Updated as of September 14, 2024.
SSDI in Brief
- Benefit based on work history
- If you have too much earned income, you will lose ALL SSDI benefits that month unless an exclusion applies (often called the “SSDI Earnings Cliff”)
- Work incentives: Exclusions from earned income
- Impairment-Related Work Expenses Exclusion
- Trial Work Period
SSDI Disability Eligibility
- Legally blind – special treatment in some cases
- Other disabilities
SSDI Financial Eligibility
No limitations on Resources
- There is no limit
- Resources are NOT included in SSDI eligibility determination
Limitations on Income
- Unearned income is not factored in
- Gifts, bequests
- Investment income
- Earned income only (Substantial Gainful Activity – SGA): 2024 SGA for SSDI
- For blindness: $2,590/month
- For all others: $1,550/month
- Exclusions from Earned Income SGA
- Impairment Related Work Expenses
- For more information, check out the Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) Bridges Resource Library entry
- Impairment Related Work Expenses
- Trial work period – up to nine (9) months
- SSDI CLIFF!!
- If earned income, after exclusions, exceeds SGA, even by only a dollar, the individual will ALL of the SSDI payment for that month.
- This also impacts medical insurance coverage.
Medical Insurance for SSDI Recipients
- Medicare
- 24-month waiting period
- Earning too much can affect this
- If still medically eligible, but earning too much money:
- Extended eligibility period (trial work period of nine months plus seven extra years)
- Possibility of paying premiums to continue some Medicare coverage
Please Also Check out the Benefits That May Be Available to SSI and SSDI Recipients Bridges Resource Library entry.
Contact the Bridges Helpdesk for More Information
Email: Helpdesk@imagemd.org
Text: Send to: (410) 357-1546
Voice mail: Call (410) 357-1546, leave a voice mail message, and we will return your call
This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.