What is the income limit for SSDI in 2023?

For 2023, the main SSDI income limit for non-blind individuals was $1,470 per month (Substantial Gainful Activity or SGA), while for blind individuals, it was $2,460 per month; the monthly Trial Work Period (TWP) amount was $1,050, during which earnings don't affect benefits. Consistently exceeding the SGA limit usually means losing benefits, but unearned income doesn't count for SSDI, only earned income.


How much can I earn while on SSDI in 2023?

There are special rules that allow recipients to work for additional income while receiving SSDI, but there is a limit to how much money you make while receiving benefits. For non-blind individuals, the income limit is $1,470 per month in 2023, and for blind individuals, the limit is $2,460 per month.

Does SSDI have an income limit?

Receiving SSI and SSDI while working

But the benefit amount you receive may be reduced depending on how much money you earn from your job. As of 2024, you may stop receiving SSDI benefits if you earn over $1,550 a month. But your eligibility to receive SSI while working will depend on which state you live in.


Can you earn money while you're on social security disability?

Yes, you can earn money while on Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI) through special work incentives like the Trial Work Period (TWP) and Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which allow you to test work without losing benefits, but you must report all work activity to the SSA, as benefits decrease with earnings above certain limits (e.g., Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) in 2025 is $1,620/month, or $2,700 if blind). The SSA has programs like Ticket to Work to help, and you can continue receiving benefits, though reduced, as long as your earnings stay below certain thresholds, with SSI checks often decreasing less than dollar-for-dollar for earnings. 

Can you make too much money to qualify for disability?

Work Earnings – Disability

You will be denied if you consistently earn more than SGA because it shows you are not disabled. Social Security's definition of “disability” is that you cannot work because of your disabling condition. Social Security's definition of “work” is making more than $1,550 per month.


What Is The Income Limit For Social Security Disability? - CountyOffice.org



How much money can I make a year and still collect social security disability?

You can make up to the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit, which is $1,690/month ($20,280/year) for non-blind individuals and $2,830/month ($33,960/year) for blind individuals in 2026, before losing Social Security Disability benefits, though work expenses due to disability can increase this; there's also a Trial Work Period with no earnings limit for 9 months. After the trial, during the 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), your benefits stop only in months you earn over the SGA amount, but work expenses are deducted. 

What is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding social security?

Claiming Benefits Too Early

One of the biggest mistakes people make is claiming Social Security benefits as soon as they're eligible, which is at age 62. While getting money sooner can be tempting, claiming early has a significant downside: your monthly benefit will be reduced.

How to make money without losing SSDI?

You can return to work for at least 9 months and still get your full Disability payment. We call this a “trial work period.” In 2025, any month you earn over $1,160 before taxes will count towards this trial. The months don't need to be consecutive, just within a rolling 5-year period.


What can cause you to lose your social security disability benefits?

You can lose Social Security disability benefits primarily due to medical recovery, returning to substantial work (earning too much), reaching full retirement age, or failure to cooperate with reviews or follow treatment; other reasons include incarceration, fraud, major changes in living situations (for SSI), or marriage (for disabled widow(er)s/children). The Social Security Administration (SSA) periodically checks if you still meet the criteria through Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs). 

How long does SSDI last?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits generally last as long as you remain medically disabled and unable to work, but they convert to retirement benefits at your full retirement age (around 67), or can end if your condition improves, you return to substantial work, or you're incarcerated. The Social Security Administration (SSA) conducts periodic reviews, called Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs), to check your eligibility, with review frequency depending on the likelihood of medical improvement (e.g., every 3 or 7 years). 

Can I work while receiving SSDI?

Yes, you can work while receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), thanks to programs like the Trial Work Period (TWP) and Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) that let you test your ability to work without immediately losing benefits, but you must report all work to the Social Security Administration (SSA) as earnings limits apply after the TWP. The TWP allows 9 months of work (over a specific earning amount, e.g., $1,160/month in 2025) to receive full benefits, followed by an EPE where benefits can continue for up to 36 months if earnings aren't "substantial" (e.g., over $1,620/month in 2025). 


How often does disability get reviewed?

Social Security disability reviews (CDRs) happen on a schedule based on your medical condition's likelihood of improvement: every 6-18 months if improvement is expected (MIE), every 3 years if possible (MIP), and every 5-7 years if not expected (MINE). The Social Security Administration (SSA) also conducts reviews if you start working, report improvement, or if new treatments emerge, using forms like the SSA-455 (Disability Update Report). 

How does the SSA monitor my income?

The SSA uses your wage history to calculate your average monthly earnings over your working years. It decides which years to put in its calculation by adding up the years between age 22 and your age when your disability began. Then it removes a handful of your lowest-earning years.

What is the downside to being on disability?

The primary downside of going on disability is potential financial strain, as benefits typically do not match one's previous earnings. This reduction in income can impact lifestyle and long-term savings.


Do I have to pay back long term disability if I get SSDI?

Yes, you generally have to pay back your long-term disability (LTD) benefits if you get Social Security Disability (SSDI) backpay, because most LTD policies have an "offset" clause, meaning your LTD payment is reduced by your SSDI, and receiving both fully creates an "overpayment" that the insurer wants back, especially from retroactive SSDI checks. You'll typically owe the insurer the amount of SSDI backpay for months you received both, but you might be able to negotiate the repayment or seek a tax credit for taxes paid on the LTD. 

What medical conditions qualify for SSDI?

Medical conditions that qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) must be severe enough to prevent substantial work for at least 12 months, covering major body systems like musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and mental health, as detailed in the SSA's "Blue Book". Common examples include severe arthritis, heart disease, cancer, depression, Crohn's, COPD, and multiple sclerosis, but eligibility hinges on proving the condition prevents any work, not just your previous job, with sufficient work credits also needed. 

How much money can you make on SSDI without losing benefits?

You can make a significant amount on SSDI without losing benefits due to specific phases like the Trial Work Period (TWP) with no limits, followed by an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) where 2025 earnings over $1,620/month (or $2,700 if blind) trigger benefit suspension, but benefits can restart if earnings drop, with work expenses due to disability potentially allowing even higher earnings before benefits stop. 


What is the 5 year rule for disability?

What Is the 5-Year Rule for Social Security Disability? The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) 5-year rule requires you to have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 5 out of the 10 years immediately before your disability began.

What can you not do while on disability?

Not Listening to Your DoctorYou must follow your doctor's orders if you want your SSDI claim to be successful. This can mean any number of things, such as taking prescribed medication, enacting dietary restrictions and lifestyle changes, and attending all therapy sessions that are scheduled for you.

What is the hardest disability to prove?

Here are the Top Disabilities That Are Difficult To Prove
  • Mental Health Conditions. Mental illness stands as one of the most prevalent causes of disability, yet its impact is often underestimated or misunderstood. ...
  • Chronic Pain Disorders. ...
  • Fibromyalgia. ...
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. ...
  • Autoimmune Disorders.


What is happening on March 31, 2025 with Social Security?

At the conclusion of the transition period, on March 31, 2025, SSA will enforce online digital identity proofing and in-person identity proofing. SSA will permit individuals who do not or cannot use the agency's online “my Social Security” services to start their claim for benefits on the telephone.

What does Suze Orman say about when to take Social Security?

Suze Orman strongly advises waiting as long as possible to claim Social Security, ideally until age 70, to maximize your monthly benefit, explaining that delaying provides a significant guaranteed annual increase (around 8%) and offers crucial inflation protection for a longer retirement. While some suggest claiming at 62 and investing the money, Orman counters that most people don't invest it and end up with less income long-term, emphasizing that a higher monthly check with cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) is a better, more secure financial tool, especially for the surviving spouse. 

How often are SSDI benefits reviewed?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews SSDI cases through Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) every 3 to 7 years, depending on your condition's expected improvement: more often (6-18 months) for conditions likely to improve, about every 3 years for possible improvement, and less often (5-7 years) for permanent conditions where improvement isn't expected, with younger individuals often reviewed more frequently. 


What is the maximum income for SSDI in 2025?

For 2025, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,700 per month for blind individuals; earning above these amounts can affect your benefits, though there's a Trial Work Period where you can test work, and work-related disability expenses can increase your allowable earnings. 

Can I work on SSDI?

Yes, you can work while receiving SSDI benefits, thanks to programs like the Trial Work Period (TWP) and the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which allow you to test your ability to work without immediately losing benefits; you must report all work activity to the Social Security Administration (SSA) to stay compliant. During the TWP, you get full benefits for 9 months (regardless of earnings), followed by the EPE where benefits continue as long as earnings aren't "substantial" (over $1,620/month in 2025).