Can I Work Part-Time While on SSI or SSDI?

How much you can earn—and how to protect your benefits

Introduction: Can You Really Work and Keep Disability Benefits?

If you’re receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you might be asking:

💼 “Can I work part-time without losing my benefits?”

📉 “How much can I earn before SSA reduces my check?”

⚠️ “What happens if I go over the limit?”

The short answer:

✅ Yes—you can work part-time while on SSI or SSDI, but there are strict income limits and reporting rules.

This post breaks down:

✅ How working affects SSI vs. SSDI differently

✅ 2025 income limits and thresholds

✅ How to report earnings correctly

✅ How Purple helps you track income and stay compliant

1. Working While on SSI

SSI is a needs-based program, so any income can reduce your benefit amount.

💡 2025 SSI Income Rules

• You can earn up to $65/month without affecting your check.

• After that, SSA disregards half of your remaining earned income.

📌 Example

If you earn $465 in a month:

• First $65 is excluded → $400 remains.

• Half of $400 is excluded → $200 is countable income.

• SSA reduces your SSI check by $200.

⚠️ Stay Under the $2,000 Limit

Your total resources (bank balances, cash, etc.) must stay below $2,000 ($3,000 for couples).

2. Working While on SSDI

SSDI is not needs-based. Instead, it focuses on your ability to perform substantial work.

💡 2025 SSDI Income Rules

• You can earn up to $1,620/month if you’re not blind.

• If you’re blind, the limit is $2,700/month.

• Earnings above these amounts may trigger a Trial Work Period or suspension of benefits.

✅ Trial Work Period

You can test working for at least 9 months without losing SSDI, regardless of earnings.

After that, SSA reevaluates your case and may stop benefits if your work is considered “substantial.”

3. Reporting Your Earnings to SSA

📅 You must report income monthly, by the 6th of the following month.

How to report:

• My Social Security account online (ssa.gov/myaccount)

• Phone or local SSA office

4. Risks of Not Reporting Income

⚠️ If you don’t report:

• You may receive overpayments.

• SSA can suspend or terminate your benefits.

• You could be required to repay large sums.

5. How Purple Helps You Work and Stay Compliant

💜 Deposit Tagging

Separate wages from benefits so you know exactly how much you earned each month.

💜 Real-Time Balance Tracking

Avoid going over the $2,000 SSI limit.

💜 Smart Alerts

Get notified when income might affect your benefits.

💜 Document Storage

Upload pay stubs and SSA correspondence for easy access.

💜 Companion AI Support

Our Companion AI helps answer questions and guide you on reporting and earning limits, all in plain language.

FAQs About Working While on Disability

⚠️ Can I work and keep my full SSI check?

It depends on your earnings. Any income above $65/month will usually reduce your SSI.

⚠️ Can I work a gig job or under the table?

All earnings, including gig work, must be reported. Unreported income can lead to overpayments or fraud investigations.

⚠️ Can I work unlimited hours on SSDI?

No—you must stay under the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit unless you’re in a trial work period.

⚠️ Do I have to report income even if SSA doesn’t ask?

Yes—it’s your responsibility to report every month.

Conclusion: Yes, You Can Work—But Know the Rules

✅ You can work part-time while receiving SSI or SSDI.

✅ Stay within the income thresholds to avoid losing benefits.

✅ Report every dollar earned, every month.

✅ Use Purple to help track, stay compliant, and protect your benefits.

💜 Open your Purple account today and confidently manage work income and disability benefits in one place.