Working While on SSDI: What Arkansas Recipients Must Know

Working While on SSDI: What Arkansas Recipients Must Know

Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not automatically mean you can never work again. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has established specific rules that allow beneficiaries to test their ability to work without immediately losing their benefits. Understanding these rules is critical for Arkansas residents who want to explore employment without putting their monthly payments at risk.

The Trial Work Period Explained

The SSA offers every SSDI recipient a Trial Work Period (TWP) — one of the most important protections available to disabled workers. During the TWP, you can work and earn income without any reduction to your SSDI benefits, regardless of how much you earn.

The TWP consists of 9 months within a rolling 60-month window. In 2025, a month counts as a TWP month if you earn more than $1,110 in gross wages or work more than 80 hours in self-employment. These 9 months do not need to be consecutive. Once you have used all 9 TWP months, the SSA evaluates whether your work rises to the level of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).

For 2025, the SGA threshold is $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals ($2,700 for blind beneficiaries). If you earn above the SGA limit after exhausting your TWP, the SSA may determine you are no longer disabled and terminate your benefits.

The 36-Month Extended Period of Eligibility

After your Trial Work Period ends, you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which lasts 36 consecutive months. During the EPE, you are entitled to receive your full SSDI benefit for any month in which your earnings fall below the SGA threshold.

This is a significant safety net. If you attempt work, earn above SGA, and then your condition worsens or your employment ends, you can receive benefits again during the EPE without filing a new application. Arkansas residents who experience fluctuating health conditions particularly benefit from understanding this window, since medical setbacks can interrupt employment unexpectedly.

If your earnings drop below SGA at any point during the EPE, benefits resume automatically for that month. Once the 36-month EPE window closes, however, earning above SGA will terminate your benefits entirely, and reinstating them requires a new disability application — a process that can take months or years.

Reporting Work Activity to the SSA

One of the most common and costly mistakes SSDI recipients make is failing to report work activity to the SSA. Federal law requires beneficiaries to promptly notify the SSA when they begin working, change jobs, or experience a change in earnings. Failing to report can result in overpayments that the SSA will demand be repaid — sometimes amounting to thousands of dollars.

Arkansas beneficiaries should report work activity by:

• Calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213
• Visiting the local Arkansas SSA field office (locations in Little Rock, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, and other cities)
• Using your personal my Social Security online account at ssa.gov
• Submitting written notice to your local SSA office by certified mail

Report the name of your employer, your start date, your hours worked, and your gross earnings. Keep copies of every submission. If you receive an overpayment notice, you have the right to appeal and, in many cases, request a waiver if the overpayment was not your fault and repayment would cause financial hardship.

Work Incentives and Special Rules for Arkansas Recipients

The SSA offers several additional work incentives that Arkansas SSDI recipients should know about:

• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE): Costs directly related to your disability that allow you to work — such as medication, adaptive equipment, or transportation to medical appointments — can be deducted from your gross earnings when calculating SGA. This can keep your countable income below the SGA threshold even if your gross wages exceed it.
• Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS): This program allows you to set aside income or resources toward a specific work goal, such as education, vocational training, or starting a business. Amounts set aside under an approved PASS plan are excluded from SGA calculations.
• Ticket to Work Program: Beneficiaries between ages 18 and 64 can assign their "ticket" to an Employment Network or State Vocational Rehabilitation agency to receive free employment services. Participating in Ticket to Work can also protect you from Continuing Disability Reviews while making progress toward your work goals.
• Expedited Reinstatement: If your benefits ended because of SGA and you stop working within 5 years due to the same disability, you can request reinstatement without filing a new application. During the reinstatement review — which can take up to 6 months — the SSA may provide up to 6 months of provisional benefits.

Arkansas residents can access the Ticket to Work program through the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) agency, which offers vocational counseling, job placement assistance, and training programs tailored to individuals with disabilities.

How Work Affects Medicare Coverage

Many Arkansas SSDI recipients rely on Medicare for health coverage, and the fear of losing that coverage can be a major barrier to returning to work. Fortunately, Medicare protections extend well beyond the point at which cash benefits end.

After completing your TWP, you are entitled to at least 93 consecutive months (nearly 8 years) of continued Medicare Part A and Part B coverage, even if your SSDI cash payments stop due to SGA. This extended period gives Arkansas beneficiaries a substantial window to stabilize employment and obtain employer-sponsored health coverage before Medicare protection ends.

If your Medicare coverage eventually ends due to work and you later become unable to work again, you may qualify for Medicare for People with Disabilities Who Work, which allows you to purchase Part A and Part B coverage at reduced rates.

The decision to work while receiving SSDI involves navigating a complex web of federal rules, deadlines, and financial calculations. A single reporting error or misunderstanding of the SGA threshold can result in benefit termination or a costly overpayment demand. Before accepting new employment or increasing your hours, consult with an experienced SSDI attorney who can review your specific situation, help you document work expenses, and ensure your rights are protected at every stage of the process.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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