Can I work part-time with both Social Security retirement and newly approved SSDI benefits?

Congratulations on your SSDI approval! The rules for working while receiving both retirement and disability are pretty specific. Since you're already receiving retirement benefits and now have SSDI approved, you're subject to what's called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit. For 2025, that amount is $1,550/month for non-blind individuals and $2,590/month for blind individuals. Since you mentioned amputation but not blindness, your limit would be $1,550. However, there's something important to understand: SSDI and retirement benefits interact in specific ways. When you receive both, your total benefit amount is essentially capped at the higher of the two benefit amounts. The SSA will technically convert your retirement benefit into a disability benefit, and when you reach Full Retirement Age (FRA), they'll convert it back to retirement. As for working part-time, you would need to stay under the SGA limit if you want to maintain your disability benefits. The $1,100 figure you mentioned is outdated.

I went through almost exactly this situation last year. Started my retirement at 62, then got SSDI approved about 8 months later for a different health condition. What happened was my benefit amount increased a little bit (about $210/month in my case) because my SSDI benefit was higher than my reduced retirement benefit. The SSA basically gives you whichever is higher (SSDI or retirement), not both added together. And yes, the SGA limit applies - I'm working very part-time now (about 12 hours a week) and keeping my earnings under the limit. One thing to be aware of - they will count GROSS income toward that limit, not what you take home after taxes. And if you're self-employed, the rules get more complicated because they look at hours worked too.

My sisters husbands cousin had both benefits and tried to work and they cut ALL his benefits off and he had to fight for 18 months to get them back!!! Be VERY careful!!!

OH MY GOODNESS! I am going through the exact!!! same thing right now! Got early retirement then got sick and got SSDI too. My SSDI is higher so thats what I get now. I tried calling the SS office for 3 DAYS straight to ask about working part time and couldnt get anyone!!! So frustrating! Did anyone get through to a real person?!

There are several things you need to understand in this situation: 1. Dual entitlement: When you receive both retirement and disability, you'll get the higher of the two benefit amounts, not both combined. This is called the "dual entitlement rule." 2. Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA): For 2025, this limit is $1,550/month for non-blind individuals. Stay below this to maintain SSDI. 3. Trial Work Period (TWP): Yes, this still applies even when you're getting retirement benefits. You get 9 months (not necessarily consecutive) where you can earn above SGA without affecting benefits. A TWP month in 2025 is any month you earn more than $1,110. 4. Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE): After your TWP, you enter a 36-month period where benefits are reinstated for any month you don't exceed SGA. Important: Document ALL work activity and report it to SSA. Keep copies of your earnings records and all communications with SSA. Even though your doctor says you can work, remember that returning to substantial work could trigger a medical review of your disability status.

To answer your follow-up question - yes, SSA should automatically adjust your benefit amount since they've now approved your SSDI claim. However, it never hurts to contact them to confirm everything is processing correctly. The adjustment won't be immediate - it typically takes 1-2 months for the payment systems to update. Regarding your self-employment question: Yes, self-employment income counts toward the SGA limit, but it gets more complicated. For self-employment, SSA looks at your "countable income" which is your net earnings after deducting business expenses AND any "subsidy" (extra help or accommodations you receive due to your disability). They may also consider the time you spend working. This is definitely one area where speaking directly with SSA is important, as self-employment rules can be complex when disability is involved.

i was on disability for 7 years and the way they calculate the trial work period is different than regular work limits. they count any month where you make more than $1,110 (in 2025) as a trial work month, and you get 9 of those total. but once you use them up, then you have to stay under the bigger limit ($1,550) or they'll stop your disability. but they don't take your retirement away even if you lose disability because that's based on different rules.

To add to my previous comment: Retirement benefits do have their own earnings test that applies until you reach your Full Retirement Age (FRA). For 2025, if you're under FRA for the whole year, you can earn up to $22,320 annually before they reduce your retirement benefits ($1 reduction for every $2 over the limit). However, since you're now approved for SSDI, the disability rules will take precedence. Your benefits are now technically being paid as disability benefits until you reach FRA, at which point they automatically convert to retirement benefits. This is why it's critical to understand that while you have SSDI, you must stay under the monthly SGA limit ($1,550 in 2025) after your Trial Work Period ends. Once you reach FRA, the disability work restrictions end completely, and you can earn unlimited amounts without affecting your now-converted retirement benefits.

Let me try to clear up the confusion here: When you receive BOTH early retirement and SSDI, your benefits are effectively being paid as SSDI until you reach Full Retirement Age. During this time, you only need to worry about the SSDI work rules (SGA limits, Trial Work Period, etc.). The early retirement earnings test does not apply while you're receiving SSDI. Once you reach your Full Retirement Age, your benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits, and all work restrictions disappear completely. The important thing to remember is that you're not receiving two separate payments - you're receiving a single payment that equals the higher of the two benefit amounts. The SSA is essentially treating your benefits as SSDI until FRA, then as retirement benefits after FRA.