Can I work part-time on SSDI without triggering Trial Work Period? Need to make under $1000/month for mortgage

There's unfortunately no way to work without triggering your Trial Work Period if you're on SSDI. ANY month you earn over $1,020 (2025 amount) counts as a TWP month, and ANY month you do "services" (even earning $1) can potentially count. You get 9 TWP months within a rolling 60-month period. You must report ALL work activity to SSA regardless of amount. After your TWP ends, you can still work, but if you earn over Substantial Gainful Activity ($1,550/month in 2025 for non-blind individuals), your benefits could stop. On the plus side, completing TWP doesn't automatically terminate benefits - you'd enter Extended Period of Eligibility for 36 months after.

my cousin went thru this last yr she was on ssdi for like 10 yrs and got a part time job not telling ssa and they found out and now she owes them like 30k and lost her medicare too its not worth the risk

The previous commenter is correct about the TWP basics. Let me add some clarification: Using your TWP isn't necessarily bad! It's actually a work incentive DESIGNED to help SSDI recipients test their ability to work. During those 9 months, you keep ALL your benefits regardless of how much you earn. After your TWP, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) where benefits are only suspended in months you earn over SGA ($1,550 in 2025). If your earnings drop below SGA, benefits automatically restart. My advice: Talk to a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselor. They provide free benefits counseling and can create a personalized plan. Also look into an Impairment-Related Work Expense (IRWE) deduction if you have work expenses related to your disability.

I've been thru this exact situation! After my divorce I needed extra $ too. Here's what happened: I started working part-time (15 hrs/week) and reported it properly. Used up my TWP months over about 1.5 years because some months I didn't work enough to count. Then entered EPE but kept my earnings under SGA. The important thing is REPORTING EVERYTHING. I reported monthly by calling the SSA directly. Oh and make sure you understand how work might affect any Medicare/Medicaid you have. That can be a separate issue.

DONT RISK IT!!! I know TWO people who tried working "just a little" on SSDI and got AUDITED and had to PAY BACK THOUSANDS!!!! Social Security has ways of finding out if your working even if you think they don't know. They check with IRS and can see if you earned ANYTHING!!! Not worth losing your benefits FOREVER!!!

I was in your position back in 2022. If you're going to work part-time, DEFINITELY report everything. I've found the best way to reach SS is using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They get you through to a live agent at SSA without the endless hold times. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU showing how it works. I was able to talk to someone who explained exactly how to report my work properly and even helped me set up wage reporting through my.ssa.gov which is way easier than calling every month. Also, consider talking to a benefits counselor through your state's WIPA program. They can give you a personalized benefits analysis so you know exactly how much you can work without jeopardizing benefits.

just fyi i worked under the table at my brothers shop for a couple years while on ssdi nobody ever found out about it. not saying u should do this just saying sometimes u gotta do what u gotta do to survive

Something else to consider: if your disability has improved and you think you might be able to gradually return to work, look into the Ticket to Work program. It provides free career services, extends your period of Medicare coverage, and gives additional protections during the return-to-work process. Also, you can potentially reduce your countable income for SGA purposes by documenting Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) - costs you pay for items/services needed because of your disability to work (special transportation, certain medications, medical devices, etc). These can be deducted from your earnings before determining if you exceed SGA limits.

have u looked into getting a roomate? that could help with mortgage without risking ur benefits at all. my sister did this after her divorce

To answer your direct questions: 1. No, there is NO minimum amount you can earn without it potentially counting as a Trial Work month. ANY month where you perform "services" can count, though typically only months where you earn over $1,020 (2025 figure) will automatically count. 2. Yes, you MUST report ALL work activity regardless of amount earned. 3. Using your TWP isn't necessarily bad - it's a safety net designed to let you test your work ability. 4. After you use your 9 TWP months (which don't have to be consecutive), you move to the 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility where benefits are only suspended in months you earn over SGA ($1,550/month in 2025). Report your work activity by calling your local office, through my.ssa.gov, or by visiting in person.

I understand how scary this situation is - facing potential loss of your home while trying to navigate complex disability rules. Here are some additional options to consider beyond just working: 1. **Housing assistance programs**: Contact your local housing authority about emergency rental/mortgage assistance, especially programs for disabled individuals. Many areas have specific programs for people at risk of foreclosure. 2. **Utility assistance**: If you're behind on utilities too, programs like LIHEAP can help free up money for your mortgage. 3. **Food assistance**: Maximizing SNAP benefits and using food banks can free up more of your SSDI for housing costs. 4. **Disability advocacy organizations**: They often know about local emergency assistance funds specifically for people with disabilities facing housing crises. 5. **Credit counseling**: Non-profit housing counselors can sometimes negotiate with mortgage companies for modified payment plans or forbearance. The roommate suggestion is also excellent - rental income typically doesn't affect SSDI benefits as long as it's not considered "work activity." If you do decide to work, definitely get that WIPA counseling first. But explore these other options too - sometimes there are resources available that people don't know about.