SSDI Work Calculator

Welcome to the SSDI Work Calculator

This calculator helps you understand how working affects your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

What This Calculator Will Help You Understand:

Working while receiving disability benefits can be confusing. This calculator will help you figure out if your benefits might change based on how much you earn from work.

You'll learn about:

Trial Work Period (TWP) iA 9-month period where you can test your ability to work while still receiving full SSDI benefits, regardless of how much you earn.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) iA level of work activity and earnings that Social Security uses to determine if you're eligible for disability benefits. If you earn more than the SGA amount, it may affect your benefits.
Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) iA 36-month period after your TWP where benefits can be reinstated if earnings fall below SGA without a new application.

Trial Work Period (TWP)

What it is: A period where you can test your ability to work while keeping your full benefits.

2025 Threshold: $1,160 per month

How it works: Any month you earn more than $1,160 counts as a TWP month. You need 9 TWP months (not necessarily in a row) to complete your TWP.

Effect on benefits: During your TWP, you receive your full SSDI benefits no matter how much you earn.

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

What it is: The earnings level that determines if you're eligible for disability benefits after your TWP ends.

2025 Threshold: $1,620 per month (non-blind), $2,700 per month (blind)

How it works: After your TWP ends, if you earn more than the SGA amount, your benefits may be affected.

Effect on benefits: After your TWP, if you earn above SGA, your benefits may be suspended or terminated.

2025 Key Thresholds

TWP Threshold

$1,160/month

SGA (Non-Blind)

$1,620/month

SGA (Blind)

$2,700/month

Medicare and SSDI

If you receive SSDI benefits, you'll automatically get Medicare after 24 months of receiving disability benefits.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care. Most people don't pay a premium for Part A.
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance): Covers certain doctors' services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services. Most people pay a standard premium for Part B.
Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage): Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. You can join a Medicare drug plan in addition to Original Medicare.

Even if you return to work and lose your SSDI benefits, you can keep your Medicare coverage for at least 93 months (7 years and 9 months) after your Trial Work Period ends.

Visit Chapter Medicare

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only. The actual determination of your benefits is made by the Social Security Administration. For official information about your specific situation, please contact the SSA directly.

Your SSDI Status

Please provide information about your current SSDI status.

Why We Need This Information:

Your answers help us give you the right information about your benefits. The rules are different based on whether you're blind and how long you've been getting benefits.

Are you blind according to Social Security's definition?

Yes

Social Security says you're "blind" if your vision can't be fixed to better than 20/200 in your better eye, or if your field of vision is 20 degrees or less in your better eye.

How long have you been receiving SSDI benefits?

Less than 24 months

24 months or more

This helps determine if you can get Medicare. You usually get Medicare after receiving SSDI benefits for 2 years.

Your Trial Work Period (TWP) Status

What is a Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period is a 9-month period when you can work and earn any amount while keeping your full disability benefits.

In 2025, any month you earn more than $1,160 counts as a TWP month. For self-employment, any month you work more than 80 hours also counts as a TWP month.

Important to Understand:

During your Trial Work Period, your earnings don't affect your benefits. After this period ends, if you earn more than the SGA amount ($1,620 in 2025), you may lose your benefits.

What is your current Trial Work Period (TWP) status?

I haven't started my TWP yet

I'm currently in my TWP

I've completed my TWP

I'm not sure

How many TWP months have you used so far?

You need 9 TWP months (not necessarily consecutive) to complete your Trial Work Period.

Are you currently in your Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)?

Yes

I'm not sure

The Extended Period of Eligibility is a 36-month safety net. In any month you earn less than $1,620, you'll get your benefits. In months you earn more, you won't get benefits for that month.

Your Work & Earnings

Please provide information about your work and earnings.

Why We Need This Information:

Your earnings amount is compared to the Trial Work Period (TWP) threshold of $1,160 and the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold of $1,620 (or $2,700 if you're blind) to determine how your benefits might be affected.

What is your monthly earnings amount?

Enter your gross earnings (before taxes and deductions) for an average month. Include wages, self-employment earnings, and other work income.

Are you self-employed?

Yes

How many hours do you work in your business per month?

For self-employment, Social Security considers both your earnings and the number of hours you work. Any month you work more than 80 hours in your business counts as a Trial Work Period month, regardless of earnings.

Do you have Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)?

Yes

Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are costs related to your disability that are necessary for you to work. These expenses can be deducted from your earnings when determining if you're engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).

What is your monthly IRWE amount?

Do you have a subsidy or special condition?

Yes

A subsidy is support you receive on the job that may result in you receiving more pay than the actual value of the services you perform. Social Security deducts the value of subsidies from your earnings when determining SGA.

What is your monthly subsidy amount?

Your SSDI Benefit Results

Benefit Status

Your benefit status will appear here.

Your Benefit Timeline

Current Month

Trial Work Period

Extended Period of Eligibility

Income Analysis

Monthly Earnings:

IRWE Deduction:

Subsidy Deduction:

Countable Income:

Your Earnings

Countable Income

$1,160

TWP Threshold

$1,620

SGA Threshold

Recommendations

Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates based on the information you entered and current Social Security rules. For official information about your specific situation, please contact the Social Security Administration directly.

SSDI Work Calculator

Welcome to the SSDI Work Calculator

What This Calculator Will Help You Understand:

2025 Key Thresholds

Medicare and SSDI

Your SSDI Status

Why We Need This Information:

Your Trial Work Period (TWP) Status

What is a Trial Work Period?

Important to Understand:

Your Work & Earnings

Why We Need This Information:

Your SSDI Benefit Results

Benefit Status

Your benefit status will appear here.

Your Benefit Timeline

Income Analysis

Recommendations

Examples of Subsidies and Special Conditions

© 2025 SSDI Work Calculator | Based on 2025 Social Security Administration rules