You've been approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, but you're starting to feel like you might be able to return to work part-time. However, you're worried that earning even a small paycheck could jeopardize the crucial financial support and medical coverage you receive through SSDI.
Louisiana disability lawyer Phillip M. Hendry understands your situation and is here to answer your questions about disability work rules and SSDI income limits so that you can make the right decisions.
Social Security Disability Work Rules and Incentives
The Social Security Administration (SSA) encourages SSDI recipients to work if they can. Several work incentives are built into the SSDI program to allow beneficiaries to attempt a return to work while still having a safety net.
Trial Work Period
The Trial Work Period (TWP) allows you to test your ability to work for at least nine months. During your TWP, you will receive full SSDI benefits regardless of your earnings as long as you report your work activity and still have a disabling impairment.
In 2025, a Trial Work month is any month you earn over $1,050. The TWP continues until you accumulate nine Trial Work months within 60 months. They don't have to be consecutive.
After your TWP ends, the SSA will evaluate whether you are engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) based on your monthly earnings. In 2025, the monthly SGA amount is $1,620 for non-blind individuals. If your earnings are below this level, your benefits continue. If your earnings exceed the SGA threshold, you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility.
Extended Period of Eligibility
The Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) begins the month after the TWP ends. The EPE is a 36-month safety net that allows you to receive SSDI benefits for any month your earnings fall below the SGA level.
During the EPE, you will not receive SSDI cash payments in months you earn above the SGA amount. However, you can receive benefits without filing a new application for any month your earnings drop below the SGA level. You just have to inform the SSA that your earnings have decreased.
After the EPE ends, your benefits will end if you can engage in SGA. However, for the next five years, you are eligible to request Expedited Reinstatement of your SSDI if you can no longer sustain SGA-level work again due to your disability.
Impairment-Related Work Expenses
Some Social Security disability recipients can only work because they pay for out-of-pocket items or services that allow them to work. These expenses, called Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE), include things like:
- Specialized equipment
- Certain transportation costs
- Prescription medications
- Therapy or counseling sessions
- Personal care attendant services
IRWE values are deducted from your gross monthly earnings before the SSA determines if your income exceeds the SGA threshold. This can help you stay below the SGA limit and retain your SSDI benefits.
Continued Medicare Coverage
If your SSDI benefits stop because of your work activity, you may still qualify for continued Medicare coverage. Disability work rules allow you to receive at least 93 months of Hospital Insurance (Part A), Supplemental Medical Insurance (Part B), and Prescription Drug coverage (Part D) after your Trial Work Period ends if you still have a disabling impairment.
Protecting Your SSDI Eligibility
The Social Security disability work rules and incentives provide valuable support for beneficiaries who want to return to work. However, the rules can be confusing. You may avoid accidentally jeopardizing your eligibility by:
- Reporting any changes in work activity right away. Contact the SSA whenever you start or stop working or if your job duties or earnings change. You should also keep your Louisiana disability lawyer informed.
- Keeping detailed records of your earnings and any Impairment-Related Work Expenses. This documentation is crucial for the SSA to calculate your benefits and determine your ongoing eligibility.
- Considering working with an experienced SSDI attorney. Before trying to return to work, a disability lawyer can help you develop a plan to maximize your earnings while protecting your Social Security disability eligibility and benefits.
With the proper planning and support, it is possible to return to work while preserving the benefits you've worked so hard to secure.