Many disability beneficiaries believe that any work activity will automatically terminate their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. This misconception prevents countless individuals from exploring part-time work opportunities that could improve their financial situation and quality of life. Social Security actually offers several programs designed to help you transition back to work without immediately losing your benefits, recognizing that returning to employment is often a gradual process for people with disabilities.
At The GCC Law Firm, we regularly guide clients through these work incentive programs, helping them understand their options and develop strategies that protect their benefits while exploring employment opportunities. Our experience shows that proper planning and knowledge of the rules can make the difference between a successful work attempt and an unintended benefit loss.
Understanding Social Security’s Work Incentive Programs
Social Security recognizes that many disability beneficiaries want to test their ability to work again, even if they’re not ready for full-time employment. That’s why the agency has created work incentive programs that allow you to earn money while maintaining your disability benefits, at least for a defined period of months. These programs acknowledge that returning to work is often a gradual process, particularly for individuals with disabilities.
The key principle behind these programs is that Social Security wants to encourage work attempts rather than penalize them. However, there are specific rules and income thresholds you must understand to make informed decisions about part-time work.
SSDI Work Rules and the Trial Work Period (TWP)
If you receive SSDI benefits, you have access to a Trial Work Period (TWP). During your TWP, you can earn any amount of money for up to 6 months without losing your SSDI benefits. You do not need to count six consecutive months. In 2025, a trial work month is any month in which you earn more than $1,160.
Here’s what makes the TWP particularly valuable: these six months can occur over a rolling 60-month period. This means you could work sporadically, testing your abilities and earning capacity, while still receiving your full SSDI benefits. The TWP essentially gives you a safety net to explore work opportunities without fearing your benefits will be terminated.
Once you’ve used all six trial work months, you’ll enter what’s called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, which lasts for 36 consecutive months, you’ll only receive SSDI benefits for months when your earnings fall below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold.
What Is Substantial Gainful Activity?
Substantial Gainful Activity represents the earnings level that Social Security considers sufficient to indicate you can support yourself through work. For 2025, the SGA amount is $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,700 for blind individuals. These amounts typically increase annually to account for cost-of-living adjustments.
Understanding SGA is essential because it determines whether Social Security considers your work activity significant enough to affect your benefits. During your EPE, any month where you earn less than the SGA amount, you’ll receive your full SSDI payment. However, months where you earn above SGA, you won’t receive SSDI benefits for that specific month.
SSI Work Rules and Income Limits
SSI recipients face different rules than SSDI beneficiaries. Since SSI is a needs-based program, any income you earn will affect your monthly payment amount. However, SSI has built-in work incentives that ensure you’ll always be better off financially by working, even part-time.
The first $65 of your monthly earnings don’t count toward SSI income calculations. After that, Social Security only counts half of your remaining earnings when determining your SSI payment reduction. For example, if you earn $300 in a month, Social Security would only count $117.50 as countable income ($300 minus $65 equals $235, divided by 2 equals $117.50).
This formula means that your SSI benefits decrease gradually as your earnings increase, rather than stopping abruptly when you reach a specific threshold. You can potentially earn several hundred dollars monthly while still receiving partial SSI benefits.
Extended Period of Eligibility Benefits for SSDI Recipients
The Extended Period of Eligibility provides important protections that many disability beneficiaries don’t fully understand. During this 36-month period following your TWP, you maintain several valuable advantages. Your disability status remains established, meaning you don’t need to prove your disability again if your work attempt doesn’t succeed.
If your earnings drop below SGA during the EPE, your benefits automatically resume without requiring a new application. This protection is particularly important if your disability fluctuates or if you discover that sustained work is more challenging than initially anticipated.
Additionally, you maintain Medicare coverage throughout the EPE and even beyond, depending on your individual circumstances. This healthcare coverage can be just as valuable as the monetary benefits themselves.
Planning Your Return-to-Work Strategy
Before starting any work activity, consider developing a plan that accounts for your specific disability, financial needs, and career goals. Document your work attempts and keep detailed records of your monthly earnings. This documentation will be essential for Social Security to calculate your benefits and can protect you if questions arise about your work activity.
The attorneys at The GCC Law Firm emphasize the importance of understanding your rights and protections before beginning any work attempt. We’ve seen too many cases where beneficiaries inadvertently created problems by not fully understanding the rules or failing to report earnings properly.
Consider starting with very part-time work to test your capabilities and stamina. Many successful work transitions begin with just a few hours per week, gradually increasing as you become more confident in your abilities. Remember that setbacks are normal and don’t necessarily indicate failure.
It’s also wise to maintain open communication with Social Security about your work attempts. Report your earnings promptly and accurately to avoid potential overpayment issues that could complicate your benefits later.
When Professional Legal Guidance Becomes Essential
While Social Security’s work incentive programs offer valuable protections, the rules can be complex and the stakes are high. Making mistakes in reporting earnings or misunderstanding program requirements could result in benefit overpayments, unexpected terminations, or other complications that affect your financial security.
At The GCC Law Firm, we help disability recipients understand their work options and make informed decisions about returning to employment. Our experienced Social Security disability attorneys can review your specific situation, explain how work income might affect your benefits, and help you develop a strategy that maximizes your financial stability while protecting your disability status.
We understand that every disability situation is unique, and we provide personalized guidance based on your individual circumstances, disability type, and financial goals. Whether you’re considering your first work attempt since becoming disabled or you’re exploring expanded employment opportunities, experienced professional legal advice can help you make confident decisions about your future.
Don’t let uncertainty about work rules prevent you from exploring your employment potential. Contact our experienced disability attorneys to discuss your specific situation and learn how you can safely pursue work opportunities while protecting your valuable disability benefits.