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'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!