Working Part Time on SSDI in Kansas

Many Social Security Disability Insurance recipients in Kansas wonder whether they can work part time without jeopardizing their monthly benefits. The short answer is yes — but only within strict limits set by the Social Security Administration. Understanding these rules before you start working is essential. Crossing the wrong threshold even once can trigger a review that puts your entire award at risk.

How the SSA Defines "Substantial Gainful Activity"

The SSA uses a benchmark called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine whether a disability recipient is working too much. For 2025, the SGA limit for non-blind individuals is $1,550 per month in gross earnings. For recipients who are statutorily blind, the limit is $2,590 per month.

If your earnings consistently exceed the SGA threshold, the SSA may determine that you are no longer disabled under their definition — regardless of your medical condition. Kansas residents are subject to the same federal SGA limits as everyone else in the country, so there is no state-specific exception that provides additional leeway.

It is critical to track your gross earnings, not your take-home pay. The SSA looks at what you earn before taxes, not what ends up in your bank account. If you are self-employed, the calculation becomes more complex and involves deducting business expenses and evaluating hours worked.

The Trial Work Period: Your Protected Window

The SSA provides a built-in safety net called the Trial Work Period (TWP), which allows SSDI recipients to test their ability to return to work without immediately losing benefits. During the TWP, you receive full SSDI benefits no matter how much you earn.

The TWP consists of nine months — not necessarily consecutive — within a rolling 60-month window. In 2025, any month in which you earn more than $1,110 counts as a trial work month. Once you have used all nine trial work months, the SSA evaluates whether your earnings exceed SGA.

After the TWP ends, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, your benefits are suspended in any month your earnings exceed SGA, but they can be reinstated — without a new application — in months when your earnings drop below that level. This provides meaningful protection for Kansas workers whose part-time hours or pay fluctuate seasonally or due to health flare-ups.

Reporting Requirements for Kansas SSDI Recipients

Working part time while receiving SSDI comes with an affirmative duty to report your earnings to the SSA. Failing to report — even unintentionally — can result in overpayments that the SSA will seek to recover, sometimes years after the fact.

You should report:

• Any new job or self-employment, even if your hours are minimal
• Changes in pay rate or hours worked
• Bonuses, commissions, or one-time payments
• Any employer-provided benefits with cash value
• The start or end of self-employment activity

Reports can be made by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local Kansas field office, or logging into your my Social Security account online. Keeping copies of your pay stubs and documenting every report you make is strongly advised. If a dispute arises later, written records are your best defense.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses and Other Deductions

Kansas SSDI recipients who work part time may be able to reduce their countable earnings through Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs). IRWEs are out-of-pocket costs directly related to your disability that are necessary for you to work. Common examples include:

• Prescription medications needed to control symptoms while working
• Medical equipment such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, or communication devices
• Transportation costs if your disability prevents you from using standard transit
• Attendant care or job coaching services
• Modifications to a vehicle required due to your disability

When the SSA calculates whether your earnings exceed SGA, it deducts verified IRWEs from your gross income. This means a Kansas worker earning $1,700 per month who pays $250 monthly in IRWE-qualifying expenses may have countable earnings of only $1,450 — below the SGA threshold. Documenting these expenses and submitting them to the SSA proactively can make the difference between keeping and losing your benefits.

Self-employed recipients should also be aware of the Unincurred Business Expenses deduction, which accounts for business contributions made by others on your behalf, and the Unsuccessful Work Attempt provision, which applies when employment ends or is significantly reduced within six months due to your disability or removal of special conditions.

Kansas Workforce and Vocational Resources

Kansas residents on SSDI who are exploring part-time work have access to several state and federal programs designed to support the transition. The Kansas Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program, administered through the Kansas Department for Children and Families, provides individualized employment planning, job placement services, assistive technology, and training to eligible individuals with disabilities.

Separately, the SSA's Ticket to Work program allows SSDI beneficiaries between ages 18 and 64 to receive free employment support services from an approved Employment Network without triggering a continuing disability review solely because of that participation. Many Kansas-based Employment Networks participate in this program and can help you find part-time positions that accommodate your limitations.

If you are offered a job and concerned about how it will affect your benefits, request a Benefits Counseling appointment through a certified Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) provider. WIPA counselors are trained to walk through your specific benefit situation and model how different income levels would affect your SSDI payments — before you accept the job offer.

One practical reality for Kansas SSDI recipients is that rural areas in the state may offer fewer part-time opportunities that match disability-related work restrictions. Remote and hybrid positions have expanded options for many claimants, and vocational counselors can help identify roles with flexible scheduling that align with both your skills and your medical limitations.

Working part time while on SSDI is genuinely possible, but the rules are technical and unforgiving of honest mistakes. A single month of earnings misclassified by an employer — or a bonus you forgot to report — can set off a chain of SSA correspondence that takes months to resolve. Staying organized, reporting proactively, and consulting with a knowledgeable disability attorney when questions arise are the most reliable ways to protect your benefits while rebuilding your work life.

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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