office, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or through your my Social Security online account. Keep copies of every communication you send. Louisiana has SSA field offices in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, Lafayette, and Lake Charles, among others.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses Can Lower Your Countable Income

Louisiana disability recipients who work part-time may be able to reduce their countable earnings through Impairment-Related Work Expenses. The SSA allows certain out-of-pocket costs related to your disability and necessary for you to work to be deducted before calculating whether your earnings exceed SGA.

Examples of qualifying IRWEs include:

• Prescription medications needed to control your disabling condition
• Medical equipment such as wheelchairs or prosthetics used at work
• Transportation costs if your disability prevents you from using standard transit
• Attendant care services needed to prepare for or perform work
• Specialized work-related equipment due to your impairment

For example, if a Louisiana resident earns $1,700 per month part-time but pays $300 monthly out-of-pocket for disability-related medications and transportation to get to work, the SSA may count only $1,400 — keeping that individual below the SGA threshold. Documenting these expenses thoroughly with receipts and medical records is essential.

What Happens If You Exceed SGA in Louisiana

If your part-time work earnings exceed SGA after your Trial Work Period ends, the SSA will evaluate whether your SSDI benefits should continue. They will send you a notice and may conduct a Continuing Disability Review (CDR). At that point, you have appeal rights that must be exercised within 60 days of the notice.

Do not ignore these notices. Louisiana SSDI recipients who appeal benefit terminations due to work activity can often continue receiving benefits during the appeal process by requesting a waiver called continuation of benefits during appeal. Missing the 60-day deadline typically forfeits this right.

Additionally, if benefits are terminated because of work but you later stop working or fall below SGA due to your medical condition, you may qualify for expedited reinstatement within five years without filing a new application — a significant protection many recipients do not know exists.

Working part-time while receiving SSDI in Louisiana is legal and often possible, but it requires careful planning, strict reporting, and an understanding of how the SSA evaluates earnings. Mistakes in this area can result in benefit termination and financially damaging overpayment demands. Before starting any job, consult with a disability attorney who understands how these federal rules apply to your specific 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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