Working Part-Time on SSDI Benefits in Nevada

Many Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients in Nevada worry that taking on any part-time work will immediately disqualify them from benefits. The reality is more nuanced. Federal rules allow you to test your ability to work without automatically losing your benefits — but only if you understand and follow the specific rules governing work activity. Missteps can trigger overpayments, benefit termination, or both.

Substantial Gainful Activity: The Core Threshold

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses the concept of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine whether your work disqualifies you from SSDI. For 2025, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 per month for blind individuals. If your gross earnings from part-time work remain below these thresholds, the SSA generally will not consider you to be engaging in SGA.

However, gross income is not the only factor. The SSA also examines the nature and value of your work. If you receive special accommodations, have tasks removed from your job duties because of your disability, or receive subsidized wages, the SSA may adjust the countable value of your earnings. Nevada residents working for employers who provide disability-related accommodations should document those accommodations carefully, as they can affect how the SSA evaluates your work activity.

Trial Work Period: Testing Employment Without Losing Benefits

Federal law gives SSDI recipients a Trial Work Period (TWP) — nine months during a rolling 60-month window during which you can work and earn any amount without it affecting your benefits. In 2025, 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 whether you are performing SGA. If your earnings exceed the SGA threshold after your TWP ends, the SSA begins counting your 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, you can receive benefits for any month your earnings fall below the SGA limit — without filing a new application. This is a critical safety net for Nevada workers whose part-time income fluctuates seasonally or due to changing health conditions.

Tracking which months count as trial work months is your responsibility. The SSA does not always send timely notices. Keep detailed records of your pay stubs, hours worked, and monthly earnings throughout this process.

Reporting Requirements for Nevada SSDI Recipients

Nevada SSDI recipients have an affirmative obligation to report all work activity to the SSA promptly. This includes:

• Starting any job, even part-time or temporary
• Any change in pay rate, hours, or job duties
• Stopping work due to your medical condition
• Receiving special work accommodations from an employer
• Self-employment income, including gig work and freelance earnings

You can report work activity by contacting the SSA by phone at 1-800-772-1213, visiting the local Las Vegas, Reno, Henderson, or Carson City field offices, or using your my Social Security online account. Failure to report earnings is one of the most common causes of SSDI overpayments. The SSA can demand repayment of benefits received during months when your earnings exceeded the SGA limit, sometimes years after the fact.

Nevada does not have a state-level disability benefit program that supplements SSDI in the way some other states do, so federal SSA rules govern your situation entirely. If you receive both SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), separate income rules apply to SSI, and part-time work will affect those two programs differently.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses and Income Deductions

One advantage that many Nevada workers overlook is the ability to deduct Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) from countable earnings. If you pay out-of-pocket for items or services that are necessary because of your disability and allow you to work, those costs can reduce your countable income for SGA purposes.

Common IRWEs include:

• Prescription medications required to manage your disabling condition while working
• Medical devices such as braces, crutches, or portable oxygen
• Transportation costs related to your disability (beyond ordinary commuting)
• Attendant care services needed during work hours
• Specialized equipment modified for your disability

For example, if you earn $1,700 per month but pay $250 in IRWEs, your countable income is $1,450 — below the SGA threshold. Documenting these expenses and submitting them to the SSA proactively can be the difference between maintaining benefits and losing them. Work with a knowledgeable representative to ensure every allowable expense is captured.

When Part-Time Work Leads to Benefit Termination

If the SSA determines you are performing SGA after your Trial Work Period and Extended Period of Eligibility are exhausted, your benefits will be terminated. However, federal law provides one additional protection: Expedited Reinstatement (EXR). If your benefits are terminated because of work, and within five years you stop working or your earnings again drop below SGA due to your same medical condition, you can request reinstatement without filing a new disability application.

During the EXR process, the SSA can pay up to six months of provisional benefits while reviewing your case. This is an underused protection for Nevada workers who attempt employment in good faith but find their condition prevents sustained work activity.

If the SSA has sent you an overpayment notice, do not ignore it. You have the right to request a waiver of overpayment if repayment would cause financial hardship and the overpayment was not your fault. You also have the right to appeal the SSA's determination that you were performing SGA in the first place. Both the waiver request and the appeal have strict deadlines — typically 60 days from the date of the notice.

Nevada residents who receive an overpayment notice or a cessation of benefits based on work activity should act immediately. The SSA's determinations are not always accurate, and the administrative appeals process — from reconsideration to ALJ hearing — provides meaningful opportunities to correct errors.

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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