Can I work part-time while collecting SSDI at age 62? Need income without losing Social Security benefits

Yes, you can work while receiving SSDI, but you need to understand the rules carefully. The key thing to watch for is what Social Security calls Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which is $1,470/month in 2025 for non-blind individuals. Here's how it works: - You get a 9-month Trial Work Period (TWP) where you can earn ANY amount and still receive full SSDI benefits - A TWP month only counts when you earn more than $1,110/month (2025 figure) - After your TWP, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility - During this time, any month you earn over the SGA amount ($1,470), you won't receive benefits for that month Make sure you report ALL work activity to SSA, even part-time or remote work. The $1,470 limit is specific to SSDI, not regular retirement benefits (which have different rules).

i was on ssdi for 5 years and worked part time at walmart. they took my benefits away when i went over the limit for 3 months in a row. be SUPER careful about your hours!!! they dont tell u when ur trial period is used up untill its too late

The previous answers are mostly correct, but I want to clarify a few things about working while on SSDI: 1. The Trial Work Period (TWP) is any 9 months within a rolling 60-month period where you earn above the threshold ($1,110 in 2025). These months DON'T have to be consecutive. 2. After your TWP, you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) for 36 months. During this time, you'll receive benefits in any month you earn BELOW the SGA limit. 3. Even after the EPE, if your disability prevents you from working within 5 years, you can get expedited reinstatement without a new application. I strongly recommend creating a my Social Security account online and reporting your earnings monthly. This helps avoid overpayments that you'd have to pay back later.

I'm in a similar situation and tried calling SS about working part time. Spent 3 hours on hold only to get disconnected!! Then tried again next day and same thing happened. Does anyone know if remote work is counted differently than regular jobs with SSDI? My neighbor said something about a special rule for working from home but I can't find info on SSA website.

Just wanted to mention that SSDI and early retirement benefits at 62 have COMPLETELY different rules about working! If you were getting early retirement instead of SSDI, you'd be subject to the retirement earnings test ($22,320/year for 2025), with $1 deducted for every $2 you earn above that. With SSDI, it's all about the monthly SGA limit of $1,470. You can work and earn under that amount indefinitely after your TWP/EPE periods and still keep full SSDI benefits. For someone who's 62 and on SSDI, you might want to calculate if switching to early retirement would be better financially if you plan to work regularly. Though usually SSDI pays more and has Medicare regardless of age.

To answer your Medicare question - if you switch from SSDI to early retirement, you would lose Medicare until age 65 unless you qualify under different criteria. This is a major consideration when thinking about working. Regarding payment amounts: Early retirement at 62 would reduce your benefit by about 30% from your full retirement age amount. Your SSDI benefit is equal to what your full retirement benefit would be, so switching to early retirement would likely mean a significant reduction in monthly benefits. I recommend booking an appointment with a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselor. They provide free benefits counseling to help you understand exactly how work would affect your specific situation. You can find them through Social Security's Ticket to Work website.

Here's what I recommend for your situation: 1. Start by testing the waters with very part-time work (keeping under $1,110/month) so you don't trigger a Trial Work Period month 2. Keep meticulous records of all earnings and report them to SSA monthly 3. Consider asking for a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) from SSA - this document will tell you if you've used any TWP months already 4. Look into the Ticket to Work program which provides work incentives and protections 5. If you find a good work-from-home opportunity that might push you over SGA, calculate carefully whether the combined income (work + potential reduced SSDI) is worth it Many people successfully work part-time while maintaining SSDI benefits. The key is staying informed and keeping your earnings documented and reported.

My sister lost EVERYTHING after working part time with SSDI!!! They made her pay back TWO YEARS of benefits because she didn't report properly. They don't care about your situation, they just want to cut people off! Be VERY careful!!

Thanks everyone for the advice! I think I'll start with just a few hours weekly to stay well under that $1,110 threshold while I figure everything out. I'll definitely report everything properly and maybe try that Claimyr service to actually talk to someone at SSA first. I don't want to risk my Medicare or get hit with an overpayment. I appreciate all your help!

I've been working part-time while on SSDI for about 18 months now and wanted to share my experience. I started very cautiously like you're planning - just 10-12 hours a week doing data entry from home, keeping my monthly earnings around $800-900 to stay well below the $1,110 TWP threshold. Here's what I learned that might help: - Set up automatic monthly reporting through your my Social Security account - it takes 2 minutes and creates a paper trail - Keep a simple spreadsheet tracking your hours and gross pay each month - Don't forget to include any tips, bonuses, or reimbursements as earnings - Consider getting a letter from SSA confirming your TWP status before you start working The extra income has been a lifesaver for covering bills while keeping my full SSDI and Medicare intact. Just be patient with the system and document everything. You've got this!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation at 63 and have been nervous about even considering part-time work while on SSDI. Reading everyone's experiences, especially those who've successfully managed to work while keeping their benefits, gives me hope. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - I recently discovered that some local disability resource centers offer free one-on-one counseling about work incentives. I found mine through the state vocational rehabilitation office, and the counselor walked me through scenarios specific to my situation without the long wait times mentioned for WIPA services. Also, for anyone worried about overpayments, I learned that you can request a "waiver" if SSA determines you weren't at fault for the overpayment and paying it back would cause financial hardship. It's not automatic, but it's an option that exists. @Yara, your plan to start small and document everything sounds perfect. The peace of mind of keeping your Medicare alone makes the cautious approach worth it. Wishing you success with your part-time work search!

I've been following this discussion and wanted to share some additional resources that have been helpful for me while navigating SSDI work rules. First, the SSA Red Book (available free online) is incredibly detailed about all work incentives and rules - it's technical but comprehensive. Second, many states have "Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach" (BPAO) programs that are different from WIPA and sometimes have shorter wait times. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the Unsuccessful Work Attempt (UWA) provision. If you try working but have to stop within 6 months due to your disability or because work accommodations weren't adequate, those earnings might not count against you. It's worth knowing about as a safety net. Also, for tax purposes, remember that SSDI benefits may become taxable if your combined income (including work earnings) exceeds certain thresholds - something to factor into your financial planning. @Yara, your cautious approach is wise. The extra documentation and slow start will serve you well. Many of us have successfully balanced part-time work with SSDI - it just takes patience and careful record-keeping!