Yes. In most cases, you can get disability and work part-time. You just have to keep your monthly pay under the limit the Social Security Administration (SSA) sets.
A lot of people worry that earning any money will cut off their benefits right away. That’s not how it works. These programs are built to let you test whether you can work again, without losing your safety net all at once.
Have questions about your benefits? A Greenville workers’ compensation lawyer at Smith Jordan Law can help you understand your rights.
How much can you earn before Social Security says you’re not disabled?
It comes down to a number called substantial gainful activity, or SGA. This is a monthly limit on how much you can earn. If you earn more than the SGA limit in a month, the SSA may decide you can work full-time. Then you could lose your disability benefits.
There’s some good news. Some work costs don’t count. If your disability means you pay for special equipment, special rides to work, or certain medicine, you can subtract those costs first. The SSA calls these impairment-related work expenses. Take them out of your pay, then compare what’s left to the SGA limit.
What is the trial work period?
If you already get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you get a trial work period. It lets you test your ability to work for up to nine months. Those months can fall anywhere in a rolling five-year window.
During a trial month, you can earn as much as you want and still get your full disability check. A month only counts as a trial month if you earn more than the trial work limit for that year. After your nine trial months are up, you get another 36 months called the extended period of eligibility. During that time, you get a check for any month your pay stays under the SGA limit.
Are the rules different for SSI than SSDI?
Yes. The rules depend on which benefit you get.
SSDI works like insurance. In a regular month that isn’t a trial month, earning even $1 over the SGA limit can cost you your whole check. It’s a hard cliff.
SSI is different. It’s based on need. Instead of a cliff, your check goes down slowly as you earn more. The SSA ignores the first $20 of most income and the first $65 you earn from work. After that, your SSI drops by $1 for every $2 you earn.
Can working part-time hurt a disability claim you haven’t won yet?
It can. If your claim is still pending, part-time work can make it harder to win. Staying under the SGA limit is allowed. But a judge looks at more than your paycheck.
The judge also looks at how many hours you work and what the job asks of you. If your part-time job involves heavy lifting, long hours on your feet, or hard mental work, the judge may decide you could handle a full-time, easier job. That can hurt your claim.
Keep your benefits and your peace of mind. Talk to Smith Jordan Law.
These rules are confusing, and one wrong move can cost you your benefits. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
At Smith Jordan Law, you work with a real attorney from start to finish. We give you honest, straight answers, whether you’re applying for the first time or thinking about going back to work. And we keep you updated, so you always know where your case stands. For questions about how income affects your taxes, connect with a tax professional as well.
Call us at (864) 343-2222 or send us a message to set up a free consultation.