Can You Work While Applying for or Receiving Social Security Disability?

Working While Receiving SSDI or SSI Benefits Is a Complex Decision

There are many reasons you may want to seek part-time work when you’re applying for or receiving disability benefits. In each case, you’ll likely have many questions about how this could affect your eligibility.

The short answer is: There are circumstances where you can work part-time while applying for Social Security Disability benefits — and possibly after you start receiving them. However, this decision has many nuances and may not be the best way forward for you. That’s because there are limits to how much you can earn. Working may reduce the amount of benefits you receive or make you ineligible to receive them at all. 

Schott Mauss & Associates knows any decision surrounding your benefits can be complex and confusing. That’s why we strongly advise contacting your Social Security Disability attorney to talk through your specific situation. Here is a quick guide to help you understand the major considerations of working part-time while on disability. 

Table of Contents:

• Important Factors to Consider
• Guidelines for Working While Applying
• Can I Work While Receiving SSDI Benefits?
• Can I Work While Receiving SSI Benefits?
• Reporting Work Changes to the Social Security Administration

Important Factors To Consider

There are two main factors to consider when you’re wondering how adding part-time work will affect your disability benefits. 

1. Which program are you on? There are different guidelines if you are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) vs. Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
2. How much extra income will you earn? The Social Security Administration bases eligibility on the dollar amount you receive. 

Knowing those two factors will help you understand the exact effects on your benefits. Here’s a closer look at the guidelines.

Guidelines for Working While Applying for Social Security Disability

It is possible to work while applying for Social Security Disability benefits if you meet certain guidelines. To qualify for benefits, you must meet a threshold known as “Substantial Gainful Activity,” or SGA, which is key to determining how working will (or will not) affect your benefits. 

• In 2025, SGA is $1,620 per month. That amounts to just under $19,500 over the course of a year. (Starting in 2026, it will increase to $1,690 per month.)
• For those who are blind, the SGA threshold is $2,700. That equals exactly $32,400 per year. (Starting in 2026, it will increase to $2,830 per month.)

Important Note: The dollar amounts mentioned in this guide change almost every year. Always verify the current year’s limits with the Social Security Administration.

Can I Work While Receiving SSDI Benefits?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program for those who have worked in the past but are now no longer able to work because of a disability.

Once you begin receiving benefits, determining how a part-time job would affect your SSDI earnings is complex and can be tricky. It’s a decision that’s best made with the help of an attorney. That’s because many factors go into how your job could affect your earnings. Some of these factors include:

• Specific earning limits you must follow (these are different than the SGA threshold) 
• A “trial work period” that allows you to receive some benefits while you ease back into working full-time
• Extended eligibility for benefits once you begin working

Failing to take these and other factors into account could cause you to lose benefits. In a worst-case scenario, you could be required to repay the government a portion of your benefits due to overpayment. This is why we highly recommend discussing any work decision related to your SSDI with an attorney. 

Can I Work While Receiving SSI Benefits?

If you are receiving disability benefits under the Supplementary Security Income, or SSI, program, the rules are slightly different than for SSDI.

SSI is an income-based program available for those who are blind, disabled, or older than 65. To qualify, you must be found as “disabled” by the SSA and have below $2,000 in assets ($3,000 for couples), not counting your home and one car. Your income must also be limited. 

If you work part-time once you are on benefits, SSI does not count the first $20 of any kind of income (such as a job, a small pension, etc.). It also does not count the first $65 of your earned income. 

That means, if your job is your only income, then anything you earn above $85 will reduce your SSI benefits. However, your benefits will only be reduced by half of the amount you earn. 

The maximum benefit amount for SSI in 2025 is $967 (increasing to $994 in 2026). That means if your earnings are around $2,000 per month, you could lose your benefits entirely or not even be able to file a claim in the first place. 

If you must pay for services such as transportation in order to work, those impairment-related work expenses will not count toward your earnings. Students with disabilities may also have a portion of their income excluded. Again, it’s best to work with an attorney to determine the exact impact to your benefits.

Reporting Work Changes to the Social Security Administration

Whatever situation you may fall under, it’s vital to remember to report all changes in your employment and income situation to the Social Security Administration. That will help keep them current with your situation and will help avoid any confusion or penalties at a later date. 

In each of these scenarios, the transition can be a difficult process. Working with a trusted Social Security Disability attorney can help you ensure that you’re not only completing the process correctly but also receiving the maximum benefit you deserve. Need an expert on your side? Contact Schott Mauss & Associates today.