How Much Can I Work and Still Get Disability Benefits?

When you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, your earnings directly impacts your monthly payments. The Social Security Administration (SSA) sets a specific income threshold that determines whether you can work while collecting disability payments. These limits change each year.

The Keener Law Firm has successfully guided thousands of SSDI beneficiaries through these complex earning regulations, helping them maximize their income while protecting their benefits. Our extensive experience with SSA policies ensures you make informed decisions about returning to work without jeopardizing your financial security.

What Is the Current SSDI Earning Limit for 2025?

The SSA establishes monthly earning limits called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amounts. For 2025, the SGA limit is $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals receiving SSDI benefits. If you’re blind, the limit increases to $2,700 per month. These amounts represent your gross earnings, before taxes and deductions. However, certain deductions can bring you beneath the earnings threshold.

When your monthly earnings exceed these thresholds consistently, the SSA considers you capable of substantial gainful activity, which results in the suspension or termination of your disability benefits. The key word here is “consistently” – occasional earnings above the SGA limit may not immediately affect your benefits, but a pattern of higher earnings will trigger a review.

Can I Work Part-Time While Receiving SSDI Benefits?

Yes, you can work part-time while receiving SSDI benefits, provided your earnings stay below the SGA limits. The SSA encourages disability beneficiaries to attempt returning to work through various programs designed to support your recovery. Part-time work can supplement your disability income without jeopardizing your benefits. One of the programs the SSA promotes is called the Trial Work Period (TWP).

How Does the Trial Work Period Affect My Earnings?

The Trial Work Period (TWP) allows SSDI beneficiaries to test their ability to work for nine months within a 60-month period without losing benefits. During 2025, any month where you earn more than $1,160 counts as a trial work month.

During your trial work period, you receive full SSDI benefits regardless of how much you earn, as long as you continue to have a disabling condition. This program is designed as a safety net that encourages you explore your work capacity without immediately risking your disability income. Once you complete nine trial work months, you enter an extended period during which your you may receive benefits if your income falls below the SGA. This extended period lasts for three years.

What Happens During the Extended Period of Service?

During the three year extended period following your completion of the Trial Work Period, you receive SSDI benefits for any month your earnings fall below the SGA limit. If your earnings exceed the SGA limit during the EPS, your benefits stop for that month, but you don’t need to file a new application to restart them.

The Extended Period of Service provides flexibility for individuals whose work capacity fluctuates due to their disability. You can essentially turn your benefits on and off based on your monthly earnings without losing your usual benefit amount or going through the lengthy application process again. The Keener Law Firm’s attorneys have helped numerous clients strategically plan their work schedules during this period to optimize both their earnings and benefit security.

How Does Medicare Coverage Continue While Working?

One of the most significant advantages of SSDI work incentives is the continuation of Medicare coverage. After your cash benefits stop because of your increased work activity, you can still keep Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) for at least 93 months. Medicare Part B (medical insurance) continues, but you will need to pay the monthly premiums.

This extended Medicare coverage removes a major barrier that prevents many disabled individuals from attempting to return to work. Healthcare costs are often the largest expense for people with disabilities, and having Medicare coverage provides essential security during their transition back to work.

What Income Doesn’t Count Toward SGA Limits?

Not all income counts toward your SGA limits. The SSA excludes several types of earnings when calculating substantial gainful activity (SGA), including the following:

• Impairment-related work expenses (IRWE). You can deduct from your gross earnings any expenses you incur relating to your disability that facilitate your working. That means costs for items and services you need because of your disability to perform your job, such as medications, medical devices, transportation modifications, or attendant care services.
• Subsidized employment income also receives special consideration. If your employer provides special assistance or accommodations that effectively reduce your productivity, the SSA may not count the full value of your wages toward the SGA determination.
• Unpaid help from others, special equipment provided by your employer, and flexible scheduling arrangements also factor into how the SSA evaluates your actual earning capacity versus your gross income.

When Should You Report Earnings to Social Security?

You must report any work activity and earnings to the SSA in a timely manner. The administration requires notification within 10 days of starting work or when your earnings change significantly. Failure to report work activity can result in benefit overpayments that you’ll need to repay, along with potential penalties.

You should keep detailed records of your earnings, work hours, and any work-related expenses. This documentation proves is especially valuable if questions arise about your benefit status or if you need to prove that your earnings fall within acceptable limits. At The Keener Law Firm, we’ve seen that proper documentation can make the difference between continued benefits and expensive overpayment demands by the Social Security Administration. That’s why we help our clients establish easy-to-follow, comprehensive record-keeping systems from the start.

How Can Disability Attorneys Help Maximize Your Benefits?

Working while receiving SSDI benefits involves complex rules and regulations that can significantly impact your financial well-being. Experienced disability attorneys understand how work incentive programs work and can help you make informed decisions about when and how you return to work.

With over two decades of experience representing disabled individuals, The Keener Law Firm has developed proven strategies for helping clients successfully return to work while preserving their benefit security. Our track record of successful disability claim approvals and appeals demonstrates our thorough knowledge of how the SSA evaluates your work activity and how it applies these intricate regulations.

The balance between disability benefits and employment requires careful planning and ongoing attention to SSA regulations. Don’t risk your financial stability by going it alone.

Contact The Keener Law Firm today to discuss how we can help you maximize both your work income and benefit security while protecting your long-term interests.