Ticket to Work: Were You Told There's a Limit to How Much You Can Earn in the Ticket to Work Program to Keep Your Benefits? That Isn't Always True.
You found a job. You're working. Maybe you're being offered more hours, overtime, a raise, or an opportunity to move into a better-paying position.
But then you remember something you were told:
“If you earn over a certain amount, you could lose your SSDI benefits.” Suddenly, earning more doesn't feel like an opportunity. It feels like a risk. You may begin limiting your hours, turning down overtime, or even declining a better-paying opportunity because you're afraid that earning too much could cause you to lose your SSDI cash benefits..
But before you make the decision to reduce your earnings or even quit your job, there is something important you need to understand: The SGA amount is important, but you first need to know which phase you're currently in and which Social Security rules apply to you before deciding how those earnings may affect your benefits. So, let's first understand what SGA means and when it applies.
What Is SGA — And Why Does Everyone Talk About It?
You may have heard the term Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA. Or maybe you don't recognize the term at all — you were simply told there is a certain amount you shouldn't earn over.
Think of SGA as an earnings benchmark Social Security uses to help determine whether your SSDI cash benefit is payable based on your work and earnings.
But here's the important part:
SGA does not affect your SSDI cash benefit in the same way during every phase.
SGA becomes important after you complete your Trial Work Period (TWP) and enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During your Trial Work Period, SGA does not determine whether your SSDI cash benefit is payable. That's why knowing where you currently are in the process matters.
You May Hear About SGA Before You Hear About the Trial Work Period
This is where confusion can begin. You may contact Social Security and ask: “How much can I earn while receiving SSDI?”
You may be given the current SGA amount. What may stick in your mind isn't the term Substantial Gainful Activity. It's the dollar amount. You walk away thinking:
“I can't earn more than that amount or I'll lose my SSDI.” But if you're beginning your Trial Work Period, that may not be the rule that applies to you right now.
During the Trial Work Period, Social Security allows you to test your ability to work for nine Trial Work Period service months. During those months, you can earn an unlimited amount and still receive your SSDI cash benefit, as long as you continue to meet Social Security's disability requirements and properly report your work.
So, if you're in your Trial Work Period, focus first on understanding the rules that apply to you now. Don't unnecessarily limit what you can earn today because you're worried about an SGA rule that becomes important during the next phase.
Ticket to Work Earnings: The Rules Change — Know What's Next and Prepare for It
Understanding your Ticket to Work earnings becomes especially important as you move from one phase to the next. After you complete nine Trial Work Period service months, the next phase — the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) — begins. This is when SGA becomes important in determining whether your SSDI cash benefit is payable.
The rules are not static.
As you move from one phase to another, the Social Security rules that apply to your earnings and SSDI benefits can change. That's why the goal isn't simply to stay under SGA.
The goal is to understand what SGA means during the phase you're in, the rules that apply now, and the rules you need to prepare for next.
Before you reach the EPE, you should know that SGA becomes important, understand how your earnings may affect your SSDI cash benefits, and have an opportunity to plan your next steps.
The goal is to prepare before your benefits are affected — not after. This Is Where Ticket to Work Express™ Comes In
Ticket to Work Express™ is designed for eligible Social Security disability beneficiaries who are already working or have accepted employment. What you may need is help understanding how working and earning more can affect your SSDI benefits as you move forward.
Ticket to Work Express™ EN specialists provide ongoing, step-by-step support so you're not trying to figure out complicated Social Security rules on your own. They help you know where you currently are, what rules apply now, and what's coming next.
Through Ticket to Work Express™, ongoing support can include:
Understanding how changes in your earnings may affect your benefits and which work incentives and protections may apply to you.
Understanding the different phases (Trial Work Period, Extended Period of Eligibility, etc.), the rules that apply during each phase, and how they may affect your SSDI benefits.
Developing an employment and benefits strategy to help you make informed decisions about your income, benefits, and financial future.
Don't Let One Number Make the Decision for You
Before turning down additional hours, overtime, a raise, reducing your earnings, or leaving your job, find out:
Where am I currently?
What rules apply to me now?
What's coming next?
You don't have to become a Social Security expert. You simply need to understand the rules that apply to you at the time you need to make an employment decision.
Your Job Is the Beginning of a Strategy
Getting the job is an important accomplishment. But what happens after you start working matters too. Your earnings may change. Your hours may increase. You may receive a promotion or have an opportunity to earn more. And the Social Security rules that apply to you can change as you move through different phases.
That's why understanding the rules can help you when employment opportunities arise. You'll know what options you have, which rules apply to you at that time, and how those rules may affect your SSDI benefits.
You found the job. Now let's build the strategy around it — so you can make the most of this opportunity and move toward greater financial empowerment.
If you receive SSDI, are between ages 18 and 64, and are currently working or have accepted employment, find out whether Ticket to Work Express™ may be right for you.
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