The earnings limit on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance, you can earn money from work, but there is a limit. In 2024, you can earn up to $1,550 per month without affecting your benefits. If you earn more than that in any month, your benefits stop for that month — though the amount you've already earned that year may restart your benefits later.
This limit changes each year. The Social Security Administration raises it annually based on national wage averages. You should check the current year's limit on the Social Security website or call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the exact amount before you start working.
The earnings limit applies to work income only — money you earn from a job or self-employment. It does not include investment income, rental income, pensions, or other benefits you may receive.
Key Takeaways
- You can earn up to a set monthly amount (currently $1,550 in 2024) without losing your SSDI benefits for that month.
- Earnings above the limit cause your benefits to stop for that month, but you may restart benefits later in the year.
- The earnings limit increases each year and applies only to work income, not investment income or pensions.
- You must report your earnings to Social Security within 30 days of earning more than the limit.
- The Trial Work Period allows nine months of unlimited earnings within a rolling 60-month window without losing benefits.
The Trial Work Period: Nine months of unlimited earnings
Social Security offers a Trial Work Period specifically designed to let you test your ability to work without when ready losing benefits. During this period, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI payment each month.
The Trial Work Period lasts nine months, but they do not have to be consecutive. You can use one month now, stop working, and use another month later — as long as all nine months fall within a rolling 60-month window. Once you use all nine months, the regular earnings limit kicks in.
To count as a Trial Work Period month, you must earn at least $240 in that month (this amount also changes yearly). Months when you earn less than $240 do not count against your nine months, so you can work part-time without using them up.
What happens when you earn over the limit
If you earn more than the monthly limit in a single month, your SSDI payment stops for that month only. You do not lose your benefits permanently — they resume the following month if your earnings drop back below the limit.
However, Social Security tracks your earnings over the entire year. If you earn significantly over the limit across multiple months, you may enter what is called the Extended Period of may be able to access. During this period (usually 36 months), your benefits stop in any month you earn over the limit, but you can restart them in months you earn less. This gives you flexibility to work part-time or take breaks without permanently losing your status as a beneficiary.
After the Extended Period of may be able to access ends, if you are still working and earning over the limit, your benefits stop and you enter a five-year period where you cannot receive SSDI. However, you can restart benefits during this five-year window if your earnings drop below the limit again.
Reporting your earnings to Social Security
You are required to report your earnings to Social Security within 30 days of earning more than the monthly limit. You can report by phone at 1-800-772-1213, online through your my Social Security account, or in person at your local Social Security office.
When you report, have the following information ready: your name, Social Security number, the month you earned over the limit, the total amount you earned that month, and the name and address of your employer. If you are self-employed, bring records of your net income (income minus business expenses).
If you do not report your earnings and Social Security discovers you earned over the limit, you may have to repay the benefits you received that month. It is better to report promptly and let Social Security adjust your payment than to wait and face a debt later.
Self-employment and SSDI earnings
If you are self-employed, the earnings limit still applies, but Social Security counts your net income — what you earn after business expenses — not your total revenue. This means if you run a small business and your expenses are high, your countable earnings may be lower than your gross income.
You will need to provide Social Security with records of your income and expenses each month you earn over the limit. Keep receipts, invoices, and bank statements to document what you spent on the business. If you cannot clearly show your expenses, Social Security will count your gross income instead.
Self-employed work can be complicated for SSDI purposes. If you plan to start a business or expand your current work, contact Social Security before you begin so they can explain how your specific situation will be treated.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has a different earnings rule
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead of SSDI, the earnings rules are different. SSI allows you to earn $65 per month plus half of anything above that without losing benefits. This is a much lower threshold than SSDI.
SSI is a needs-based program for people with low income and few resources, while SSDI is based on your work history. If you receive SSI and want to work, ask Social Security which earnings rules explore to you before you start, because the two programs have very different limits.
Planning to work: Questions to ask Social Security
Before you start working or increase your hours, contact Social Security and ask these specific questions:
- What is the current monthly earnings limit for SSDI this year?
- How many Trial Work Period months do I have left, and when do they expire?
- If I earn over the limit, will I enter the Extended Period of may be able to access?
- How do I report my earnings, and what documents do I need to bring?
- If I am self-employed, what counts as a business expense for earnings purposes?
- Will my earnings affect any other benefits I receive, such as Medicare or Medicaid?
You can ask these questions by calling 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local Social Security office, or logging into your my Social Security account and sending a message. Write down the answers and the name of the person who helped you, in case you need to refer back to the conversation later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work part-time and keep my full SSDI payment?
Yes, if you earn less than the monthly limit (currently $1,550 in 2024). You can work part-time indefinitely as long as you stay under that amount each month. If you have Trial Work Period months remaining, you can earn any amount during those months without losing benefits.
What if I earn over the limit for just one month?
Your SSDI payment stops for that month only. Your benefits resume the next month if your earnings drop back below the limit. You do not lose your benefits permanently, and you do not have to repay anything — you straightforward do not receive a payment for the month you earned over the limit.
Do I lose Medicare if my earnings are too high?
No. Your Medicare coverage continues even if your SSDI benefits stop due to high earnings. You can keep working and earning over the limit while maintaining your health insurance. However, you may have to pay premiums for Medicare Part B and Part D if your income is high enough.
Can I use my Trial Work Period months all at once or do they have to be spread out?
You can use them however you want within the 60-month window. You could use all nine months in a row, or spread them out over several years. Only months where you earn at least $240 count toward your nine months, so you have flexibility to work part-time without using them up.
What if I was told I could not work because of my disability?
The fact that you were approved for SSDI does not mean you can never work. SSDI is based on your condition at the time you applied. Many people's conditions improve, or they find they can do some work even with limitations. The Trial Work Period and earnings limit exist specifically to let you test whether you can work without losing your safety net.