You can earn up to $1,550 per month in 2024 without losing your SSDI check, but the limit changes each year
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) has an earnings limit called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold. If you earn more than this amount in a month, Social Security counts that month as a month you are working at a substantial level, which can affect your benefits. The threshold is $1,550 per month for 2024 — but this number increases each January based on national wage trends.
The key word is "substantial." Earning $1,549 in one month and $100 in another does not automatically end your benefits. Social Security looks at whether you are regularly earning above the limit, not whether you occasionally exceed it. Understanding how this works can help you work part-time or take on occasional jobs without triggering a benefit suspension.
Key Takeaways
- The 2024 SGA limit is $1,550 per month; earning above this amount in a given month signals to Social Security that you may be working at a substantial level.
- The SGA threshold increases each January, so you should check the current year's limit before taking a job or increasing your hours.
- Earnings are counted based on the month you actually earn the money, not the month you receive the paycheck, so timing matters if you are paid irregularly.
- If you exceed the SGA limit, you do not automatically lose all your benefits — Social Security reviews your work pattern to determine if you are truly working at a substantial level.
- Work incentives like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) can reduce your countable earnings and let you keep more of your SSDI check.
How Social Security counts your earnings
Social Security counts gross earnings — the money you make before taxes, not what you take home. If you are self-employed, they count your net profit (revenue minus business expenses). Earnings are attributed to the month you actually earn them, regardless of when you are paid. If your employer pays you on the 15th and the 30th, Social Security counts both payments in the months they were earned, not the month the check clears your bank.
Not all income counts toward the SGA limit. Social Security does not count gifts, loans, inheritances, investment income, or rental income. Royalties and certain types of self-employment income have special rules. If you are unsure whether a particular type of income counts, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 before you start earning.
The SGA limit applies only to work you do. If you receive income from other sources — a pension, a settlement, unemployment benefits — those do not count toward the $1,550 threshold. This distinction matters if you are combining part-time work with other income sources.
What happens if you earn above the SGA limit
Exceeding the SGA limit in a single month does not automatically suspend your benefits. Instead, Social Security looks at your overall work pattern. If you earn above the limit for nine or more months in a 12-month period, they will likely conclude you are working at a substantial level and your benefits may stop. However, the exact rules depend on whether you are in a trial work period or past it.
During your trial work period — the first nine months you work and earn above the SGA limit — you keep your full SSDI check no matter how much you earn. This period gives you a chance to test your ability to work without when ready financial risk. After the trial work period ends, the rules tighten. If you continue to earn above the SGA limit, Social Security will review your case and may suspend your benefits.
If your benefits are suspended, you do not lose them permanently. You can return to work below the SGA limit, and your benefits will resume. Many people use this flexibility to work part-time or seasonal jobs while keeping some SSDI income.
The trial work period and extended may be able to access
Your trial work period consists of nine months in which you can earn any amount above the SGA limit while keeping your full SSDI check. These nine months do not have to be consecutive. If you work above the limit for three months, then drop below it for six months, then work above it again, those months all count toward your nine-month trial period. Once you have used nine trial work months, the rules change.
After your trial work period ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, if you earn above the SGA limit in any month, your benefits stop for that month only — but you keep your Medicare coverage. This is a valuable safety net: you can work, lose a month of benefits if you earn too much, and resume benefits the next month if your earnings drop. Your Medicare continues regardless of your earnings.
After the 36-month extended may be able to access period ends, if you are still working above the SGA limit, your SSDI benefits and Medicare coverage both stop. However, you may be able to switch to Social Security retirement benefits if you have reached full retirement age, or you may have other options depending on your situation.
Work incentives that reduce your countable earnings
Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are costs you pay to work because of your disability. If you need a personal attendant, special transportation, medical devices, or medications to do your job, these costs can be subtracted from your gross earnings before Social Security calculates whether you have exceeded the SGA limit. For example, if you earn $1,800 per month but pay $400 per month for a job coach, your countable earnings are $1,400 — below the SGA limit.
Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) let you set aside income and resources to reach a work goal — starting a business, finishing school, or buying equipment. Money you set aside in a PASS plan does not count toward your earnings limit. A PASS plan requires a written agreement with Social Security and must have a specific, measurable goal with a timeline. If you are working toward self-employment or a career change, a PASS plan can protect a significant portion of your earnings.
Both IRWE and PASS require advance approval from Social Security. You cannot retroactively claim these deductions. If you think either applies to your situation, contact your local Social Security office or a Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project — a free service that helps people on disability understand work incentives. Find your local WIPA at www.vcu-ntdc.org.
Reporting your earnings to Social Security
You are required to report your earnings to Social Security. The timing and method depend on your situation. If you receive your benefits by direct deposit and have a my Social Security account, you can report earnings online. You can also report by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or in person at your local Social Security office. Some beneficiaries receive a form to mail in each month; others report only when their earnings change.
Report your earnings as soon as you know them — do not wait until the end of the month or until you receive your paycheck. Reporting early gives Social Security time to process the information correctly and prevents overpayments. If you report late and Social Security has already paid you benefits you were not may have access to to, you may have to repay the overpayment later.
Keep records of your earnings: pay stubs, invoices if you are self-employed, and any deductions you claim for IRWE or PASS. Social Security may ask to see these records to verify your report.
The SGA limit changes each year
The SGA threshold is adjusted each January to reflect changes in national average wages. In recent years it has increased by $50 to $100 per year. The 2024 limit is $1,550 per month; the 2023 limit was $1,470. Social Security publishes the new limit in December of the prior year, so you will know the upcoming year's threshold before January arrives.
If you are working and approaching the SGA limit, check the current year's threshold before the new year begins. A small raise or a few extra hours could push you over the limit in January even if you were safely below it in December. Conversely, if the limit increases, you may have more room to earn without triggering a review.
You can find the current SGA limit on the Social Security website at www.ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213. The limit is also published in the Federal Register each December.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I earn $1,600 one month, will my benefits stop when ready?
Not necessarily. One month above the SGA limit does not stop your benefits. Social Security looks at your overall work pattern. If you regularly earn above the limit, your benefits may be suspended. If you are in your trial work period, you can earn any amount and keep your full check for up to nine months.
Does self-employment income count the same way as wages?
Self-employment income is counted as your net profit — revenue minus ordinary business expenses. You must report it to Social Security, and it counts toward the SGA limit the same way wages do. Keep detailed records of income and expenses to support your reports.
Can I work part-time and keep some of my SSDI check?
Yes. If you earn below the SGA limit ($1,550 in 2024), your benefits continue unchanged. If you earn above the limit but are in your trial work period, you keep your full check for up to nine months. After that, you can still work and receive benefits in months when your earnings fall below the limit.
What if I get a bonus or a large one-time payment?
Bonuses and one-time payments count as earnings in the month you receive them. If a bonus pushes you above the SGA limit, that month counts toward your trial work period or may result in a benefit suspension if you are past the trial period. Plan ahead if you expect a large payment.
Where can I learn more about work incentives?
Contact your local Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project at www.vcu-ntdc.org, or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. WIPA counselors are trained specifically in work incentives and can review your individual situation at no cost.