What Counts as Income Under SSDI Rules?

SSDI eligibility depends primarily on your gross earned income, such as wages from a job or profits from self‑employment. The SSA uses this information to determine whether you are engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).

• In 2025, if you're not blind, you must stay below an SGA limit of $1,620 per month in gross income.
• If you're legally blind, that limit is higher—up to $2,700 per month.

If your earned income exceeds these amounts, the SSA may conclude that you are capable of working and suspend your benefits.

Trial Work Period and Extended Period of Eligibility

SSDI includes work incentives that let you test the waters without losing benefits:

Trial Work Period (TWP):

• Allows you to earn above the SGA limit for up to 9 months (not necessarily consecutive) while still receiving full benefits.
• For 2025, any month you earn over $1,160 counts as a TWP month.

Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE):

• Begins immediately after your TWP ends and lasts 36 months.
• During EPE, you get SSDI in any month your earnings stay under the SGA threshold.
• If you earn above the limit in a month, benefits pause—but they resume automatically if your earnings drop below the limit again.

Types of Income That Don’t Count Toward SGA

Some kinds of income are excluded when the SSA calculates your SGA:

• Impairment‑Related Work Expenses (IRWEs)—costs you pay out of pocket due to your disability, such as equipment or personal assistance required to work.
• Unearned income, including investments, pensions, child support, VA benefits, or housing assistance.
• Income earned during Trial Work Period months—even if you earn more than SGA during those months, benefits are not affected.

How to Keep Earnings Within SSDI Limits

To protect your benefits while earning:

• Aim to keep your monthly gross income under the SGA limit unless you're within your Trial Work Period.
• Keep detailed records of your earnings, hours worked, and job duties.
• Track and document any IRWEs you may be able to deduct from your countable income.
• Report your income and work status to the SSA each month, especially if your income changes.