Working While on SSDI in Kansas: Know the Rules

Working While on SSDI in Kansas: Know the Rules

Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits does not necessarily mean you must stop working entirely. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has established specific programs and rules that allow beneficiaries to test their ability to return to work without immediately losing their benefits. Understanding these rules is critical for Kansas residents who want to explore employment while protecting the disability coverage they worked hard to earn.

The Trial Work Period: Your Safety Net for Returning to Work

One of the most important provisions in SSDI law is the Trial Work Period (TWP). During the TWP, you can work and receive full SSDI benefits regardless of how much you earn, as long as you continue to have a disabling condition. The SSA grants you nine trial work months within a rolling 60-month window.

For 2024, a month counts as a trial work month if your gross earnings exceed $1,110. These nine months do not need to be consecutive. Once you exhaust all nine trial work months, the SSA evaluates whether your work activity qualifies as Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).

Kansas residents should be aware that while the TWP is a federal program, your local Social Security field office in cities like Wichita, Topeka, or Kansas City can help you track your used trial work months and answer questions about your specific case.

Substantial Gainful Activity and the SGA Threshold

After completing your Trial Work Period, the SSA applies the Substantial Gainful Activity standard to determine if you can continue receiving benefits. In 2024, the SGA limit for non-blind individuals is $1,550 per month in gross earnings. For statutorily blind beneficiaries, the threshold is $2,590 per month.

If your earnings consistently exceed the SGA threshold after your trial work months are exhausted, the SSA may determine that you are no longer disabled and terminate your benefits. However, earning below the SGA threshold generally means your benefits continue uninterrupted.

Several factors can affect how the SSA calculates your countable earnings:

• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs): Costs you pay out-of-pocket for items or services needed to work because of your disability—such as medication, medical equipment, or transportation to medical appointments—can be deducted from your gross earnings before the SGA calculation.
• Subsidies: If your employer provides special accommodations or supervision beyond what is normally provided, that value may be excluded from your countable earnings.
• Unpaid work: Volunteer work generally does not count toward SGA, but the SSA may review it if it demonstrates a significant level of functional capacity.

The Extended Period of Eligibility

After your nine trial work months are used, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During this window, you can receive SSDI benefits for any month in which your earnings fall below the SGA level, without having to reapply for benefits. This creates a critical safety net for Kansas workers who may experience fluctuations in employment or income due to their medical condition.

For example, if you return to work, earn above SGA for several months, but then suffer a medical relapse that forces you to reduce your hours, you can receive benefits again for those lower-earning months—provided you are still within the 36-month EPE window. Once this period ends, any month your earnings exceed SGA will result in benefit suspension, and continued work above SGA will eventually lead to termination.

Tracking where you stand within your EPE is essential. Keep detailed records of your monthly earnings and contact the SSA promptly whenever your work situation changes.

Ticket to Work and Kansas Vocational Rehabilitation

The SSA's Ticket to Work program offers SSDI beneficiaries another pathway to employment. By assigning your Ticket to an approved Employment Network (EN) or state vocational rehabilitation agency, you can receive career counseling, job placement assistance, and other support services—often at no cost.

In Kansas, the Kansas Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) is a key resource. DVR partners with the SSA's Ticket to Work program and provides services to individuals with disabilities who want to enter or re-enter the workforce. Kansas DVR offices are located statewide, including locations in Wichita, Topeka, Salina, Garden City, and Hutchinson.

Participating in Ticket to Work also provides protections: while your Ticket is in use and you are making timely progress toward your employment goals, the SSA will not conduct Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) based on medical improvement. This can give you peace of mind as you explore your employment options.

Reporting Your Work Activity and Avoiding Overpayments

One of the most important obligations for SSDI recipients who work is timely and accurate reporting. Failing to report your earnings to the SSA can result in significant overpayments that you will be required to repay—sometimes years later. Overpayments can cause serious financial hardship and may even lead to collection actions.

You must report the following to the SSA as soon as they occur:

• Starting or stopping work
• Changes in your pay rate or hours worked
• Starting or stopping self-employment activity
• Changes in work-related expenses

You can report work activity by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local SSA field office in Kansas, or using the SSA's online My Social Security portal. Keeping pay stubs, employer letters, and any documentation of work-related expenses is strongly advised. If you are ever found to have received an overpayment, you have the right to request a waiver or appeal the determination.

Kansas residents facing complex work and benefit situations should also consider consulting with an SSDI attorney who can help you navigate reporting requirements, calculate countable earnings, and respond to any SSA correspondence or adverse decisions. The rules governing work activity are highly fact-specific, and a small mistake in reporting can have significant long-term consequences for your benefits.

Working while on SSDI is possible, but it requires careful planning, diligent record-keeping, and a clear understanding of how the SSA's rules apply to your situation. Taking full advantage of programs like the Trial Work Period, Extended Period of Eligibility, and Ticket to Work can help you transition back to employment—or supplement your income—without unnecessarily jeopardizing the benefits you depend on.

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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