Can You Work While Receiving SSDI Benefits?

Many Social Security Disability Insurance recipients reach a point where they want to return to work — whether out of financial necessity, a desire for purpose, or an improvement in their condition. The question of whether you can work while receiving SSDI is not a simple yes or no. The Social Security Administration has established specific rules that allow limited work activity, but crossing certain thresholds can jeopardize your benefits entirely. Understanding these rules is essential before you accept any employment.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Threshold

The Social Security Administration measures your work capacity using a benchmark called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). For 2025, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 per month for those who are blind. If your earnings consistently exceed the applicable SGA threshold, SSA will generally determine that you are no longer disabled and will move to terminate your benefits.

This limit applies to gross earnings, not take-home pay. SSA may also look beyond just your paycheck — if you perform services for a business you own or receive in-kind compensation, those can count toward SGA as well. Texas residents working in industries like oil and gas, construction, or agriculture should pay particular attention, as overtime pay, bonuses, and piece-rate wages all factor into the monthly calculation.

The Trial Work Period: A Protected Window to Test Employment

SSA recognizes that disability is not always permanent and that beneficiaries should have an opportunity to attempt returning to the workforce. The Trial Work Period (TWP) gives you exactly that opportunity. During your TWP, you can work and receive your full SSDI benefit regardless of how much you earn — as long as you continue to report your work activity and still have a qualifying disability.

The TWP consists of 9 months within any rolling 60-month period. In 2025, any month in which you earn more than $1,110 counts as a trial work month. Once you have used all 9 trial work months, SSA will evaluate whether your earnings exceed SGA. If they do, your benefits may cease after a grace period.

It is critical to report every month of work to SSA promptly. Failing to report earnings is one of the most common causes of overpayments — a situation where SSA later demands repayment of benefits paid during months you were working above allowable levels. Overpayments can run into thousands of dollars and are extremely difficult to resolve without legal assistance.

The Extended Period of Eligibility and What Comes After

After your Trial Work Period ends, SSA provides an additional safety net known as the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which lasts for 36 consecutive months. During the EPE, you can receive your SSDI benefit for any month in which your earnings fall below the SGA threshold. If your earnings exceed SGA during the EPE, your benefit is suspended for that month — but you do not have to reapply for benefits if your earnings later drop below SGA again.

Once the 36-month EPE expires, the protections become more limited. If you are still working above SGA after the EPE, your case will be closed. Should your condition later worsen and force you to stop working, you would need to file a new application rather than request reinstatement under standard rules — unless you qualify for Expedited Reinstatement, which is available for up to five years after benefit termination.

Work Incentives That Can Help Texas SSDI Recipients

SSA offers several programs designed to support beneficiaries who want to explore work without immediately losing their safety net. Texas residents should be aware of the following incentives:

• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE): Costs directly related to your disability that allow you to work — such as medications, medical devices, or transportation accommodations — can be deducted from your earnings before SSA calculates whether you meet SGA.
• Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS): This program allows you to set aside income or resources for a specific work goal, such as education, job training, or starting a business. Funds set aside under an approved PASS plan are excluded from SGA calculations.
• Ticket to Work Program: A voluntary federal program that connects SSDI recipients with employment services, vocational rehabilitation, and career counseling. Enrolling in the Ticket to Work program can also provide protection from Continuing Disability Reviews while you are making timely progress toward your employment goals.
• Subsidies and Special Conditions: If your employer provides special accommodations or supervision beyond what a typical employee requires, SSA may reduce your counted earnings to reflect the actual economic value of your work.

Texas also has its own vocational rehabilitation services through the Texas Workforce Commission and the Health and Human Services Commission. These agencies offer job placement, skills training, and assistive technology programs that can complement federal work incentives.

Steps to Take Before Returning to Work

Returning to work as an SSDI beneficiary requires careful planning. Acting without proper preparation can lead to benefit loss, overpayment demands, or gaps in healthcare coverage through Medicare. Before accepting any employment, consider the following steps:

• Contact your local Social Security field office or call SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 to report your intention to work and request information specific to your case.
• Request a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) from SSA, which summarizes your current benefit status, Medicare continuation rights, and trial work month usage.
• Consult a Benefits Counselor — many are available through Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) programs at no cost — who can model how your specific earnings would affect your benefits.
• Keep meticulous records of every paycheck, work expense, and communication with SSA. In Texas, where at-will employment arrangements and variable-hour work are common, documentation is especially important.
• Understand how Medicare coverage interacts with employment. SSDI recipients generally retain Medicare for at least 93 months after the Trial Work Period begins, providing a critical health coverage bridge even after cash benefits end.

Working while on SSDI is not impossible — SSA's work incentive programs exist precisely because many people with disabilities are capable of some level of employment. What matters is that you understand the rules, stay within the allowed limits, and communicate proactively with SSA. A single missed report or an unexpected pay period above the SGA threshold can create complications that take months or years to untangle.

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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