Can You Work Part-Time on SSDI?

If you are receiving SSDI, you may be allowed to work part-time without immediately losing your benefits, but there are strict rules about how much income you can earn. The SSA has a system in place called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which determines whether or not you are still considered “disabled” based on your ability to work.

• What is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)?
  SGA is the SSA’s measurement of whether a person is engaging in work that is considered "substantial" and "gainful." If you earn above a certain income threshold, the SSA may decide that you are no longer disabled and stop your SSDI benefits.
• SGA Income Limits
  In 2025, the SGA income limit for non-blind individuals is $1,470 per month. If you earn more than this amount, the SSA may consider you able to work and, therefore, no longer eligible for SSDI benefits.
• For blind individuals, the SGA limit is higher, at $2,460 per month.
• These income limits apply to gross earnings, which means your total income before taxes or any other deductions. So, if you earn less than the SGA limit, you may be able to continue receiving SSDI benefits while working part-time.

Trial Work Period (TWP)

If you’re receiving SSDI, you can also take advantage of the Trial Work Period (TWP). The TWP allows you to test your ability to work while still receiving your full SSDI benefits.

• How It Works
  During the Trial Work Period, you can work as much as you want and earn any amount of income, and your SSDI benefits will still continue. However, there are rules regarding how long the Trial Work Period lasts:
• The TWP lasts for 9 months. These months do not have to be consecutive, but they are counted when you earn more than a certain amount (in 2025, that amount is $970 per month).
• After you exhaust the 9-month Trial Work Period, the SSA will review your work and income to determine if you are still eligible for SSDI benefits.

If you are still working but your earnings exceed the SGA limit after the TWP, the SSA may decide you are no longer disabled and stop your benefits. However, if your disability continues to prevent you from performing substantial work, you may still qualify for benefits even with part-time work.

Can You Work Part-Time on SSI?

For Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the rules are slightly different. Since SSI is need-based, it’s less about whether you can perform work and more about how much money you are earning.

• Income Limits for SSI
  The SSI income limit changes each year and depends on both earned and unearned income. If you work part-time while receiving SSI, your monthly income must stay below the SSI federal benefit rate, which in 2025 is $914 per month for an individual and $1,371 for a couple. However, the SSA allows certain deductions from your income:
• The first $65 of earned income is excluded.
• The SSA also excludes half of your earned income over $65.
• This means that even if you work part-time and earn some money, you may still be eligible for SSI, as long as your countable income (after deductions) doesn’t exceed the SSI limits.
• Impact on SSI
  If you earn too much while working part-time, the SSA may reduce or suspend your SSI payments until your income falls below the eligibility threshold. If your earnings consistently exceed the limit, the SSA may stop your SSI benefits altogether.

Reporting Your Earnings to the SSA

Whether you’re receiving SSDI or SSI, it’s essential to report your earnings to the SSA if you decide to work, even if it’s part-time. Failure to report your income can result in overpayments, which you may have to repay later, and can jeopardize your benefits.

• For SSDI, report any monthly earnings that are over the Trial Work Period limit of $970.
• For SSI, report any income you earn that may push your total income above the SSI federal benefit rate limit.

Reporting your income regularly helps the SSA determine whether you remain eligible for benefits and prevents issues such as overpayment or fraud.

Work Incentives for SSDI and SSI Recipients

Both SSDI and SSI offer work incentives to encourage individuals with disabilities to attempt returning to work without immediately losing their benefits.

• SSDI Work Incentives: Programs like the Trial Work Period (TWP), Expedited Reinstatement, and the Ticket to Work program allow you to attempt working without the immediate risk of losing benefits.
• SSI Work Incentives: Programs like Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) and Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) can help you work part-time and earn more without losing your benefits.