Originally published: September 2025 | Reviewed by Perry Morrison
In North Carolina, SSDI and SSI let you work while receiving benefits, but earnings must stay under specific limits. SSDI uses SGA and trial work rules, while SSI reduces payments as income rises.
The worry about accidentally earning too much keeps many disabled people from trying out jobs that could actually help their lives.
You can work and receive additional income while receiving SSD disability benefits in North Carolina if you stay under the state’s income limits.
The rules for SSDI and SSI differ, so it’s essential to determine which set applies to you before considering a job.
Special rules allow individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits to work and still receive monthly payments through work incentive programs.
These are designed to help people with disabilities ease back into work without their financial safety net vanishing overnight.
Earnings rules protect your benefits by setting strict income limits. Exceeding these thresholds in North Carolina can result in reduced payments, benefit suspension, or complications with Medicaid or insurance.
Earning money while on disability is possible if you stick to the guidelines. The Social Security Administration sets monthly earnings limits to keep your benefits from getting cut off automatically.
If you go over those limits, the SSA may review your case. Earning too much can mean you lose your payments completely.
Key Protection Features:
The SSA checks all reported earnings every month. You must report work activity promptly to avoid overpayments.
Special rules allow people to work and still receive monthly payments. These work incentives make it safer to try working again.
It’s smart to watch your income closely. If you track your earnings each month, you can stay under the limit and keep your benefits.
The rules for working while receiving SSDI and SSI benefits are different. SSDI is an insurance program tied to your work history.
SSDI recipients paid into Social Security through payroll taxes. Their benefits depend on how much they earn and the length of their employment.
SSI is a needs-based program. It considers your entire household’s income and resources.
Program Differences:
SSI reduces your benefit dollar for dollar after a small exemption. SSDI allows you to earn more before your benefits are terminated.
Some people receive both programs simultaneously. If you do, you have to follow the strictest rules from both.
North Carolina residents who are unable to work due to a disability may qualify for benefits. Knowing the earning thresholds helps you avoid mistakes that could cost you those benefits.
The SSA uses Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limits to see if you can work. These limits change every year and apply everywhere, including North Carolina.
2025 SGA Thresholds:
North Carolina residents must be cautious about work activities that could impact their benefits. The state handles federal disability decisions through Disability Determination Services.
The job market in North Carolina offers some unique opportunities. You need up-to-date information on thresholds before you take on a part-time job or even volunteer work.
If you get the limits incorrect, you may have your benefits suspended or terminated. It’s always a good idea to consult with a disability advocate before starting any new job.
Morrison Law Firm’s Social Security Disability service helps North Carolina residents understand earnings rules and protect benefits while working. Don’t risk mistakes—schedule your free case evaluation today.
If you’re ready to get started, call us now!
In 2025, SSDI recipients in North Carolina can earn up to $1,620/month before pay is considered Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)—$2,700/month if blind.
A Trial Work Period (TWP) lets you test work at higher earnings; in 2025, any month over $1,160 counts as a TWP month.
The Trial Work Period lets you earn any amount for nine months. Then, the Extended Period of Eligibility gives you more flexibility for 36 months after that.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) establishes the monthly earnings limit for SSDI. In 2025, the amounts are $1,620 for non-blind individuals and $2,700 for blind recipients.
If you earn above the SGA level, Social Security usually decides you can work enough not to need SSDI for that month. It’s a strict cutoff.
SGA counts gross earnings—wages, bonuses, and self-employment income before taxes. Income from sources such as investments or rental properties doesn’t count toward SGA.
Social Security only looks at countable earnings under the SGA level to decide if you keep your benefits.
You’ll want to track your income each month, as exceeding SGA can result in the suspension or termination of your benefits, depending on your work incentive status.
The Trial Work Period allows SSDI recipients to try working without losing their benefits. During these nine months, you get your full SSDI payment no matter how much you earn.
You get nine trial work months within a rolling 60-month window. In 2025, any month you earn over $1,180 counts as a trial work month.
Key TWP Rules:
The Trial Work Period lets you work and get benefits at the same time. Once you use all nine months, you move into the Extended Period of Eligibility.
After the Trial Work Period, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility. For these three years, you only get benefits for the months your earnings fall below SGA.
The EPE is helpful if your work schedule changes a lot. If you earn too much one month, you can still get benefits the next month if you’re under the limit again.
EPE Benefits Include:
Working while getting SSDI benefits gets more complicated during EPE. You have to keep a close eye on your monthly earnings. After 36 months, if you continue to earn above SGA, your benefits will cease permanently.
SSI uses its own formula to lower your benefits if you have countable income. In North Carolina, your state supplements and Medicaid coverage might also change if you work.
SSI has several programs and rules that help if you work. Even if your benefits go down, your overall financial situation can still improve.
The Social Security Administration figures out your SSI by subtracting countable income from the federal maximum. The more countable income you have, the less SSI you get.
SSI Income Exclusions:
Say you earn $300 a month. SSI leaves out the first $20 and the first $65 from wages. That leaves $215, and they only count half of that—so $107.50 gets counted against your SSI.
SSI offers some good work incentives that allow you to keep a portion of your earnings. Thanks to these exclusions, you can earn a few hundred bucks and still get some SSI.
They look at your monthly earned income, not your hours. This helps part-time workers keep a little SSI while gaining work experience.
North Carolina gives state supplemental payments to some SSI recipients. These supplements use the same income calculation rules as federal SSI.
If your earnings go up, both federal SSI and state supplements go down proportionally. Even if your SSI cash benefits stop because of your earnings, you might still qualify for Medicaid coverage under a special rule called “1619(b)”.
Medicaid Protection Rules:
This protection allows people to try working without losing their healthcare right away. Medical costs can easily outpace what you earn, and the rule takes that into account.
State supplements typically end when federal SSI benefits are discontinued. It’s smart to run the numbers and see how much you could lose before taking a higher-paying job.
Sarah lives in North Carolina and gets $914 a month in federal SSI. She secures a part-time job and begins earning $400 per month.
Sarah’s Calculation:
Her new SSI payment drops to $914 – $157.50, so $756.50 a month. With her wages, Sarah’s total monthly income jumps to $1,156.50.
When you go to work and report your earnings, Social Security will reduce your SSI check by an amount called your countable income. Even after the reduction, Sarah ends up with $242.50 more each month than she had before working.
She keeps her Medicaid coverage thanks to 1619(b). Sarah needs to report any wage changes right away to avoid trouble with overpayments or penalties.
Lots of SSDI and SSI recipients lose benefits because they don’t report earnings, take unreported cash, or go over income limits during busy work times.
These slip-ups can result in benefit suspensions and make it a real headache to get benefits back.
If you receive SSDI or SSI, you must report your work and earnings to Social Security every month. This rule applies even if you’re earning less than the substantial gainful activity limit.
Common Social Security mistakes occur when individuals fail to report earnings or other changes that impact their benefits. SSA uses these reports to decide if your benefits should change or continue.
Required reporting includes:
If you miss a monthly report, you can get overpaid. You’ll have to pay back any extra money you shouldn’t have received.
SSA might also start a continuing disability review if your work suggests you could be less disabled. People who miss reports often face more scrutiny during these reviews.
Taking cash payments or hiding income is risky for anyone on disability. SSA finds unreported work through tax records, audits, and even employer tips.
Consequences of unreported work include:
Individuals who work off the books cannot utilise programs that support a gradual return to work. These programs allow you to test working and maintain Medicare coverage for a period.
The SSA conducts continuing disability reviews and sometimes discovers unreported income. If they catch you, expect more frequent reviews and tighter oversight in the future.
You must report all work—regardless of whether it’s cash, self-employment, odd jobs, or seasonal gigs.
Extra hours or seasonal jobs can push your income over the limit when you least expect it. SSDI recipients lose benefits if they make more than $1,550 a month in 2025.
SSI rules are trickier. For every $2 you earn above $85 a month, you lose $1 in benefits. Big paychecks can wipe out SSI payments for that month.
Strategies to manage variable income:
Exceeding the limits triggers different processes. SSDI recipients may use trial work period months; SSI recipients see their benefits cut immediately.
If your benefits stop because you made too much, you can ask for expedited reinstatement if you can’t work again within five years. However, that process isn’t instantaneous, and you may experience a temporary loss of income.
SSA reviews cases more often for people with changing work patterns. They’re looking to see if your disability still qualifies.
Confused about Trial Work Periods or SSI reductions? Morrison Law Firm guides clients through SSA reporting and benefit planning. Protect your income and health coverage—contact us now.
If you’re ready to get started, call us now!
Social Security has programs to help people with disabilities work and keep their benefits. These include the Ticket to Work program, impairment-related work expense deductions, and special rules for students.
The Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act is designed for individuals aged 18 to 64 who receive disability benefits and wish to explore employment opportunities. It’s voluntary and connects you to employment networks and vocational rehab providers.
You’ll receive free employment support, including career counselling, job placement, and ongoing assistance after you start working.
As long as you’re actively participating, Social Security won’t review your medical status. That means less stress about losing benefits simply because you try to work.
Key Benefits:
You can assign your ticket to any approved employment network or your state’s vocational rehab agency. Each offers different services, so pick what fits your goals.
Disability-related work expenses lower your countable income when Social Security figures your benefits. These work expenses must be necessary for you to work because of your disability.
Qualifying IRWE expenses include:
You have to pay these costs yourself, and they can’t be reimbursed by insurance or anyone else.
Social Security subtracts these costs from your gross wages before checking if you’re over the earnings limit. That allows you to earn more while still retaining benefits.
Hang on to your receipts and document everything. SSA will want proof that these expenses help you work.
Students under 22 who receive SSI can exclude a portion of their earnings. This applies to both job wages and self-employment.
For 2025, students can leave out up to $2,290 in earned income each month. The annual cap is $9,230—whichever comes first.
Requirements include:
This works for high schools, colleges, universities, and vocational programs.
Part-time students in special education (at least 8 hours per week) can also qualify. Home schooling is acceptable if it meets state requirements and provides a comparable education.
North Carolina folks working in retail can use several work incentives. For example, if you work at Target and earn $1,200 a month, you might deduct $200 for specialized transportation you need because of your disability.
Gig workers—such as DoorDash or Uber drivers—can deduct vehicle modifications necessary for their impairment. Hand controls for drivers with mobility issues count as impairment-related work expenses.
Common NC scenarios:
Students at NC State or UNC can stack the student-earned income exclusion with other incentives. A 20-year-old student earning $1,800 a month from campus work could exclude the whole $1,800 under student rules.
Working while receiving SSDI takes planning and careful reporting. These incentives really help North Carolina beneficiaries ease into work and keep some financial stability.
If you’re on disability, you need to report earnings to SSA every month, keep detailed income records and receipts, and get written confirmation for any work activity approvals.
It’s a good idea to talk to a disability lawyer to make sure you’re following all the complicated federal rules.
| Step | What To Do | Why It Matters | Pro Tips |
| Monthly Reporting to SSA | Report all wages, self-employment, or work income to Social Security by the 6th of each month for the prior month. | Late reports can cause overpayments you’ll have to repay. | Call your local SSA office or use the online system; keep notes of date, time, and rep’s name. |
| Track Earnings Against Limits | In 2025, SSDI recipients must watch for SGA limits of $1,620/month ($2,700 if blind). SSI recipients must report all earnings. | Exceeding SGA can trigger suspension or termination of benefits. | Keep a log of monthly totals and compare against SSA thresholds. |
| Keep Income & IRWE Records | Save pay stubs, invoices, and bank statements—track Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) like medications, wheelchair costs, or special transportation. | IRWE can reduce countable income, helping SSI recipients keep more benefits. | Organize receipts monthly and total up IRWE expenses to provide to SSA if requested. |
| Request Written SSA Confirmation | Always request written confirmation from SSA for income reports, work approvals, and incentive program participation. | Verbal promises offer no protection in disputes or reviews. | Send follow-up letters or emails to confirm any phone conversations with SSA reps. |
| Consult a Disability Attorney | Speak to an NC disability lawyer if you face overpayments, start substantial work, plan self-employment, or get termination notices. | Attorneys help interpret trial work periods, EPE, and expedited reinstatement correctly. | Many offer free or low-cost consultations specifically for working beneficiaries. |
Working while you’re on SSDI or SSI takes some planning. You really have to pay attention to the federal rules. Earning an income while on disability is possible if you know the key regulations.
Income monitoring is huge here. Your monthly earnings need to stay below the substantial gainful activity limits if you want to keep your benefits.
The trial work period gives SSDI recipients a safety net. For nine months, you can test out working without instantly losing your benefits.
Some strategies that help:
Special rules allow individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits to work while maintaining some financial security. These programs exist because, honestly, getting back to work can help everyone—individuals and society alike.
The Ticket to Work program provides additional support, including vocational training and job placement services. It’s a voluntary thing, but it can make returning to work less intimidating.
Knowing the difference between SSDI and SSI rules will save you a ton of headaches. The rules for working while on SSDI and SSI are different, so you’ll need to approach each one a little differently.
It all comes down to proactive communication with Social Security reps. If you keep in touch, you’re way less likely to run into trouble with your benefits while you’re working.
If you’re worried about losing benefits, Morrison Law Firm offers post-hearing and appeal services for SSDI and SSI. Get clarity and peace of mind—call to schedule your consultation.
How much can I earn on SSDI in North Carolina in 2025?
You can earn up to $1,620/month before it’s considered Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)—$2,700/month if blind. Above SGA may suspend checks after trial-work protections.
What is a Trial Work Period (TWP) and how does it work?
Any month you earn $1,160+ in 2025 counts toward your 9 TWP months (within 60 months). During TWP, SSDI checks continue while you are testing your work.
What happens after the TWP?
You enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). In any EPE month, if your earnings fall below the SGA level, your SSDI benefit can be paid; above the SGA level, it won’t.
How does SSI treat my wages?
SSI reduces your payment by $1 for every $2 you earn after the first $85 is excluded. Many people can work part-time and still receive a (reduced) SSI check.
Do I need to report wages to SSA each month?
Yes. Report prior-month earnings by the 6th (phone, online, or local office). Keep dates, names, and confirmations to avoid overpayments and documentation gaps.
What counts as “earnings” for SSA rules?
For employees, SSA looks at gross wages before taxes. For the self-employed, SSA uses net earnings after business expenses. IRWE and employer subsidies can lower countable income.
Will I lose Medicare or Medicaid if I work?
SSDI: Medicare often continues for years after TWP (extended coverage rules apply). SSI: Medicaid can continue under 1619(b) if you’re under North Carolina’s earnings threshold.
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