There are many people receiving disability who want to try part-time work, whether to test the waters or cover rising costs. The good news is you can work in many situations without losing your benefits if you follow the rules.
At Burgess & Christensen, our team has helped people with Social Security Disability issues for more than 40 years, and we understand the day-to-day concerns behind this question.
Our goal here is simple: share clear, practical information about working while receiving Social Security Disability. This article is for general information, not legal advice. For guidance that fits your particular circumstances, consult with a Social Security Disability attorney.
Working While on Social Security Disability
You can work while receiving Social Security Disability, yet income limits and reporting rules apply. The type of benefit you receive shapes how work affects you. Some people receive Social Security Disability Insurance, called SSDI, and others receive Supplemental Security Income, called SSI.
SSDI has rules focused on whether your work is considered substantial. SSI has rules that look at your countable income and your resources. Knowing which program pays your benefits helps you pick the right path before you take a job.
Working While Receiving SSDI Benefits
SSDI is for workers who paid Social Security taxes and later became disabled. You qualify based on your work history and medical condition. Once approved, certain work rules apply if you decide to try working again.
In order to provide clarity about the SSDI rules, let’s start with how the Social Security Administration (SSA) measures substantial work activity.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Limit
Social Security uses SGA to decide if work is substantial enough to affect SSDI eligibility.
The SGA limit in 2026 is $1,690 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,830 per month for statutorily blind individuals. Earning above the SGA limit generally disqualifies you from
receiving SSDI benefits. Earnings below SGA do not automatically stop benefits, but they still need to be reported.
If you want to try working without risking benefits right away, Social Security offers a test period, known as a Trial Work Period.
Trial Work Period (TWP)
The Trial Work Period lets you test your ability to work for at least nine months while still getting full SSDI payments. You must report your work, and you must continue to have a disabling condition. The nine months do not need to be in a row.
A month counts as a trial work month in 2026 if your gross earnings are over $1,210. During the TWP, the SGA limit does not apply to stop your checks. After you use all nine TWP months within a rolling 60-month window, the TWP ends, and you enter into the Extended Period of Eligibility.
Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)
The EPE runs for 36 consecutive months after your TWP ends. During the EPE, you can receive SSDI benefits for any month your earnings fall below SGA. No new application or disability decision is required to restart payment within this window.
If your earnings go back above SGA, payments can stop again. Payments can resume for a later month if you are under SGA. This on-and-off feature is a lifeline for many people with variable hours or health flare-ups.
Expedited Reinstatement (EXR)
EXR is a safety net if benefits ended due to work, and you cannot continue working due to the same or a related medical condition. You can ask the Social Security Administration (SSA) to restart your benefits within five years of when they stopped. You do not have to file a brand-new application.
While SSA reviews your medical records, you could receive temporary payments for up to six months. If SSA approves the EXR, your monthly checks continue. If not approved, those temporary checks do not have to be paid back, unless you gave incorrect information.
There are also tools that help you return to work with medical coverage and support services.
Work Incentives
Work incentives for SSDI can include continued Medicare for at least 93 months after your TWP ends, as long as you still have a qualifying disability. Ticket to Work and similar supports can connect you with job training, placement help, and rehabilitation services. These tools can lower out-of-pocket costs while you test your capacity.
Working While Receiving SSI Benefits
SSI is different from SSDI. SSI helps people with disabilities who have limited income and resources, and it also supports people aged 65 or older. Work is allowed (as long as it is under SGA), and the program uses counting rules to lower your payment based on earnings.
Let’s look at how SSI treats your monthly paycheck.
Income Limits and Reductions
SSI calculates your monthly payment by counting some of your income and reducing your check. The first $20 of any income is not counted, plus the first $65 of earned income is not counted. After those exclusions, SSI reduces your benefit by 50 cents for every dollar you earn.
Here is a quick example. If you earn $885 in a month, subtract $20, then subtract $65, leaving
$800 countable earnings. SSI would reduce your check by $400, which is half of $800. SSI also looks at what you own, not just what you earn from work.
Resource Limits
To qualify for SSI, your countable resources must be within set limits. The limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Certain items are not counted, such as your main home and usually one vehicle used for transportation.
If you have a work goal, you can set money aside under a special plan to help you reach it.
Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)
A PASS lets you set aside income and resources for a written work goal, such as finishing school or starting a small business. Approved PASS funds are not counted for SSI, which can help you keep or get SSI or receive a higher payment. The plan must be in writing and follow SSA rules.
Expenses that can be paid under a PASS include items that move you toward your job goal, such as:
- Tuition, books, and fees for a training program or college.
- Tools, uniforms, or equipment needed for work.
- Transportation costs to get to classes or a job.
- Startup costs for a small business, such as software or supplies.
With a solid PASS, you can stretch each dollar while you build skills or launch work.
SSI has other helpful rules that support work for students and for people who need health coverage to keep working.
Work Incentives
SSI recipients can often keep Medicaid even if SSI cash payments stop due to earnings, subject to state income thresholds. Students under age 22 who attend school regularly can use the Student Earned-Income Exclusion to keep more of their SSI while working. Ask SSA about the current monthly and yearly SEIE limits.
Reporting Your Work Activity to the Social Security Administration
Report work changes to the SSA right away to avoid overpayments or sudden stops in benefits. Keep copies of all pay stubs and letters you send. Good records make life easier if questions pop up later.
When you report, include:
- The date you started or stopped work, and your employer’s name.
- Changes in duties, hours, hourly rate, or salary.
- Work-related expenses linked to your disability, such as extra transportation or medical devices.
You can report online through your “My Social Security” account, by phone, by mail, or by visiting a local office, and ask SSA which method is best for your case.
Continued Medicaid Eligibility
Many SSI recipients can keep Medicaid after SSI cash payments stop due to earnings. This is often called 1619(b). The income level for continued coverage varies by state and can be fairly high in some places.
To keep Medicaid under this rule, you generally must meet all of the following:
- You still have a disability under SSA rules.
- You need Medicaid to work or to manage your health.
- Your earnings are not enough to pay for a similar level of health coverage on your own.
Check your state’s threshold and keep proof of medical costs and premiums. That paperwork shows that Medicaid is still needed for you to stay on the job.
Let Burgess & Christensen Assist You With Your Social Security Disability Claim
For more than four decades, Burgess & Christensen has stood with individuals and families seeking disability benefits. Led by attorney Anjel Burgess, our team focuses on Social Security Disability, and we work cases across the country. We value steady communication and clear steps, so you always know what comes next.
If you want to talk through part-time work and how it could affect your SSDI or SSI, we are ready to help. Call 770-422-8111 or reach us through our website to set up a time. We stay committed to positive results and keeping your claim on track.