Most people assume that once they're approved for SSDI, their benefits are set for life. But the truth is that there are several situations where your SSDI could be reduced or even stopped—and some of them can sneak up on you if you're not paying attention. Understanding these risks is the best way to protect the benefits you've earned.
In this article, we'll cover:
- How Continuing Disability Reviews can affect your benefits
- Why earning too much from work can end your SSDI
- How other income sources can reduce your payment
- Common reporting mistakes that put your benefits at risk
- What happens to SSDI when you reach retirement age
- Steps you can take to protect your SSDI benefits
Continuing Disability Reviews: The Check-Up You Can't Ignore
Social Security periodically conducts Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) to determine whether you still meet their definition of disability. How often you're reviewed depends on how likely Social Security considers your condition to improve—it could be every three years, every five to seven years, or less frequently for conditions expected to be permanent.
During a CDR, Social Security will ask for updated medical information about your condition. If they determine that your health has improved to the point where you can work at the Substantial Gainful Activity level, your SSDI benefits can be terminated. The critical thing to understand is that you must respond to CDR paperwork. Ignoring or failing to return the forms can result in your benefits being suspended, even if your disability hasn't improved.
If you receive a CDR notice, take it seriously. Gather current medical records, document your ongoing limitations, and respond within the deadline. If Social Security determines that your condition has improved and you disagree, you have the right to appeal—and your benefits can continue during the appeal process if you request it within 10 days of the decision.
Earning Above the SGA Limit
The most common way people lose SSDI without realizing it involves work activity. SSDI allows you to work, but there are limits. The Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold in 2026 is $1,690 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,830 for blind individuals. If you consistently earn above SGA after your Trial Work Period, Social Security will stop your SSDI payments.
Here's where it gets tricky: SSDI's Trial Work Period (TWP) lets you earn any amount for nine months (within a 60-month window) without affecting your benefits. In 2026, any month you earn over $1,210 counts as a trial work month. Many people enjoy those nine months of working and collecting full SSDI, but don't realize that once the TWP ends, earning above $1,690 per month will cause their benefits to stop.
After the TWP, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility. During this time, your benefits are paid for months you're under SGA and withheld for months you're over. Once the EPE ends, if you're still earning above SGA, your SSDI is terminated. You'd need to file a new application (or use Expedited Reinstatement within five years) to get benefits back.
The lesson here is to track your earnings carefully and understand exactly where you are in the TWP and EPE timeline. Many people lose benefits because they didn't realize they'd used up their trial work months.
Workers' Compensation and Other Offsets
If you receive workers' compensation or certain other public disability benefits alongside SSDI, your total combined benefits may be subject to an offset. Social Security's rule is that your combined SSDI and workers' compensation (or public disability benefits) cannot exceed 80% of your average earnings before you became disabled. If they do, Social Security reduces your SSDI payment to bring the total under that threshold.
This offset catches many people off guard because they assume their SSDI is a fixed amount. If you're receiving or expecting workers' comp, state disability, or public pension benefits, check with Social Security to understand how the offset might apply to your situation. The reduction can be significant and is applied automatically.
Pension Offsets and the Windfall Elimination Provision
If you receive a pension from work that wasn't covered by Social Security (such as some government jobs), two provisions could reduce your SSDI. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) can reduce your SSDI benefit if you worked in a job where you didn't pay Social Security taxes and also qualify for a pension from that work. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) can reduce spousal or survivor SSDI benefits if you receive a government pension.
These provisions are complex, and many people don't learn about them until their SSDI is already being reduced. If you have a pension from any employer that didn't withhold Social Security taxes, it's important to understand how WEP and GPO might affect you.
Reporting Mistakes That Can Cost You
Even if your medical condition and income haven't changed, simple reporting failures can put your SSDI at risk. Social Security requires you to report certain changes, including starting or stopping work, changes in earnings, incarceration, leaving the country for more than 30 consecutive days, and changes in your disability status.
Failing to report these changes can lead to overpayments, and overpayments come with collection actions. Social Security can withhold your entire SSDI check to recover overpayments, which can be devastating when you're living on a fixed income. Even if the overpayment wasn't your fault, you'll need to go through the waiver process to avoid repayment—which takes time and effort.
The most common reporting mistake is failing to report work activity. Even if you're just doing freelance work, gig economy jobs, or helping out in a family business, those earnings need to be reported. Social Security uses IRS data to verify earnings, so unreported income will eventually be discovered.
What Happens at Retirement Age
When you reach your full retirement age (67 for most current SSDI recipients), your SSDI automatically converts to Social Security retirement benefits. Your payment amount generally stays the same, so this transition is usually seamless. However, if you were also receiving other benefits—like Disabled Adult Child benefits or disabled widow/widower benefits—the conversion to retirement can sometimes change the calculation.
The important thing to know is that SSDI doesn't last forever by design—it transitions to retirement benefits. This is a normal part of the process and shouldn't be a cause for concern. Your Medicare coverage also continues without interruption.
How to Protect Your SSDI Benefits
Staying informed is your best protection. Keep your medical records current and maintain regular treatment for your condition—this strengthens your case during CDRs. If you're working, track your earnings monthly and understand where you are in the Trial Work Period and Extended Period of Eligibility.
Respond promptly to any correspondence from Social Security. Late responses to CDRs, earnings inquiries, or other notices can lead to suspended benefits. Keep copies of everything you submit and note the dates of any phone calls with Social Security.
If you're unsure about how a change in your circumstances might affect your benefits, contact Social Security or a benefits counselor before making decisions. It's much easier to plan ahead than to deal with an unexpected loss of benefits after the fact.
Protecting your SSDI starts with staying informed and organized. Purple's checking account helps disability recipients track their finances, monitor income, and stay on top of the details that keep benefits secure.