Getting Past the Myths

Myth 2: If I Work, I'll Lose SSI/SSDI

My friend told me that he lost his Social Security when he went to work and he was not earning enough money to pay his bills. I don’t want that to happen to me.

It is common to be concerned that if you start working, you’ll lose your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and that you might not earn enough to pay for all your expenses.

Both SSI and SSDI have rules that allow you to try working without worrying about losing your benefits. Some of these rules are the same for both programs, but most of them are different for the 2 programs. If you have questions, you may want to talk to a Benefits Specialist.

Here are some basic guidelines about how each program is affected by working. For detailed information, click here to read Social Security’s Guide to Employment Supports, also called “the Red Book.”

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • SSI uses a Countable Income Calculation to figure out your cash benefits based on your monthly total countable income. Important: If you are on SSI benefits only, you will always have more money if you work.
  • If you are under age 22, on SSI, going to school, and working, you may be eligible for the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE). The SEIE allows you to earn up to $2,290 per month while going to school without having your SSI benefits lowered. Over the course of a year, you can make up to $9,230 without impacting your countable earned income calculation.
  • Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) are disability-related expenses you pay for out of your own pocket so that you can work. Some examples of IRWEs are transportation expenses, assistive technology, and specialized or modified office equipment, such as desks, phones, or computers. If they’re approved by Social Security, you can deduct your IRWEs when calculating your income. This will lower your total countable income, so that you can keep more of your SSI benefits. To be approved by Social Security, the expense must:
    • Be paid for by you
    • Relate to your disabling medical condition
    • Be necessary (without it, you would be unable to work)
  • If you get SSI benefits and have a specific work goal, you may be eligible for the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). This program allows you to save money from your earnings for expenses that are related to your work goal. While using a PASS, you will continue getting your SSI benefits to pay for living expenses. PASS funds have to be kept separate from your other money, and you have to keep records of your PASS expenses. To learn more, read the DB101 article about Building Your Assets and Wealth or contact a PASS Cadre.
  • For more information about working while you get SSI benefits, read the DB101 article on Work Incentives.

Learn more about SSI program rules in DB101's SSI article.

Watch this video to understand what to expect with your SSI when you go to work:

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
  • If you are on SSDI, the Trial Work Period (TWP) allows you to try working while continuing to get your full SSDI benefits. Your Trial Work Period consists of 9 Trial Work months within a 60-month (or 5-year) period. If you earn more than $1,110 in a particular month, it counts as a Trial Work month. If you earn less than $1,110, it doesn’t. Either way, you keep getting your full SSDI benefits until you’ve used all 9 Trial Work months within a 60-month (or 5-year) period.
  • If you are on SSDI, you will also be eligible for an Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). The EPE begins the first month after your Trial Work Period ends and will continue for the following 36 months (or 3 years). During this time, if you earn less than the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level ($1,550 per month in 2024; $2,590 if you're blind), you will get your SSDI benefits that month. If you earn more than the SGA limit, you will not.
  • If you have any Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs), Social Security allows you to deduct the value of those expenses from your gross earnings during your Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), but not during your Trial Work Period. Deducting your IRWEs may allow you to keep your SSDI cash benefits, if it lowers your earnings below the SGA level.
  • If you are on SSDI and have a specific work goal, you may want to look into the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program. This program allows you to save earned income and unearned income to pay for expenses related to your work goal. Note that you must be eligible for SSI to qualify for a PASS. While using a PASS, you will get SSI benefits to pay for living expenses. To learn more, read the DB101 article about Building Your Assets and Wealth or contact a PASS Cadre.
  • For more information about working while you get SSDI, read the DB101 article on Work Incentives.

Learn more about SSDI program rules in DB101's SSDI article.

Watch this video to understand how SSDI's rules can help you when you go back to work:

Learn more