SSDI earnings limit: Monthly vs Annual reporting confusion - will I lose benefits?

The SSDI earnings limit is based on monthly earnings, not annual. This is different from the retirement earnings test which can be calculated annually. For SSDI in 2025, Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is $1,550/month for non-blind individuals. If you earn above that in any month, after your Trial Work Period ends, that month is considered above SGA and can affect benefits. So yes, you need to monitor monthly earnings, not just annual totals. The Trial Work Period gives you 9 months (not necessarily consecutive) where you can earn above SGA without affecting benefits. A TWP month is any month you earn more than $1,110 (2025 figure).

my brother got in trouble with this exact same thing!!!! he went over for 3 months straight and they cut him off completely and made him pay everything back. be SUPER careful with this, they dont mess around

The previous poster gave correct information, but let me add some nuance. Yes, SSDI uses a monthly SGA limit, not annual averaging. However, the Social Security Administration does consider "subsidy and special conditions" when calculating your earnings. This means if you're receiving accommodations or extra support at work due to your disability, a portion of your earnings might not count toward the SGA limit. For example, if you work slower than other employees or need additional breaks, SSA might only count 75% of your actual earnings toward the SGA limit. You would need to document this with SSA though. Also, work-related expenses connected to your disability (IRWE) can be deducted from your earnings before determining if you exceed SGA. This includes things like specialized transportation costs or medical devices needed for work.

The SSA computers SUCK for tracking this stuff! I earned over the limit for ONE month last year and they tried to cut my benefits completely! Had to spend MONTHS fixing it. Their system isn't sophisticated enough to handle all these special rules they create!! And good luck getting anyone on the phone to explain anything!!

just fyi SS counts gross wages not net. so what ur paycheck says before taxes is what counts. also if ur self employed its different rules so check that if it applies 2 u

To directly address your question about knowing if you've started your Trial Work Period: You can check this by calling SSA or checking your my Social Security account online. Any month you earn over the TWP threshold (currently $1,110 for 2025) counts as a TWP month. You get 9 of these months in a rolling 60-month period. After you use all 9 TWP months, you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) for 36 months. During the EPE, you receive benefits for months you earn below SGA ($1,550) and don't receive benefits for months you earn above SGA. Tracking this can be complicated, which is why it's good to keep detailed records of your monthly earnings.

Ugh I've been on SSDI for 3 years and I still get confused about this stuff lol. My social worker told me to just basically assume each month is separate and don't worry about annual totals. That's what I do and it's been fine so far. Good luck with everything!!

One final note - make sure you're reporting your earnings to SSA consistently. Even if you're under the limit, you need to report when you start working. This helps avoid overpayments which can be a nightmare to resolve later. You can report wages through your my Social Security account online, the SSA mobile wage reporting app, or by calling/visiting your local office. Keep pay stubs and any documentation of work accommodations or disability-related work expenses. If there's ever a question about your benefits, having this documentation ready will make the process much smoother.

I've been navigating SSDI work rules for about 2 years now, and I learned this the hard way - always err on the side of caution with monthly limits! What really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track my earnings week by week so I could see when I was getting close to the $1,550 monthly limit. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: if you're unsure about your TWP status, you can also request a "work history printout" from SSA that shows exactly which months counted toward your Trial Work Period. This is different from what shows up in your online account and gives you the complete picture. Also, since you mentioned working at your cousin's store, make sure they understand your situation too. I had to have an honest conversation with my employer about needing to potentially reduce hours certain months to stay under the limit. Most understanding employers will work with you on scheduling once they know the stakes. The key is staying organized and proactive - don't wait until after you've potentially gone over to figure out the rules!

I've been on SSDI for about 5 years and went through this exact confusion when I first started working again! The monthly limit approach is definitely the way to go - don't get caught up in annual calculations like other benefit programs use. One thing that really saved me was setting up automatic reminders in my phone to check my earnings every Friday. I calculate exactly where I'm at for the month and how many more hours I can safely work before hitting that $1,550 limit. It sounds obsessive, but it's given me so much peace of mind. Also, if you do accidentally go over one month, don't panic immediately. Document everything - your pay stubs, any accommodations your cousin provides, transportation costs, etc. Sometimes there are legitimate deductions that can bring you back under the SGA limit. I had a month where I technically earned $1,600, but after deducting my disability-related transportation costs, I was actually under the limit. The wage reporting app mentioned earlier is a lifesaver too. I report every single paycheck within a few days of receiving it. It creates a clear paper trail and shows SSA that you're being proactive about compliance. You've got this - just stay organized and don't be afraid to be conservative with your hours if you're getting close to the limit!

I'm relatively new to SSDI myself and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I just wanted to add something I learned from my disability advocate - keep a simple calendar or journal where you write down your daily work hours and earnings. It doesn't have to be fancy, but having a physical backup of your work schedule has saved me twice when there were discrepancies with my paystubs. Also, don't forget that the SGA limit can change each year - it went up from $1,470 in 2024 to $1,550 in 2025. I almost missed that update and was planning my hours based on the old limit! SSA usually announces the new amounts in October for the following year, so it's worth checking their website each fall. One last tip: if you're really worried about the holiday hours putting you over, consider asking your cousin if you could work some of those extra hours in January instead when you'll have a fresh monthly limit. Most family businesses are flexible about scheduling, especially when they understand it's about protecting your benefits. Stay strong - navigating SSDI work rules is stressful, but this community is proof that lots of us are successfully managing it!

I wanted to jump in here because I went through almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago! Working at a family business while on SSDI can be tricky, but it's totally manageable once you get the system down. The advice everyone's given about monthly limits is spot on - definitely focus on staying under $1,550 each month rather than thinking annually. What really helped me was creating what I call a "safety buffer" - I actually aim to stay under $1,400 per month so I have some wiggle room for unexpected overtime or if my cousin needs extra help during emergencies. Since you mentioned medical coverage concerns, here's something that might ease your mind: even if you do accidentally exceed SGA after your Trial Work Period, you don't immediately lose Medicare. Medicare continues for at least 93 months after your Trial Work Period ends, regardless of your work activity. This gave me so much peace of mind when I was worried about making mistakes with the earnings rules. For the holiday scheduling issue, I'd definitely recommend having that conversation with your cousin sooner rather than later. In my experience, family members are usually really understanding once they realize how important it is to protect your benefits. You might even be able to work out a system where you cover for other employees who want time off during holidays, spreading those extra hours across multiple months. Keep detailed records of everything, stay in communication with SSA, and don't be afraid to ask questions. You've got this!

I just wanted to add something that might be helpful for your specific situation - since you're working at your cousin's store, make sure you understand how they handle your pay schedule. Some smaller family businesses are flexible about when they issue paychecks, and this can actually work in your favor for managing monthly earnings. For example, if you're getting close to the $1,550 limit in December but still have a few days left in the month, you could ask your cousin to hold your final paycheck until January 1st. SSA counts earnings based on when you receive the pay, not when you earned it. This is completely legal and can help you avoid accidentally going over the monthly limit. Also, I noticed you mentioned being new to SSDI after a car accident. If you haven't already, consider reaching out to a local disability advocacy organization or independent living center. Many of them offer free workshops specifically about working while on SSDI, and they often have staff who can help you understand your specific situation better than trying to figure it all out alone. The fact that you're asking these questions now, before potentially going over the limit, shows you're being really proactive. That's going to serve you well as you navigate this process. Don't let the complexity scare you away from working - thousands of people successfully balance SSDI and employment every day!

This is such a comprehensive thread with amazing practical advice! I've been on SSDI for about 18 months now and just started looking into part-time work myself, so reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly valuable. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're using any assistive technology or adaptive equipment for work (like special software, ergonomic tools, or communication devices), those costs can often qualify as Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and be deducted from your gross earnings when calculating SGA. Since you mentioned your car accident, you might have equipment needs that could help reduce your countable earnings. Also, I learned recently that if you're in your Trial Work Period, you can actually earn above the $1,550 SGA limit without losing benefits - it's only after you've used all 9 TWP months that the monthly SGA limit becomes critical. So definitely get clarity on your TWP status before stressing too much about December's earnings. The spreadsheet tracking idea is brilliant, and I love the suggestion about shifting holiday hours to January. Family businesses really are ideal for this kind of flexibility when you explain the situation properly. You're asking all the right questions and being so thoughtful about this process. That proactive approach is going to serve you really well as you balance work and benefits!

I'm new to this community but have been dealing with similar SSDI work questions for the past few months. This thread is incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one more resource that's been invaluable for me - the Red Book from Social Security Administration. It's their official guide to employment supports and you can download it free from their website (ssa.gov). It explains all these rules in detail with examples that really help clarify the monthly vs annual confusion. What really stood out to me from reading everyone's advice is how important it is to document EVERYTHING. I started taking photos of my timesheets and pay stubs with my phone as backup, and keeping a simple notebook where I write down my daily hours. It seems like overkill, but after reading about people having to fight discrepancies with SSA, I figure it's better to be over-prepared. @NebulaNomad - your situation with the holiday hours is so relatable. I was in almost the exact same spot last month and ended up having an honest conversation with my employer about needing to cap my December hours. They were completely understanding once I explained that going over could jeopardize my benefits and medical coverage. Most people get it when you frame it that way. Stay strong and keep asking questions - this community clearly has so much collective wisdom to share!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread to read through! As someone who's been on SSDI for about 6 months and just starting to think about returning to work, seeing everyone's real experiences and practical advice has been invaluable. @NebulaNomad - I wanted to specifically address your original question since I went through something similar recently. You're absolutely right to focus on monthly limits rather than annual totals. The key thing is that SSDI uses the monthly SGA threshold ($1,550 for 2025), not annual averaging like some other programs. One thing that really helped me was contacting my local SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) coordinator through my state's disability services office. They have specialists who help people navigate the work incentive programs and can often clarify your Trial Work Period status more easily than trying to get through to SSA directly. Also, since you mentioned working at your cousin's store, you might want to ask about getting your work arrangement documented as "supported employment" if your cousin provides any accommodations. This can sometimes help with the subsidy calculations that others mentioned. The advice about creating that safety buffer below the $1,550 limit is spot-on. I aim for $1,400 max per month to account for any unexpected bonuses or overtime. It's given me so much peace of mind knowing I have that cushion. Keep us updated on how your conversation with your cousin goes - and definitely don't stress too much about December if you can shift some of those hours to January like others suggested!