What kinds of work you can do while receiving benefits

You can work while receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), but there are limits on how much you can earn before your benefits reduce or stop. The amount you can earn changes each year, and the rules differ between SSDI and SSI. SSDI has a higher earnings threshold than SSI, and both programs have trial work periods that let you test your ability to work without when ready losing benefits.

The type of work itself does not matter — you can do part-time jobs, self-employment, freelance work, or return to your previous field. What matters is the monthly income you report. Many people use work incentives built into the programs to gradually increase their hours and earnings while keeping some or all of their benefits during the transition.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI allows you to earn up to a certain amount per month (the amount changes yearly) before benefits begin to reduce, while SSI has a lower threshold and counts more types of income.
  • A trial work period lets SSDI recipients work for up to nine months without losing benefits, even if earnings are high, to test whether you can sustain employment.
  • Work incentives like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) can reduce your countable income and help you keep more benefits while working.
  • Self-employment, part-time work, and remote jobs are all options, but you must report all earnings to Social Security each month to avoid overpayment.
  • Your local Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project offers free counseling to help you understand how work will affect your specific benefits.

How much you can earn before benefits change

SSDI has a substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit — a monthly earnings threshold set by Social Security. If you earn more than this amount, Social Security may decide you are no longer disabled and can work, which ends your benefits. The SGA limit changes each year; you can find the current amount on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

SSI has a lower earnings limit and also counts unearned income (like gifts or savings) toward your benefit reduction. With SSI, $65 of monthly earnings are not counted, and then half of the remaining earnings reduce your benefit dollar-for-dollar. SSDI does not count unearned income the same way, which is one reason SSDI recipients often have more flexibility to work.

Both programs let you report your earnings monthly, so you can adjust your work hours if you are approaching the limit. If you go over the limit, you report it, and your benefits adjust — you do not lose them when ready or face a penalty for trying to work.

Trial work periods and extended benefits

SSDI includes a trial work period that lasts up to nine months. During this time, you can earn any amount without losing your SSDI benefit, as long as you report your earnings. This is designed to let you test whether you can actually sustain work without the risk of losing your safety net when ready.

After the trial work period ends, you enter an extended may be able to access period that lasts 36 months. During this time, you keep your benefits for any month your earnings fall below the SGA limit, even if you earned more than the limit in other months. This gives you a cushion if your work hours vary or if you have months when you cannot work due to your condition.

SSI does not have a formal trial work period, but it does have a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which is a written plan that lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without those amounts counting toward your SSI limit. A PASS can run for several years and is useful if you are saving for education, equipment, or business startup costs.

Work incentives that reduce your countable income

Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are costs you pay to work because of your disability — things like medications, medical equipment, transportation to treatment, or personal care information. You can subtract IRWE from your gross earnings before Social Security counts your income. For example, if you earn $1,500 a month but spend $400 on disability-related work costs, Social Security counts only $1,100 toward the SGA limit.

A Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside part of your income for a specific goal — finishing school, starting a business, or buying equipment you need to work. The money you set aside does not count as income for SSI purposes, and you can use it over months or years. You write the plan with a PASS planner, usually at your local vocational rehabilitation agency or a WIPA project.

Plans for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) and IRWE both require paperwork and planning, but they can make a real difference in how much you can earn while keeping your benefits. Your local WIPA project can help you figure out which incentives fit your situation.

Self-employment and remote work options

You can be self-employed while on SSDI or SSI. Social Security counts your net profit (income minus business expenses) as your earnings. This means you can deduct legitimate business costs — supplies, equipment, rent for a workspace, software subscriptions — before Social Security counts what you earned. Keeping clear records of income and expenses is essential, both for Social Security and for tax purposes.

Remote work and freelance jobs work the same way as any other job: you report the income you receive, and Social Security counts it toward your earnings limit. Many people find remote work helpful because it offers flexibility if you have good days and bad days, or if you need to adjust your schedule around medical appointments. However, you still must report all income, even if it is irregular.

If you are thinking about starting a business or doing freelance work, talk to a WIPA counselor before you start. They can help you understand how your business income will be counted and whether work incentives like IRWE or PASS could help you keep more of your benefits while you build the business.

How to report work and earnings to Social Security

You must report all work and earnings to Social Security each month. For SSDI, you report through your My Social Security account online, by phone, or by mail. For SSI, you report to your local Social Security office. Reporting is not optional — if you do not report and Social Security finds out you were working, you can be overpaid and have to repay the money, even if the overpayment was not your fault.

When you report, you tell Social Security how many hours you worked, how much you earned, and the name of your employer (or that you are self-employed). If you have work expenses that reduce your income — like IRWE — you report those too. Social Security uses this information to calculate whether your benefits should change.

Many people worry about reporting because they think it will end their benefits. In reality, reporting is how you stay in compliance and how work incentives actually work. If you do not report, you risk overpayment and losing benefits anyway. If you do report, you may be able to keep some or all of your benefits while you work, depending on your earnings and which program you are on.

Finding jobs and getting support

Your state's vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency can help you find work, get training, or buy equipment you need to work. VR services are free and are designed specifically for people with disabilities. You can contact your state VR agency through the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center website or by searching "[your state] vocational rehabilitation".

The Ticket to Work program is a Social Security initiative that lets you work with an employment network or vocational rehabilitation agency without losing your benefits. You receive a ticket that you give to a provider, and they help you find and keep a job. If you do not reach your SGA limit, your benefits continue. If you do reach it, you have a grace period before benefits stop, giving you time to see if the job will last.

Your local WIPA project offers free, confidential counseling about how work will affect your benefits. They can explain your specific situation, help you plan your work goals, and connect you with other resources. To find your WIPA project, search "WIPA [your state]" or call 1-866-968-7842.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work part-time while on disability?

Yes. Part-time work is common for people on SSDI and SSI. You report your hours and earnings each month, and Social Security adjusts your benefits based on how much you earn. Many people use part-time work to test their ability to work during the trial work period before committing to full-time employment.

What happens if I earn too much one month?

For SSDI, if you earn above the SGA limit in one month, Social Security counts that month as a work month but you keep your benefit. If you have too many high-earning months, your benefits may stop, but you enter the extended may be able to access period where you can keep benefits in low-earning months. For SSI, your benefit reduces based on how much you earned that month. Either way, you do not face a penalty — your benefit straightforward adjusts.

Do I have to tell my employer I am on disability?

No. You do not have to disclose your disability status to your employer. You only need to tell Social Security about your work and earnings. However, if you need workplace accommodations because of your disability, you may choose to disclose to your employer and request those accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Can I use a work incentive if I am self-employed?

Yes. IRWE and PASS both work with self-employment. For IRWE, you deduct disability-related work expenses from your business income before Social Security counts your earnings. For PASS, you set aside part of your business income for a specific goal. A WIPA counselor can help you structure your business finances to take advantage of these incentives.

What if I try to work and find out I cannot do it?

Your benefits do not stop when ready. During the trial work period (SSDI) or extended may be able to access period, you can reduce your work hours or stop working, and your benefits continue as long as you report your earnings. If you stop working altogether, you can go back on benefits without reapplying. Social Security understands that disability can be unpredictable.