What the earnings limit is right now
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) lets you earn money and still receive your benefit, but only up to a monthly limit. In 2024, that limit is $1,550 per month. If you earn more than that in a month, Social Security reduces or stops your payment for that month.
The limit changes each year based on inflation. Social Security announces the new amount in October for the following year, so check their website or call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the current figure if you are reading this in a later year.
This limit applies to work income only — money you earn from a job or self-employment. It does not count investment income, rental income, or money from savings.
Key Takeaways
- You can earn up to $1,550 per month (in 2024) without losing your SSDI payment, but earnings above that reduce or stop your benefit that month.
- Only work income counts toward the limit — investment income, pensions, and savings do not affect your benefit.
- Social Security has a nine-month trial work period during which you can earn any amount without losing benefits, as long as you report your work.
- After the trial work period ends, you enter an extended may be able to access period where you can still use the monthly earnings limit for up to 36 months.
- You must report your earnings to Social Security each month, or they will overpay you and ask for the money back later.
The trial work period: nine months of any earnings
When you first start working while on SSDI, you get a trial work period that lasts nine months. During these nine months, you can earn any amount — there is no limit — and still receive your full SSDI payment every month. Social Security does not reduce your benefit no matter how much you make.
The nine months do not have to be consecutive. A trial work month is any month in which you earn $240 or more (in 2024; this amount also changes yearly). So if you work three months, take two months off, then work four more months, you have used up your nine trial work months across those seven calendar months.
You still have to report your earnings to Social Security each month. Failing to report does not protect you — it just means you will owe back the overpayment later.
What happens after the trial work period ends
Once you have used all nine trial work months, you enter the extended may be able to access period, which lasts up to 36 months. During this time, the monthly earnings limit ($1,550 in 2024) applies again. If you earn more than the limit in any month, your benefit for that month is reduced or stopped.
The extended may be able to access period gives you a safety net: if your work does not work out, you can go back to receiving your full benefit as long as you are still disabled and you have not yet used up the 36 months. You do not have to reapply or prove your disability again.
After the extended may be able to access period ends, if you are still working and earning above the limit, your SSDI stops. At that point, you would need to reapply and prove you are disabled again if you want benefits to restart.
How Social Security calculates your monthly earnings
Social Security counts the gross amount you earn — before taxes, before deductions. If you are self-employed, they count your net profit (income minus business expenses), not your total revenue.
The month you earn the money is the month that counts, not the month you receive the paycheck. If your employer pays you on the 15th and the 30th of each month, Social Security adds both payments together for the month in which you earned them, even if one check arrives in the next month.
If you are unsure how to report irregular income — seasonal work, freelance jobs, or commissions — call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask to speak with a work incentives specialist. They can walk you through how to count your specific situation.
What counts as work and what does not
Work income includes wages from a job, net profit from self-employment, and money you earn from running a business. It also includes certain benefits you receive in place of wages, such as sick leave or vacation pay you cash out.
Work income does not include:
- Pensions or retirement account withdrawals
- Interest, dividends, or capital gains from investments
- Rental income from property you own
- Royalties or one-time payments for past work
- Gifts or money from family members
- Unemployment benefits or workers' compensation
- Other government benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicare
If you receive a lump sum for past work — such as a settlement for unpaid wages — Social Security may count it differently depending on the circumstances. Ask them directly before you accept the payment.
How to report your earnings each month
You report your earnings to Social Security using the Ticket to Work online portal or by calling 1-800-772-1213. You can also visit your local Social Security office in person, though calling or using the online system is usually faster.
You should report your earnings within the month you earn them, or as soon as you know the amount. Do not wait until the end of the year or until you file your tax return. If you report late, Social Security may overpay you for months you should not have received a full benefit, and they will ask you to return the money.
Keep records of your pay stubs, invoices, or business records. Social Security may ask to see proof of what you reported, especially if your earnings are close to the monthly limit or if they vary a lot from month to month.
Work incentives and plans to achieve self-support
Beyond the trial work period and extended may be able to access, Social Security offers other programs that let you work and keep more of your benefit. The most common is Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal — such as going to school, buying equipment, or starting a business — without that money counting against your SSDI.
A PASS is complex and requires a written plan, so you will need help from a work incentives planner. You can find one through your state's vocational rehabilitation agency or by calling 1-866-968-7842 (the Work Incentives Planning and information program hotline). The planner helps you write the plan at no cost to you.
Other work incentives include impairment-related work expenses (money you spend on items or services you need because of your disability to work) and subsidies or special conditions your employer provides. A work incentives planner can explain which ones fit your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I earn over the limit one month?
Social Security reduces your benefit for that month. The reduction is 50 cents for every dollar you earn above the limit. So if the limit is $1,550 and you earn $1,650, you are $100 over, and your benefit is reduced by $50 that month. You still receive a partial payment.
Do I lose my Medicare if I earn too much?
No. Your Medicare coverage continues even if your SSDI payment stops because you earned too much. You can keep working and keep your health insurance. This protection lasts for several years after your benefit stops, so ask Social Security how long your specific coverage will last.
Can I use my trial work period months all at once or do they have to spread out?
They can spread out. A trial work month is any month you earn $240 or more. You could work nine months in a row, or work two months, take a break, work three more months, and so on. The nine months do not have to be consecutive.
What if I am self-employed and my income varies a lot?
Report your actual net profit each month as you earn it. If you have months with no income, those do not count as trial work months (since you did not earn $240 or more). Call a work incentives specialist if your income is hard to predict — they can help you plan how to report it correctly.
Do I have to tell my employer I am on disability?
No. Your SSDI status is private. You do not have to disclose it to your employer. You only have to report your earnings to Social Security, not to your boss.