Can You Work While Receiving SSDI Benefits?

Many Social Security Disability Insurance recipients worry that earning any income will immediately end their benefits. The reality is more nuanced. The Social Security Administration has built specific work incentive programs that allow SSDI recipients to test their ability to return to work without automatically losing coverage. Understanding how these rules apply — including considerations relevant to Minnesota residents — can mean the difference between financial stability and an unexpected loss of benefits.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Threshold

The foundational concept governing work while on SSDI is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). If you earn above the SGA limit, SSA considers you capable of working and may terminate your disability benefits. For 2025, the SGA threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 per month for those who are blind.

Gross wages — not net income after taxes — are what SSA evaluates. This catches many recipients off guard. If your employer pays you $1,600 before taxes, SSA counts the full $1,600 against the SGA limit regardless of your take-home pay. Self-employment income is calculated differently, with SSA looking at net earnings after business expenses.

In Minnesota, where many recipients work in healthcare, manufacturing, or seasonal industries, understanding how your specific pay structure interacts with SGA limits is critical before accepting any job offer.

The Trial Work Period: Your Protected Window

Before SSA can permanently terminate benefits based on your earnings, you are entitled to a Trial Work Period (TWP). This is one of the most important work incentive protections available to SSDI recipients.

The TWP gives you nine months — which do not need to be consecutive — within a rolling 60-month window to test your ability to work at any earnings level. During these nine trial months, you continue receiving your full SSDI benefit regardless of how much you earn. A month counts as a trial work month if you earn more than $1,110 (the 2025 threshold) or work more than 80 hours in self-employment.

Once you exhaust your nine trial work months, SSA evaluates whether your earnings constitute SGA. If they do, your benefits enter a different phase governed by the Extended Period of Eligibility.

The Extended Period of Eligibility and Grace Period

After your Trial Work Period ends, SSA grants a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, you receive your SSDI benefit for any month your earnings fall below the SGA threshold. If your income rises above SGA, SSA will not pay benefits for that month — but your eligibility is not permanently terminated.

SSA also provides a three-month grace period at the start of the EPE. During these first three months above SGA, you still receive benefits. This gives you a cushion if a new job turns out to pay more than expected in your initial months.

For Minnesota residents who may face seasonal employment fluctuations — common in construction, tourism along the North Shore, or agricultural work in Greater Minnesota — the EPE structure is particularly valuable. A strong earning season does not permanently disqualify you if a subsequent period brings you back below SGA.

Work Incentives That Reduce Countable Income

SSA does not count all your earnings at face value. Several deductions and exclusions can reduce what SSA considers when measuring against the SGA limit:

• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs): Costs you pay out-of-pocket for items or services that enable you to work — such as prescription medications, specialized equipment, or transportation to medical appointments — can be deducted from gross earnings before SSA calculates your countable income.
• Subsidies and Special Conditions: If your employer provides special assistance due to your disability — such as extra supervision, modified tasks, or reduced productivity expectations — SSA may determine that your actual earnings overstate your productive value and reduce countable income accordingly.
• Unpaid Work: Volunteer work or work performed for a family member's business where you are not compensated at market rates may not count toward SGA at all.

Minnesota also has state-level vocational rehabilitation programs through Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS), which can fund job training, assistive technology, and supported employment. Participating in these programs while on SSDI does not typically jeopardize your benefits and can help you transition to sustainable employment over time.

What Happens If You Lose Your Job After Benefits Are Suspended

One of the most reassuring protections for SSDI recipients who attempt to return to work is the Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) provision. If your benefits were terminated because your earnings exceeded SGA, but your medical condition causes you to stop working within five years of that termination, you can request expedited reinstatement without filing a brand new disability application.

During the reinstatement review process — which can take several months — SSA will provide up to six months of provisional benefits while it evaluates your request. If SSA denies reinstatement, you typically do not owe back those provisional payments.

This protection is significant for Minnesotans who attempt to return to work in physically demanding occupations and suffer a relapse. You do not have to go through the entire application process from scratch, and you are protected from an income gap during review.

Practical Steps Before Returning to Work

Before accepting employment while receiving SSDI, take these concrete steps to protect your benefits:

• Report any work activity to SSA promptly and in writing. Failure to report earnings can result in overpayment demands that SSA will pursue aggressively.
• Request a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) from SSA, which summarizes your current benefit status and work history — including any trial work months already used.
• Contact a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselor. Minnesota has WIPA providers who offer free counseling to SSDI recipients considering employment.
• Document all impairment-related work expenses from the first day of employment so you can claim IRWEs accurately.
• Keep copies of all correspondence with SSA related to your work activity.

Returning to work while on SSDI is legally permitted and often encouraged through SSA's Ticket to Work program. The rules are detailed but manageable with proper guidance. Missteps — particularly failing to report income or misunderstanding when the Trial Work Period begins — can result in significant overpayments that SSA will demand repayment of, sometimes years later.

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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