Our Services
Existing Claim Help
Resources
SSDI income limits apply to work activity and earnings, not unearned income, savings, or assets. Investments, gifts, inheritances, private pensions, and other money that is not work income are not limited when you get SSDI. Your work activity and earnings can affect eligibility and payments when you’re applying for SSDI or receiving benefits.
This article explains the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) income rules for SSDI eligibility and benefits. It also discusses the different rules for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Because SSDI is based on your work record and SSI is based on need, the programs have different financial rules. SSI is based on financial need, so income and property can affect eligibility and monthly payments although some income and resources are excluded. A spouse’s income also affects eligibility. See the SSI rules about assets and resources here.
SSDI has no asset limit, but work income can affect eligibility and benefits. Other sources of money like selling a property or withdrawing money from an account don’t. Your spouse’s finances don’t affect your eligibility or benefits.
Check your SSDI eligibility in a few minutes.
No cost to start.
Talk with our team about your situation. We'll walk you through what comes next.
Get EvaluationSee what documents you need. We'll help you get everything in place.
Get EvaluationNot sure what that SSA letter means? We can review it with you.
Get EvaluationGet support from a team that handles the paperwork and follows through.
Get EvaluationTo qualify for SSDI, you must have a provable medical condition that prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity (SGA) for at least 12 months or is expected to result in death. You must also have enough work credits from paying Social Security taxes. Learn how to check your work credits in this article.
The SSDI earnings limit for applicants is based on substantial gainful activity (SGA), which the SSA defines by work activity and earnings. The SSA’s earnings thresholds change almost every year. Part-time work can be considered SGA. See the SGA income limits for current and previous years here.
If you can consistently earn at or above SGA thresholds, you do not meet the SSA’s definition of disability (earning less doesn’t guarantee approval. Your condition and limitations must be proven with medical evidence).
Even if your earnings are below SGA, the SSA reviews your hours, duties, productivity, attendance, accommodations, coworker help, and the reason work stopped or decreased. These details show how your condition affects your ability to maintain regular employment.
The SSA treats a short work attempt differently if it ends or if earnings drop below SGA because of the medical condition. The agency also considers special support at work like reduced duties and extra help when it reviews work attempts and SGA.
For example, an applicant works 24 hours a week, has reduced duties, receives regular help from coworkers, and misses several shifts each month. The SSA reviews that full work situation, not just monthly earnings.
After SSDI approval, SSDI work incentives let you test working again without immediately losing your disability benefits if your health permits it. The agency offers help finding jobs, getting resources, reporting wages and more through the Ticket to Work program. Income rules are different when you are testing work again.
The trial work period (TWP) is the first stage for testing work. When your gross monthly earnings hit the TWP threshold, which is different from SGA, that month counts as a TWP month. You can have nine months of earnings over that threshold in a rolling 60-month period. The months don’t have to be consecutive. See this year’s TWP earnings limit.
You get your full SSDI benefit and your work income in the nine TWP months. You must report all work activities and income.
After you have nine TWP months, you move into a 36-month extended period of eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, the SSDI earnings limit reverts to the SGA threshold. Your monthly disability benefit is suspended for months you earn more than SGA limits, meaning you don’t get paid. You get your full benefit for months that your earnings are less than SGA.
If you are able to consistently earn SGA or more after the three-year EPE, your SSDI benefits will end.
Your Medicare health insurance continues for at least 93 months after SSDI benefits end because of work. If you turn 65 during that time, you are eligible for Medicare without disability requirements if you’ve been a legal U.S. resident for at least five years.
If your SSDI ends because of work, but you have to quit working again within five years because your condition flares or returns, you can request expedited reinstatement. You don’t have to reapply, and you can get temporary benefits for up to six months.
If a new condition prevents or limits your ability to work, you will need to reapply for disability benefits.
To calculate countable income for SSDI, the SSA starts with your gross earnings and subtracts certain approved deductions. Gross earnings means before taxes and payroll deductions.
The SSA deducts qualifying impairment-related work expenses from your gross income whether you are an employee or are self-employed. These are items or services you need to work because of the disability, such as transportation, attendant care, medical devices, specialized equipment, and service-animal expenses. Expenses must be approved by the SSA and not reimbursed by another source.
Example: You have $1,800 in gross monthly earnings and a qualifying $250 impairment-related work expense. Your countable earnings after the deduction would be $1,550.
When calculating countable income for SSDI, the SSA may reduce your earnings when an employer pays more than the reasonable value of your work.
The SSA reviews how much of the job you perform yourself and how much support you receive. The agency asks your employer, supervisor, job coach, or another informed person about your duties, hours, productivity, supervision, and accommodations. Then, reviewers compare the value of your work with the usual local pay for that job.
Example: If a job coach performs some of your duties and your work output is lower than what your wages reflect, the SSA may only count part of your income. Your employer can provide an estimate, but the SSA makes the final decision about how much of your pay counts as earnings.
When you’re self-employed, the SSA reviews your net profit (earnings minus business expenses) and the hours you worked, duties performed, responsibility for operations, value of your services, and unpaid help. Your business can report a small profit while you perform substantial work. See how the SSA reviews income, hours, and work effort when you own a business.
When you get SSDI, you must report all work changes to the SSA. If you don’t report earnings promptly, you may be overpaid and have to repay the SSA.
You can report through your online Social Security account or by calling the SSA. If you need help, contact the Ticket to Work program.
Report these work changes:
Keep records that support what you report and help you answer SSA questions, including:
Need help applying for disability benefits or appealing a denial? Advocate is here for you. Our disability specialists know what the SSA needs to see and how to build a strong claim.
We can help you:
Advocate’s help costs nothing upfront, and you only pay a fee if we help you win benefits. We can help reduce your frustration and overwhelm.
Check your SSDI eligibility in a few minutes.
No cost to start.
Talk with our team about your situation. We'll walk you through what comes next.
Get EvaluationSee what documents you need. We'll help you get everything in place.
Get EvaluationNot sure what that SSA letter means? We can review it with you.
Get EvaluationGet support from a team that handles the paperwork and follows through.
Get EvaluationYes. There is no SSDI asset limit, savings limit, or resource limit. SSI has different resource rules.
No. Your spouse’s earnings do not affect SSDI. SSI has different rules.
No. Gifts and inheritances are unearned income and do not count as work income. They can affect SSI.
No. Passive rental income does not count as SSDI work earnings. Active property management can be reviewed as work activity.
Maybe. The answer depends on your earnings, duties, and SSDI work incentives, not just your hours.
The SSA reviews gross wages minus approved work expenses or employer subsidies for employees. See what the agency reviews if you are self-employed.
It depends whether you’re applying, in a trial work period, in the EPE, or past the EPE. Read above for specifics for each stage.
Yes. Report all work changes and work activity to the SSA.
Let us prepare your application so you're not managing the paperwork alone.
Get EvaluationConnect with an Advocate specialist who's with you from day one.
Get EvaluationBegin your claim with a team that knows the SSA process inside and out.
Get Evaluation