Part-Time Work and SSDI Benefits in Texas

Many Texans receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) wonder whether they can earn any income without losing their benefits. The answer is yes — but only within specific limits and rules set by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Understanding how part-time work interacts with your SSDI benefits is critical before you accept any employment, because a misstep can trigger overpayments, benefit termination, or lengthy legal battles to get your payments reinstated.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Threshold

The SSA uses a concept called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine whether you are working too much to qualify for disability benefits. In 2025, the SGA limit for non-blind individuals is $1,550 per month. For blind recipients, the threshold is $2,590 per month.

If your gross earnings from part-time work consistently exceed the SGA threshold, the SSA may determine that you are no longer disabled — regardless of your medical condition. This is true whether you work for an employer or are self-employed. The SGA limit applies nationwide, including in Texas, and is adjusted periodically for inflation.

Earning below the SGA limit does not automatically protect your benefits. The SSA also evaluates the nature of your work. If the tasks you perform are similar in scope and function to what full-time employees do, even a lower wage might raise questions during a continuing disability review.

The Trial Work Period: A Protected Window to Test Employment

The SSA provides a safety net for SSDI recipients who want to attempt returning to work — it is called the Trial Work Period (TWP). During your TWP, you can work and receive your full SSDI benefit regardless of how much you earn, as long as you report your work activity and continue to meet all other disability requirements.

The TWP consists of nine months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-month window. In 2025, any month in which you earn more than $1,110 counts as a trial work month. Once you have used all nine trial work months, the SSA evaluates your work activity under the SGA rules.

After the TWP ends, you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which lasts 36 months. During this window, you receive SSDI benefits for any month your earnings fall below the SGA level and lose benefits for months they exceed it — without having to reapply or prove disability again. This creates a flexible buffer that part-time Texas workers on SSDI should use strategically.

Texas-Specific Considerations for Disability Recipients

Texas does not administer SSDI — it is a federal program — but several Texas-specific factors affect how you manage work and disability income:

• Texas Workforce Commission (TWC): If you receive any unemployment benefits through TWC, this can complicate your SSDI claim. Unemployment benefits signal to the SSA that you are ready and available for full-time work, which can conflict with your disability status.
• No state income tax: Texas has no state income tax, which means your SSDI benefits and part-time wages are only subject to federal taxation. This simplifies your tax picture compared to many other states.
• Texas Medicaid and Medicare interaction: Many Texans on SSDI rely on Medicare for health coverage. If you lose SSDI due to excess earnings, you may lose Medicare — though Extended Medicare Coverage continues for up to 93 months after your TWP begins, providing a critical safety net while you test employment.
• Cost of living: Part-time wages in major Texas metros like Houston, Dallas, and Austin may push workers closer to or over the SGA limit faster than in lower-wage areas. Be especially careful tracking monthly gross earnings in these markets.

The Ticket to Work Program

The SSA's Ticket to Work program is a voluntary program available to SSDI recipients between ages 18 and 64. By assigning your Ticket to an approved Employment Network (EN) or your state vocational rehabilitation agency, you gain access to free job training, career counseling, and employment support — and you receive added protection against continuing disability reviews while your Ticket is in use.

Texas has several approved Employment Networks and participates in the Texas Workforce Solutions Vocational Rehabilitation Services program. Texans using the Ticket to Work can explore part-time work arrangements with less fear of triggering a premature eligibility review. If the employment attempt ultimately fails due to your disability, your benefits are easier to restore.

Ticket to Work does not exempt you from SGA rules once your Trial Work Period ends, but it provides structured support that makes the return-to-work process far more manageable.

Reporting Requirements and Avoiding Overpayments

One of the most serious mistakes SSDI recipients make is failing to report earnings promptly. The SSA requires you to report all work activity — including part-time and temporary work — as soon as you begin. Failing to report can result in overpayments that the SSA will demand you pay back, sometimes years later.

To report work activity in Texas, you can:

• Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213
• Visit your local Social Security field office (Texas has offices in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and throughout the state)
• Report online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov
• Submit a written report by mail to your local SSA office

Keep detailed records of every paycheck, pay stub, and work hour. If the SSA questions your earnings history, documentation is your strongest defense. Self-employed Texans must also track business expenses carefully, as the SSA deducts certain business costs when calculating countable income for SGA purposes.

If you receive an overpayment notice, do not ignore it. You have the right to request a waiver if repayment would cause financial hardship and the overpayment was not your fault. You also have the right to request a reconsideration if you believe the SSA's earnings calculation is incorrect.

When to Consult a Disability Attorney

The rules governing part-time work and SSDI benefits are layered and unforgiving. A single month of earnings above the SGA threshold, if mishandled, can trigger a cascade of problems — benefit suspension, overpayment demands, and the burden of re-establishing eligibility. Before you accept part-time work, consult with an experienced SSDI attorney who can:

• Calculate how your specific earnings interact with your Trial Work Period and SGA limits
• Advise on whether impairment-related work expenses can reduce your countable income
• Help you report work activity correctly to minimize overpayment risk
• Represent you if the SSA initiates a continuing disability review as a result of your employment

Texas SSDI recipients have successfully maintained benefits while working part-time — but doing so safely requires careful planning and precise compliance with SSA rules.

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 Work Credits in Alaska: What You Need
• SSDI Trial Work Period: Montana Guide
• SSDI Benefits for COPD in Vermont