Many Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients want to work while receiving benefits but worry about losing their financial support. Understanding the 2025 rules around working while on SSDI helps beneficiaries make informed decisions about employment.

The most important concept to understand is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which the Social Security Administration uses to determine if your work activity disqualifies you from disability benefits. For 2025, the monthly SGA amount is $1,620 for non-blind individuals and $2,700 for statutorily blind individuals

17. If your earnings exceed these thresholds, the SSA may determine you're no longer disabled.

However, the SSA provides several work incentives that allow you to test your ability to work without immediately losing benefits:

The Trial Work Period (TWP) is particularly important. During this period, you can work and earn any amount without affecting your SSDI benefits. The TWP consists of 9 months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-month period. In 2025, any month where you earn more than $1,160 counts as a TWP month

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After completing your TWP, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During this time, you'll receive benefits for months where your earnings fall below the SGA level, but won't receive benefits when earnings exceed it

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The SSA also offers these additional work incentives:

• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE): Deducts disability-related work expenses from your earnings when calculating SGA
• Subsidy and Special Conditions: Considers employer accommodations that may result in receiving more pay than the actual value of the services performed
• Unsuccessful Work Attempt: Disregards brief work attempts that end due to your disability

Reporting your work activity to the SSA is mandatory. Failure to report can result in overpayments that must be repaid. Use the my Social Security portal or contact your local SSA office to report earnings promptly.