You have worked hard to build a strong disability claim and have been patient until you finally were granted SSDI benefits.

You get your Social Security check every month and can fully focus on your recovery.

However, at some point, you might have the need to return to work.

Maybe because you need the extra money or love your career and want to resume your position.

But can you work on SSDI without losing benefits?

What will happen if you go back to earning a salary, end your benefits, and, in the future, your disability hits once more?

You want a safe way to return to the workforce without immediately saying goodbye to the benefits that took so long to acquire.

Let’s say you need a safety net. Luckily, you can have it.

In this article, our Indianapolis disability law firm will dive into how to return to work while keeping your SSDI safe. You’ll also learn several programs you can use to ensure a smooth transition while protecting your benefits.

Working and Disability Benefits: Are They a Match?

Can you work on SSDI? The short answer is yes; you can work while receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

However, there are several rules you must carefully follow.

Before we delve into the requirements for going back or keeping your job without losing your benefits, let’s recall some crucial points.

To win SSDI, one of the vital requirements involves having a qualifying disability that hinders your ability to work and is expected to last at least 12 months.

If the Social Security Administration (SSA) sees you can quickly jump back into the workforce, they might consider you no longer need disability benefits. Therefore, there is a chance they end your monthly paychecks.

However, many SSDI beneficiaries still hold a job. How do they do that? Let’s find out.

Rules to Hold A Job while Collecting SSDI Benefits

In most cases, SSDI recipients can hold a job without losing benefits. But they must play this game under the SSA rules.

You can keep a job and still collect Social Security disability benefits as long as your salary doesn’t surpass the Substantial Gainful Activity limit.

Now, we need to get into some complex SSA terminology, but we promise to make it as simple and clear as possible.

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is a concept the SSA uses to determine whether a person is capable of engaging in productive work.

In other words, if you can engage in SGA, that means your impairment doesn’t impact your ability to work, and you probably are not eligible for benefits. That is in terms of the SSA rules and regulations.

SGA is based on an income limit, so there’s a certain amount you can earn while still being recognized as disabled.

The SGA limit changes each year to meet inflation. As of 2025, the SGA earnings limit is set at:

• $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,700 per month for blind individuals.

However, the rules change if you are self-employed. Even if your income is below SGA, Social Security might view your work as substantial if it resembles the effort typically exerted by non-disabled individuals in similar roles.

Is It Risky to Work While You Apply for Disability Benefits?

Is it harder to get SSI or SSDI if you are still working while applying?

Since having a disability that impacts your ability to work, having a full-time job might compromise your eligibility status.

But that’s not always the case; each claimant’s situation is unique.

The truth is that disability claims are lengthy; a case can take months or even years to reach a resolution. And during that time, if you can, you might have to work to keep earning a salary and make ends meet.

Being able to work may or may not impact your eligibility. While it is not prohibited to work (as long as you stay under the SGA limit), the SSA will take it into account when reviewing your application.

The decision to attempt to work while applying for Social Security disability benefits is never easy. SSA rules and regulations are complex and overwhelming.

Are you struggling between working and applying for SSDI? We suggest you talk with a professional disability benefits lawyer. This will allow you to understand your situation and options better and help you make an informed decision.

Can You Work on SSDI? Keeping A Job without Losing Benefits

Do you want to work while receiving SSDI benefits?

Keeping a job while chasing disability monthly checks might be possible.

Here are some valuable options to continue earning a salary without losing SSDI:

The Trial Work Period (TWP)

Do you feel ready to go back to work but are not a hundred percent certain?

Going back to work can mean the end of your benefits.

Suppose you got SSDI for arthritis, your condition improves, and you decide to work again. But in a few months, your arthritis worsens, and you must stop working. What happens then?

Thankfully, you can delve into the benefits of the Trial Work Period.

A Trial Work Period (TWP) is a safety net designed for SSDI beneficiaries who want to test their ability to work before fully diving back into the workforce. You can try a new or old job without immediately losing your benefits.

TWP offers a 9-month trial period (within a rolling 60-month period) where you can work full or part-time while maintaining your disability benefits.

Here are a few key considerations about TWP:

• Income Considered TWP: Any monthly salary of $1,160 or higher counts towards the Trial Work Period.
• How It Works: During the Trial Work Period (TWP), you can earn above the SGA limit without losing your SSDI benefits for nine months. However, once the TWP concludes, the SSA will review your earnings to see if they exceed the SGA limit, which may lead to benefits being discontinued.

The Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)

You completed the 9-months of the Trial Work Period; now what?

After that time, you enter what is called Extended Period of Eligibility, or EPE.

This new period lasts 36 months, during which the SSA will closely review your earnings.

If your monthly earnings fall below the SGA limit, you can continue working and receiving SSDI benefits as usual.

However, if at any month your salary surpasses the allowed limit, the SSA will consider suspending your disability benefit.

Special Considerations for Self-Employment

Can you work on SSDI as a self-employed beneficiary? There is a different set of rules and regulations for self-employed individuals who decide to work while receiving SSDI.

When you are self-employed and work while getting benefits, any month you earn more than the SGA limit or whenever you work over 80 hours in a month counts towards the Trial Work Period.

After completing TWP, you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility. This period consists of two phases.

The initial 36 months of the EPE is referred to as the “re-entitlement” phase, during which your small business or freelance work may result in temporary loss of benefits for some months but not for others.

If you run a small business or engage in freelance work, your eligibility for a monthly SSDI check will be assessed each month. You will receive benefits in any month where your work activity remains below the SGA threshold.

Your benefits will restart automatically if your work falls below the SGA level again. However, after benefits cessation during the re-entitlement period, the SSA will review your work under three tests to determine if benefits can resume.

Once your 36-month re-entitlement period ends, your benefits will cease if your self-employment reaches the SGA level again.

SSA Work Incentives and Programs for Beneficiaries

Do you still have doubts regarding if you can work on SSDI?

Working while receiving SSDI benefits is possible mainly because the SSA encourages beneficiaries to return to the workforce.

So, as long as you do it under their rules, you can keep a job and maintain disability benefits.

How does that work?

Social Security work incentives involve several programs for SSDI recipients who look forward to working again. Let’s explore the most popular programs:

Ticket to Work Program

One of the most popular SSA’s work incentive programs is Ticket to Work (TTW).

TTW was designed for people aged 18-64 currently receiving SSDI or SSI.

This program helps disability benefits recipients try returning to the workforce without losing their monthly payments or healthcare coverage.

One of the most prevalent concerns among our clients is what happens if they return to work, end their benefits, and their impairment returns or worsens.

The most significant advantage of TTW is that, if that happens, you can reaccess your benefit without reapplying. That benefit stands for a period of five years after ending your SSDI benefits.

Another valuable benefit of TTW is training and counseling opportunities.

When you sign up for the program, you get free specialized worker training, career counseling, help searching for jobs, and other benefits that allow you to meet your work goals.

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA)

The Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program offers a complimentary service to Social Security beneficiaries with disability-based benefits, guiding them in making informed decisions regarding their employment aspirations.

At the WIPA program, a certified Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) can assist you with:

• Planning for how employment may impact your benefits.
• Developing work incentives to support your success.
• Coordinating with agencies that help you finance training or services to re-enter the workforce.

The Grace Period After Benefits End

Programs and incentives, such as Trial Work Period and Extended Period of Eligibility, enable beneficiaries to return to work smoothly and without risks.

But what happens when you are fully over those benefits?

Once you have passed those benefits, you still have what’s known as the “grace period.”

SSA regulations offer a buffer during your exit from the EPE; therefore, while you’re no longer eligible, you can still obtain extra SSDI benefits.

The grace period lasts for two months after the month in which you worked at SGA levels. Consequently, you will be compensated for your termination month and the subsequent two months.

Key Steps to Take Before Returning to Work – Protect Your SSDI Benefits

Did you decide to go back to work?

These are the steps our disability lawyers advise clients to protect the SSDI benefits before returning to the workforce:

• Talk with Your Physician: Feeling ready to go back to work doesn’t always mean you are. Discuss your condition with your primary healthcare provider. After careful evaluation, they will inform you whether your disability has improved to the level you can work again.
• Use SSA Work Incentive Programs: Social Security offers valuable work incentive programs to help beneficiaries return to the workforce without losing benefits. Take advantage of those programs to safely make the transition.
• Keep Track of Your Earnings: Remember that to keep your benefits while working, your monthly salary must never exceed the SGA earnings limit.
• Consult with A Lawyer: Talk with your disability attorney about your options and the best strategy to return to work without immediately losing your benefits. If you didn’t work with a lawyer, this can be an excellent time to contact one. Their experience will ensure a smooth transition and the protection of your SSDI paycheck.

Go Back to Work While Protecting your SSDI Benefits

Can you work on SSDI? Yes, working while receiving disability benefits is possible, but you must know the game’s rules.

As long as you stick to the SSA’s regulations, you can earn a salary while cashing your Social Security monthly check.

Additionally, you can benefit from SSA’s work incentive programs to boost your career or acquire skills to embark on a new career path.

Do you have more questions about your transition back to work? Don’t hesitate to schedule a free consultation with us. Our dedicated lawyers are ready to assess your case and help you achieve a successful transition.