Working While Applying for Disability: Hour Limits Explained
It can take several months for a person to receive a decision on their Social Security disability benefits application. Working may be the only way to make ends meet while waiting.
Working while applying for benefits may not be prohibited, but you need to know and comply with Social Security earnings rules. Applicants who work for an employer have earnings limits rather than limits on the hours worked. However, self-employed individuals should be careful, as the number of hours they work may jeopardize the success of their disability claim.
The disability benefits team at American Disability Action Group provides trusted advice and skillful representation to people with disabilities nationwide. Contact them for more information after you read through this explanation of disability work limits when applying for or receiving disability benefits.
Social Security Disability Benefits Programs
Two programs available through the Social Security Administration provide disability benefits to people with long-term disabilities. The Social Security Disability Insurance program requires an applicant to have worked long enough at jobs or self-employment with Social Security taxes paid on the earnings or income.
The other disability benefits program administered by the SSA is Supplemental Security Income, which pays benefits to disabled or blind adults and children. The program also provides benefits to individuals ages 65 and older who are not disabled or blind.
The SSI program does require a work record, as does SSDI. Instead, SSI, a means-based program, has income and resource limitations that applicants must meet to be approved. If applying for SSI disability benefits, the SSA uses the same disability definition to evaluate adult applicants for SSI as it uses for the SSDI program.
Earnings and the SSA disability definition
The SSA uses a specific definition of disability to evaluate claims for benefits. It defines a disability as follows:
- An inability to do substantial gainful activity;
- Caused by a medically determinable physical or mental impairment; and
- The impairment or impairments must be expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in death.
Substantial gainful activity (SGA) generally does not include tasks you do around the house, including caring for yourself. It refers to those physical and mental activities related to working. Those activities are gainful when performed for pay or profit.
The SSA uses the amount of money a person makes from working as a measure of their ability to do SGA. The SGA monthly earnings threshold for 2026 is $1,690. The monthly earnings threshold for a person who is statutorily blind is $2,830. Earning more than the threshold amounts indicates the person can perform SGA.
Hours worked do not determine whether an employee can perform SGA. However, the SSA may carefully look at the hours worked by a person doing partial disability work as a part-time employee earning less than the SGA threshold. Depending on the number of hours, it may cause the SSA to question whether the person’s disability allows them to do more and earn more money.
Hours Worked and Self-Employed Applicants
The number of hours worked can affect whether a self-employed individual has their claim for disability benefits approved. The effort a person puts into running their own business becomes more important than their monthly income.
Federal regulations provide three tests to evaluate self-employed individuals:
- Test One: A person does SGA when they render services significant to the operation of their business and receive substantial income from the business.
- Test Two: A person does SGA when their hours, skills, energy output, duties, and responsibilities are comparable to what unimpaired individuals in their community do in similar or the same business.
- Test Three: The value of the services a person does in their business exceeds the SGA threshold, or it would exceed the threshold when compared to the cost of hiring a person to do the services.
If you own a business while applying for SSDI, a disability benefits attorney at the ADA Group can provide guidance and representation to help you navigate complex federal regulations and laws.
Working While Receiving Disability Benefits
The SSA makes it easier to work while on SSDI by offering work incentive programs. For example, you can work and earn more than the SGA amount each month without it affecting your ability to receive monthly benefits.
An extended work period (EWP) is nine months, but you have 60 months to them. During the EWP, you can work and earn as much as you can while keeping what you earn and receiving SSDI benefits. SSDI income restrictions do not apply during the EWP.
Contact a disability attorney today
The disability attorneys at American Disability Action Group provide advice and representation to help you navigate the Social Security disability process. When you have questions about working or other issues related to disability benefits, contact ADA Group for a free consultation.