Will I Lose My Disability if I Work Part-Time?

Working part-time while receiving disability benefits can bring up a lot of questions. If you’re collecting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), even a small change in income or work hours can impact your payments. While the Social Security Administration does allow limited work under certain conditions, the rules are easy to misinterpret.

Understanding how monthly earnings, reporting requirements, and program-specific limits affect your situation is essential. Because even honest mistakes can lead to a full review of your eligibility, many people choose to consult with a Pennsylvania Disability Attorney. Legal guidance can be especially helpful when you’re unsure how the regulations apply to your unique circumstances or if you’re planning to re-enter the workforce after time off.

Understanding how Part-Time Work Affects Your Disability Benefits

Part time disability work is possible. You can still stay active and earn extra income. However, there are strict Social Security rules in place. You’ll need to understand how your work affects your disability benefits so you can protect your payments. 

Differentiating Between SSDI and SSI: What It Means for Working Individuals

The Social Security Administration (SSA) runs two programs: 

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): Think of SSDI as the safety net you’ve been paying into with every paycheck. It’s insurance you’ve earned by working and contributing to Social Security. If you’ve built up enough work credits and meet the SSA’s definition of disability, SSDI steps in with monthly benefits based on your past earnings. SSDI is based on your work history and how your disability affects your ability to keep working full time.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI is for those who need help making ends meet, no matter what their work history looks like. It’s strictly needs-based, so whether you’re eligible or not is assessed by your current financial status. If you meet the SSA’s criteria for disability, SSI can provide monthly support for essentials like rent, groceries, and basic living expenses. And bonus: most SSI recipients also qualify for Medicaid, which helps cover those ever-growing healthcare costs.

Depending on which program you qualify for, working while collecting Social Security Disability looks different. 

Key SSDI Terms: Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) and Trial Work Period (TWP)

Substantial gainful activity (SGA) is your monthly earning limit that determines your eligibility for the benefits. The SGA limit for non-blind individuals was $1,550 in 2024. For blind individuals, the limit was $2,590. The SSA might stop your disability payments altogether if your earnings exceed this amount. You’ll be able to test your ability to work without losing benefits immediately during the trial work period (TWP). Any month you earn over $1,050 during this period will count as a trial work month within a rolling 60-month period. 

Navigating the SSDI Program: Maintaining Your Benefits While Working

You need some careful planning when working and collecting SSDI, but it’s absolutely possible. All you have to do is know the limits and work incentives of the SSDI program, and you’ll be able to earn without risking your benefits. 

• Detailed Analysis of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Limits for 2024 and Beyond

If you’re thinking about working part time on SSDI, one of the most important things to understand is the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit. This is the monthly earnings cap that determines your disability benefits eligibility. In other words, if you earn more than this limit, the SSA may question whether you still qualify for benefits. The SGA limit isn’t set in stone. It changes every year with the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA increase). In 2024, the SGA limit for non-blind individuals was $1,550 per month, while blind individuals were allowed up to $2,590. Keeping up with these numbers is essential if you want to work without risking your benefits.

• Trial Work Period: A Step-by-Step Guide to Testing Your Work Capabilities

The trial work period (TWP) gives you a chance to ease back into working without worrying about losing your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) right away. It’s your opportunity to test your ability to work while still receiving your disability payments. The SSA allows you nine trial work months within a rolling 60-month period. In 2024, any month where you earned more than $1,050 counted as one of those trial months.

But here’s the catch: you’ve got to stay organized. Keep track of your work hours, hold onto your pay stubs, and make sure you’re reporting work activity to the SSA on time. Staying on top of these details will help you make the most of your TWP while protecting your benefits eligibility.

• Extended Period of Eligibility: What Happens After the TWP?

Once you complete your TWP, you move into the extended period of eligibility (EPE). Things get really flexible here: over the next 36 months, you can still receive your disability payments for any month your earnings fall below the SGA limit. Your benefits can simply restart if your income drops, no need to reapply for them. 

This built-in safety net encourages people to get back to work without stressing over losing their benefits eligibility. It’s also the reason why following SSA rules is so important during this phase. 

• The Role of Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) in Managing Your Benefits

Impairment-related work expenses (IRWE) can be a game-changer when you’re working part time on disability. These are the out-of-pocket costs you pay because of your condition, the ones that directly support your ability to work. Things like transportation costs, medical equipment, or assistive technology all count as IRWE. Why does this matter? Because the SSA subtracts these disability-related expenses from your total earnings when deciding if you’ve gone over the SGA limit. That means you might be able to earn more than you thought, without it affecting your Social Security Disability Benefits. Keeping good records of your IRWE can help protect your benefits while you stay active in the workforce.

SSI Considerations: Balancing Income and Benefit Retention

Working part time on disability while receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is possible with the right information. SSI has its own set of rules that are different from SSDI, so understanding how your income affects your benefits is key. 

• Calculating Your Monthly Earnings and SSI Adjustments

The SSA will look closely at your monthly earnings to calculate your payment amount before you receive Supplemental Security Income Benefits. Not all of your earnings count against you, though. The SSA ignores the first $65 of earned income, plus half of anything you earn after that. These income thresholds mean you can still bring home a paycheck without automatically losing your benefits. 

• Leveraging Medicaid Benefits While Employed Part-Time

Many SSI recipients worry that working part time on disability might put their Medicaid coverage at risk. The truth is that working does not automatically disqualify you from Medicaid benefits. In fact, specific work incentives can help you stay employed while you still have access to healthcare. Every state has different income limits for Medicaid, so it’s a smart move to check your local guidelines. 

• Required Reporting: When and how to Inform SSA About Your Work

Reporting work activity to the SSA is required if you work part time while receiving SSI. You need to let them know about any new job, hour changes, or updates to your monthly earnings. Don’t forget to report your work expenses so you can prevent overpayments. Being proactive and reporting early is the easiest way to avoid surprises later on. 

Practical Tips and Strategies for Managing Work and Disability Benefits

Working part time on disability can feel like walking a tightrope: you want to earn extra income, but you definitely don’t want to lose your benefits. But all you need to stay balanced is the right approach. Let’s go over some practical tips and strategies that will help you protect your disability benefits while making the most of the resources available to you.

• Utilizing the Ticket to Work Program: Accessing Vocational Support

One of the best resources out there is the Ticket to Work program. It’s designed to support people who want to ease back into employment while keeping their Social Security Disability Benefits safe. This program offers vocational rehabilitation, personalized job coaching, and counseling services to help you develop skills, find work, and stay within SSA rules. If you’re unsure how to get started or nervous about taking that first step, Ticket to Work can guide you without risking your benefits eligibility.

• Crafting a Financial Plan to Ensure Stability

Don’t underestimate the power of a little financial planning when working part time on SSDI or SSI. First, get clear on your income restrictions and carefully track your earnings. This will make it easier for you to budget for medical expenses and transportation costs, along with any disability-related expenses that count as IRWE (Impairment-Related Work Expenses). 

• Potential Pitfalls: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Nobody wants to lose their benefits over a paperwork mistake. Unfortunately, it happens. One of the biggest errors people make is exceeding the earnings limit without reporting it to the SSA. Always keep track of your monthly earnings and report work activity regularly. Don’t underestimate your income thresholds or forget about specific rules for your program. Mistakes like this can lead to benefits suspension or even overpayment penalties, and that’s the kind of stress nobody needs.

When you stay proactive, informed, and organized, working part time on disability becomes a lot more manageable and much less intimidating.

When to Consult a Social Security Disability Lawyer

Balancing disability and working part time doesn’t have to be overwhelming, but you definitely need the right guidance to do it successfully. No detail is unimportant here – tracking earnings and understanding substantial gainful activity limits matter equally. Chermol & Fisherman, LLC has helped many clients deal with the complex SSA rules and protected their benefits while they worked part time on disability.

Thinking about returning to work, but scared to lose your social security disability benefits? Contact our Philadelphia office as soon as possible at 1-888-774-7243! We’re always here to help you move forward.