Working Part Time on SSDI in Connecticut

Many Social Security Disability Insurance recipients in Connecticut wonder whether earning any income automatically ends their benefits. The answer is more nuanced than most people expect. Federal rules allow SSDI recipients to work under certain conditions, and understanding those rules can mean the difference between keeping your benefits and losing them prematurely.

The Substantial Gainful Activity Threshold

The Social Security Administration uses a concept called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine whether a disability recipient is working at a disqualifying level. For 2024, the monthly SGA limit for non-blind individuals is $1,550 per month. For individuals who are statutorily blind, the limit is $2,590 per month.

If your earnings stay below the SGA threshold, the SSA generally will not consider you to be engaged in disqualifying work activity. Many Connecticut residents successfully work limited part-time hours — as cashiers, consultants, or in light administrative roles — while remaining comfortably below this threshold.

However, gross wages are not the only factor the SSA considers. They may deduct certain impairment-related work expenses (IRWEs) from your earnings before comparing them against the SGA limit. If you pay out-of-pocket for medications, medical equipment, or transportation directly related to your disability and necessary for you to work, those costs may reduce your countable income.

The Trial Work Period: Testing Your Ability to Work

Federal SSDI rules provide a critical protection called the Trial Work Period (TWP). During this period, you can test your ability to return to work without immediately losing your monthly benefits — regardless of how much you earn.

The TWP consists of nine months within a rolling 60-month window. In 2024, any month in which you earn more than $1,110 counts as a trial work month. Once you use all nine trial work months, the SSA evaluates your work activity more strictly going forward.

Connecticut residents should report any work activity to the SSA promptly — typically using a work activity report. Failing to report can lead to overpayment demands that can be extremely difficult to repay. The SSA Hartford field office and the SSA Bridgeport office both handle Connecticut SSDI cases and can provide guidance on reporting requirements.

The Extended Period of Eligibility

After your Trial Work Period ends, you enter a 36-month window called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During this phase, you receive your full benefit for any month in which your earnings fall below the SGA limit. In months where you earn above SGA, your benefit is suspended — not terminated outright.

This distinction matters enormously. If your earnings drop below SGA during the EPE, your benefits can be reinstated without filing a new application. This safety net gives Connecticut workers the flexibility to attempt more hours or a higher-paying position without permanently forfeiting their SSDI coverage.

• Month 1–9 of TWP: Receive full benefits regardless of earnings
• Months 10–45 (EPE): Benefits paid in months below SGA, suspended in months above SGA
• After month 45: Benefits terminate if you are still earning above SGA; reinstatement requires a new application or an Expedited Reinstatement request

Expedited Reinstatement for Connecticut Recipients

If your SSDI benefits were terminated due to work activity and your condition has worsened or you can no longer sustain that level of work, you may qualify for Expedited Reinstatement (EXR). Under EXR, you can request reinstatement within five years of termination without going through the full application process again.

During the EXR request period, the SSA can provide up to six months of provisional benefits while your case is reviewed. For Connecticut residents navigating a worsened medical condition, EXR can bridge a critical financial gap while the reinstatement decision is pending. This request must be filed promptly — do not wait to contact the SSA if your circumstances change.

Connecticut-Specific Considerations and Practical Steps

Connecticut does not have a separate state disability program that coordinates with SSDI in the same way some states manage Medicaid or supplemental programs. However, Connecticut residents receiving SSDI are generally eligible for Medicare after 24 months of receiving SSDI payments, and many working SSDI recipients can continue Medicare coverage for an extended period even after benefits are suspended due to SGA-level earnings.

The Medicare Savings Program and HUSKY Health in Connecticut may also provide supplemental coverage options for low-income individuals who are transitioning back to partial work. Coordinating these programs with your SSDI status requires careful planning.

Practically, Connecticut SSDI recipients who want to work part-time should take the following steps:

• Track all gross earnings monthly and compare them to the current SGA threshold
• Document all impairment-related work expenses with receipts and statements from treating physicians
• Report work activity to the SSA immediately — ideally before starting a new job or increasing hours
• Request a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) from the SSA to obtain a detailed summary of your current benefit status and TWP usage
• Consider working with a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselor, a free federally funded service available to Connecticut residents
• Retain documentation of any medical setbacks or functional limitations that affect your work capacity

One common mistake Connecticut recipients make is assuming that working any amount of hours — even five or ten per week — automatically triggers a review or reduces benefits. That is not the rule. What matters is the dollar amount of countable earnings relative to SGA, not the number of hours worked. A high hourly rate can push a small number of hours over the SGA limit, while extensive hours at a very low wage might remain well below it.

Another frequent error is failing to report work to the SSA because earnings seem too low to matter. The SSA has systems to cross-reference IRS earnings data. Unreported work can surface years later as an overpayment, sometimes totaling thousands of dollars that must be repaid or challenged through an appeal process.

If you have received an overpayment notice, you have the right to request a waiver or appeal the SSA's determination. These processes have strict deadlines — typically 60 days from the date of the notice — and navigating them without legal guidance can be costly.

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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