Working Part-Time on SSDI in Michigan: What to Know

Working Part-Time on SSDI in Michigan: What to Know

Many Michigan residents receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) wonder whether taking on part-time work will cost them their benefits. The short answer is: it depends on how much you earn and how the Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates your work activity. Understanding the rules before you start working is critical — a misstep can trigger overpayments, benefit suspension, or even termination of your disability status.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Threshold

The SSA uses a concept called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine whether your work disqualifies you from SSDI. For 2025, the monthly SGA limit is $1,550 for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for those who are blind. If your gross monthly earnings from work consistently exceed the SGA threshold, the SSA may conclude you are no longer disabled — regardless of your medical condition.

For Michigan residents working part-time, the key is staying below this threshold. A few hours per week at minimum wage will almost certainly keep you under the limit. However, if your employer pays you a higher wage or you gradually increase your hours, you could cross into SGA territory without realizing it. Track your monthly earnings carefully and report any changes to the SSA promptly.

Trial Work Period: Your Protected Window

The SSA gives SSDI recipients a valuable safety net called the Trial Work Period (TWP). This allows you to test your ability to work for up to nine months within a rolling 60-month window without risking your benefits. During the TWP, you receive full SSDI payments regardless of how much you earn, as long as you continue to have a disabling impairment.

A month counts as a TWP month in 2025 if you earn more than $1,050 in that month. Once you use all nine TWP months, the SSA evaluates whether you are performing SGA. After the TWP ends, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), during which your benefits can be reinstated in any month your earnings fall below SGA — without filing a new application.

Michigan SSDI recipients who want to test the waters with part-time work should take advantage of the TWP strategically. If your condition fluctuates, the ability to stop working and have benefits automatically resume during the EPE provides meaningful financial protection.

Reporting Requirements in Michigan

Whether you work one hour a week or twenty, you are legally required to report all work activity to the SSA. This includes:

• Starting any new job, including part-time or seasonal work
• Changes in your pay rate or hours worked
• Self-employment income or gig work (Uber, DoorDash, freelance)
• Stopping work after previously reporting it
• Any work-related expenses tied to your disability

You can report work activity by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local Michigan Social Security field office, or logging into your my Social Security online account. Failure to report promptly — even accidentally — can result in overpayment demands that the SSA will seek to recover, often through benefit offsets that reduce your future payments.

Michigan does not have a separate state disability benefit administration, so all reporting goes directly through federal SSA channels. However, if you also receive Michigan state benefits like Medicaid or food assistance, changes in your income must be reported to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) separately.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses Can Help

Michigan workers with disabilities have an important tool available: Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs). The SSA allows you to deduct certain disability-related costs from your gross earnings before comparing them to the SGA threshold. Common IRWEs include:

• Prescription medications needed to work
• Medical devices or adaptive equipment (wheelchairs, hearing aids)
• Transportation costs if your disability requires special transit
• Copays for therapy or medical appointments related to your condition
• Personal attendant care costs during work hours

For example, if you earn $1,700 per month but pay $250 in IRWEs, your countable income drops to $1,450 — below the 2025 SGA limit. Keep detailed receipts and document all disability-related expenses that enable you to work. These deductions can be the difference between maintaining your benefits and losing them.

Ticket to Work and Michigan Vocational Rehabilitation

The SSA's Ticket to Work program is specifically designed for SSDI recipients who want to return to part-time or full-time employment. By assigning your Ticket to an approved Employment Network (EN) or to Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS), you can access free career counseling, job placement assistance, and benefits planning — all while receiving protection from certain continuing disability reviews (CDRs).

Michigan Rehabilitation Services, a division of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, offers individualized services including vocational assessment, training funding, and assistive technology. Partnering with MRS does not automatically affect your SSDI; the SSA treats Ticket to Work participation as a sign of good-faith effort, not evidence that you are no longer disabled.

If you are considering part-time work to supplement your SSDI income while managing a long-term disability, connecting with a Benefits Counselor through MRS or a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program in Michigan can help you map out a strategy that protects your benefits while you transition.

When Part-Time Work Puts Benefits at Risk

Even part-time work can jeopardize your SSDI if the SSA determines it constitutes SGA. Red flags that may trigger a review include:

• Consistent earnings above the SGA threshold for multiple months
• Employer accommodations that make your job easier than typical work
• Self-employment where net profit exceeds SGA after deductions
• Unreported work discovered through a continuing disability review

If the SSA notifies you that it intends to terminate benefits due to SGA, you have the right to appeal. You can request reconsideration within 60 days of the notice. During the appeal period, you may be entitled to continued benefits under certain conditions. An experienced Michigan disability attorney can help you challenge an SGA determination, especially where employer accommodations or IRWE deductions were not properly credited.

The rules governing part-time work and SSDI are complex, and the consequences of a misstep — overpayments, benefit termination, or fraud allegations — are serious. Taking the time to understand your rights and obligations before you accept that first paycheck is the smartest move you can make.

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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