Social Security Disability Insurance delivers regular monthly payments to people who have a medical condition preventing them from maintaining full-time employment. Many SSDI recipients question their ability to earn money without endangering their benefits. If you are receiving SSDI or planning to apply, one of the most important questions you may have is, “How much can I earn without affecting my SSDI?”
The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) regulations regarding work activity, income limits, and trial work periods determine the answer. Knowing these thresholds helps you maintain your benefits when seeking part-time work or limited employment options.
Understanding Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Limits
As of 2025, the Social Security Administration sets the earnings limit for Substantial Gainful Activity at $1,620 monthly for non-blind people and $2,700 monthly for blind individuals. If you earn more than the set limits for substantial gainful activity, your SSDI benefits may be suspended.
Participants must keep track of their earnings to stay beneath the SSA limits in order to keep their benefits. The Social Security Administration updates these figures each year based on the national average wage index.
The Trial Work Period (TWP)
SSDI beneficiaries can evaluate their work capacity during a nine-month Trial Work Period without losing their benefits. Earning over $1,160 in any month during 2025 designates that month as a TWP month.
The months should take place within a continuous 60-month time frame, but they do not need to happen back-to-back. You may earn unlimited income during the TWP as long as you report your work activity and maintain your eligibility under SSA’s disability guidelines.
Navigating the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
Successful completion of the Ticket to Work Program transitions you into a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). Throughout the 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility, you will receive SSDI benefits for any month when your earnings do not surpass the SGA threshold of $1,620 for non-blind persons in 2025.
Should your income surpass the set limit, you will face benefit suspension in that specific month. Your benefits can resume during the EPE without submitting a new application if your earnings drop below the SGA level.
Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Income Adjustments
Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) represent the costs for items or services that workers with disabilities require to perform their work duties. The SSA permits you to subtract these expenses from your income to assess whether your work activity surpasses the SGA limit.
Specialized transportation options, along with assistive devices and personal care attendants, serve as examples of work-related expenses. Considering your IRWEs lets you make an income above the SGA limit without losing SSDI benefits.
Qualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits
A significant number of individuals question whether their health status meets the criteria for Social Security Disability benefits. To qualify for SSDI benefits, you need more than a medical diagnosis because eligibility depends on how much your condition restricts your ability to work. The following represent common conditions that lead to SSDI approval:
- Severe back injuries or spinal disorders
- Heart disease or other cardiovascular conditions
- Autoimmune diseases like lupus or multiple sclerosis
- Vision or hearing impairments, including legal blindness
- Neurological conditions such as epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease
- Cancer undergoing active treatment
- Mental health disorders such as depression, PTSD, or schizophrenia
FAQs
Q: How Much Can I Earn Without Affecting My SSDI Benefits in 2025?
A: The SSA defines income above $1,620 per month as Substantial Gainful Activity for non-blind people in 2025. Benefits from SSDI could be suspended if income exceeds the specified SGA threshold. The SGA earnings limit for statutorily blind individuals stands at $2,700 each month. To maintain eligibility, you must monitor your earnings to keep them under these limits.
Q: Does Passive Income Count Toward the SSDI Earnings Limit?
A: Passive income typically remains outside the scope of SSDI’s earning restrictions. The SSDI guidelines assess earned income through wages or earnings from active self-employment work. Dividends, rental income, and investment interest generally do not affect SSDI eligibility because they represent passive income sources.
The Social Security Administration applies extra review to self-employment earnings regardless of their small amounts. Complete transparency requires you to report all income sources, regardless of whether the income is earned.
Q: What Happens If I Accidentally Earn More Than the Allowed Amount?
A: The SSA may halt your SSDI benefits and demand repayment for overpayments if your earnings exceed the permitted amount. The SSA will examine whether the excess income occurred during a Trial Work Period or because of a single exception.
You can prevent penalties most effectively by reporting your earnings to the SSA without delay. Benefits may be restored when earnings fall back to qualifying levels during the Extended Period of Eligibility.
Q: How Often Does the SSA Update the SGA Limit?
A: The SSA adjusts the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit annually according to variations in the national average wage index. The modification guarantees that the threshold aligns with existing economic conditions. SSDI recipients who stay informed about annual changes can prevent accidental benefit loss by avoiding the SGA limit. The SSA releases its yearly updates every fall to inform about the next year’s changes.
Q: Why Is the SSDI Earnings Limit Higher for Blind Individuals?
A: The Social Security Administration (SSA) sets higher SSDI earnings limits for blind people because it understands that blindness creates special and more severe employment challenges.
The Social Security Administration sets a distinct earnings threshold of $2,700 per month for blind individuals in 2025, as their accessible job opportunities tend to be both limited and unstable over time. The SSA has established a higher limit to balance equitable work incentives with beneficiary protection.
Contact Gade & Parekh, LLP Today for Help With SSDI
At Gade & Parekh, LLP, our legal team helps individuals make sense of the SSDI process from start to finish. If you are considering returning to work or need help protecting your benefits, contact our office today to schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable Social Security Disability attorney.
