Can I Get Disability and a Part-Time Job at the Same Time?
- Purple
- Apr 7
- 4 min read
How working affects your SSI or SSDI—and how to do it safely
Introduction: Can You Really Work While on Disability?
A lot of people receiving disability benefits want to know:
💼 Can I work a part-time job if I’m on SSI or SSDI?
📉 Will my benefits be reduced or taken away?
⚖️ How much can I earn without getting in trouble with Social Security?
The short answer:
✅ Yes, you can work part-time while receiving disability benefits — but the rules are different for SSI and SSDI, and the limits are strict.
⚠️ Failing to report your income properly could lead to overpayments or a loss of benefits.
In this post, we’ll walk you through:
✅ How much you’re allowed to earn on SSI or SSDI
✅ What happens if you go over the limit
✅ What to report (and how)
✅ How Purple helps you work with confidence while protecting your benefits
1. Can You Work While on SSI?
Yes, but there are strict income and resource limits.
✅ In 2025, here’s how it works:
SSA excludes the first $20 of unearned income and the first $65 of earned income
After that, they reduce your SSI by $1 for every $2 you earn
📌 That means working part-time won’t immediately cut you off, but your monthly SSI payment will be reduced as your earnings go up.
🔍 Example:
If you earn $565 in a month:
SSA excludes $85 ($20 + $65)
You’re left with $480 in “countable” income
Your SSI will be reduced by $240 (half of $480)
💡 Your new SSI check would be $727 instead of $967 (the max federal SSI benefit for 2025).
⚠️ But Be Careful:
You still must stay under $2,000 in resources at the end of the month
You must report your income by the 6th of the following month
Too much income could cause your SSI to drop to $0
2. Can You Work While on SSDI?
Yes, but the rules are based on how much work you do, not how much you have in the bank.
✅ In 2025, you can earn up to:
$1,620/month if you’re not blind
$2,700/month if you are blind
This is called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit. Going above it could cause SSA to decide you’re no longer disabled.
🛠️ Trial Work Period (TWP):
SSDI recipients also get a Trial Work Period, where you can earn any amount over $1,110/month for up to 9 monthswithout losing benefits.
It gives you time to test whether you can work again without immediately affecting your checks.
3. How to Report Your Income (and Why It Matters)
SSA requires you to report:
Any earned income (wages, gig work, self-employment)
When you start or stop working
Significant changes to your income
📝 How to report:
📌 Not reporting can lead to overpayments, benefit suspension, or worse.
4. What Happens If You Go Over the Limit?
⚠️ If you're on SSI:
Your benefits are reduced gradually
If your income is too high, SSI stops for that month
You could lose Medicaid if you're over for too long
⚠️ If you're on SSDI:
Exceeding SGA after the Trial Work Period may lead to your SSDI being suspended
You might be required to pay back benefits you weren’t eligible for
5. How Purple Helps You Work While on Disability
Purple was built to help people on benefits live, work, and plan without the fear of losing support.
💜 Track Deposits by Source – Know what’s wages and what’s benefits
💜 Monitor SSI/SSDI Income Limits – Get alerts when you’re close to thresholds
💜 Stay Under the $2,000 Limit (SSI) – Real-time balance tracking + smart notifications💜 Document Your Work – Store pay stubs, reports, and SSA letters
💜 Ask the Companion AI – “Am I over the SSI limit this month?” or “Will this paycheck affect my SSDI?”
📌 Purple doesn’t just show you your balance — it helps you stay compliant and confident.
FAQs About Working on Disability
⚠️ Can I lose my benefits if I work?
Yes — if you earn too much or don’t report it. But with the right tracking and reporting, many people work safely on benefits.
⚠️ Does SSA check my income automatically?
SSA often matches data from the IRS and employers, but you’re still responsible for reporting income.
⚠️ What if I just work one month?
You still need to report it — even one-time income can affect your check or trigger a review.
⚠️ Can I freelance or work under the table?
You’re required to report all income, even if it’s cash or irregular.
Conclusion: Yes, You Can Work on Disability—But You Need to Be Smart About It
✅ Many people work part-time on SSI or SSDI
✅ Income limits and reporting rules matter — a lot
✅ Purple helps you track income, stay under limits, and avoid costly mistakes
💜 Join Purple today to protect your benefits while earning extra income on your terms.