Navigating SSDI benefits can be as complex as the application process itself, especially for those who wish to work while receiving disability payments. “Can you work while on SSDI?” is a question we often get from our clients. The short answer is yes, but SSDI beneficiaries must be aware of the rules and limitations.
Whether you are approved for SSDI while working or are considering pursuing employment, including self-employment, as an SSDI beneficiary, it is key to understand the earnings thresholds the Social Security Administration (SSA) imposes and what actions may lead to suspension of benefits.
Understanding SSA Income Limits for Those Receiving SSDI Benefits
In 2023, approximately 514,660 people received SSDI benefits in California. Many of these individuals may be interested in supplementing their income through employment, including those not yet close to retirement age or who retain some capacity to work despite their disability.
Additionally, since the SSA carries out periodic eligibility reviews, it may also be in a beneficiary’s interest to explore work opportunities they could engage in once their SSDI benefits are discontinued.
The SSA does not discourage applicants from working. Through the agency’s Ticket to Work Program (Ticket), SSDI beneficiaries can receive vocational training specially tailored to their rehabilitative needs and job search assistance.
Beneficiaries are also encouraged to work through the Trial Work Period incentive program, which allows them to continue receiving full SSDI benefits for nine cumulative months within a 60-month period, regardless of how much they earn.
Once the Trial Work Period incentive is over, an applicant can continue to receive their total SSDI benefits for 36 months as long as they earn below $1,620, or $2,700 for those who are blind. This is the limit as of 2025. Earnings can be higher if a beneficiary incurs expenses associated with carrying out their work due to their disability, as these expenses are deducted from the total monthly earnings.
These incentive programs help provide more breathing room for beneficiaries who are worried about losing their SSDI benefits but may need additional financial resources, especially in a state as expensive as California. Around 4.6 million Californians were reported to live below the poverty line in 2023, 12% of the total population.
Those in California living with a disability, around 7.3% of the state’s population between 2019 and 2023, are especially vulnerable to financial insecurity as the cost of living rises and they accumulate ongoing medical expenses. It is essential that beneficiaries are afforded the opportunity to earn additional income without having to worry about losing their benefits.
What Happens if a Beneficiary Violates SSDI Work Rules?
SSDI recipients who do not adhere to the SSA work and income limits for their program may risk losing their disability benefits. Additionally, they may face financial and legal penalties for failure to report changes in their eligibility status.
An SSDI beneficiary should contact the SSA in the following cases:
- They start or stop working
- There are changes in their work duties, hours, or pay
- They incur work-related expenses due to their disability
If the SSA discovers that a beneficiary provided false information or failed to report changes that impact eligibility, including work and income changes, the agency may terminate benefits for 6 months. Subsequent failures in reporting result in longer suspension periods. Beneficiaries may also be required to repay any overpayments they were issued.
Even if a beneficiary’s SSDI payments are terminated due to increases in their income, they may request a reinstatement of benefits within 5 years of when benefits ceased without having to go through the application process again. It is thus imperative to report any work-related problems and secure the ability to receive payments in the future.
FAQs
Q: Can You Work and Receive SSDI at the Same Time?
A: Yes, you can work and receive SSDI payments at the same time. Under the Trial Work Period incentive program, beneficiaries can work up to 9 months within a 60-month period without earning limits and still receive their full SSDI payments. Under the Extended Period of Eligibility incentive program, beneficiaries can work and still be eligible to receive payments for up to 36 months as long as their earnings are not “substantial.”
Q: How Much Can I Earn Without Affecting My SSDI?
A: How much a person can earn without affecting their SSDI payments varies from the time they start working. Beneficiaries can earn above $1,160 and continue to receive disability payments for 9 months through the Trial Work Period incentive program. During the Extended Period of Eligibility program, SSDI recipients may continue to receive full payments as long as they earn below $1,620 per month, or $2,700 for those who are blind.
Q: How Many Hours Can You Work Under SSDI?
A: There are no caps on the number of hours an SSDI beneficiary can work. Rather, it is their total monthly income that affects their eligibility, along with whether they continue to suffer from the disability, especially once they have used up the Trial Work Period incentive. The current income limit for non-blind SSDI beneficiaries is $1,620 per month.
Q: Will I Lose My Disability if I Work Full-Time?
A: You may lose your disability benefits if you work full-time. One of the reasons for this is that you may exceed the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit, which currently stands at $1,620 per month. Additionally, failing to report changes in your work status and income may lead to loss of benefits, even if earnings are below the established SGA threshold.
You Can Work While on SSDI Under Certain Conditions
There are plenty of opportunities for those who receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits to work and earn an additional income without it affecting their benefits. As long as beneficiaries are aware of the income limits, which can vary depending on whether or not they have utilized available SSA work incentives, they may be able to return to work.
Gade & Parekh, LLP, is a Sacramento-based law firm dedicated to assisting the Northern California community with their Social Security Disability (SSD) claims and benefits. Our team prides itself on its track record of success in helping disabled workers and their families receive their full disability benefits, even if they decide to work.
If you want to learn more about the possibility of working while on SSDI without affecting your benefits, contact our office to speak with a knowledgeable disability lawyer.
