Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) serves as a financial lifeline for millions of Americans who are unable to work due to serious health conditions. But did you know that under certain conditions, your SSDI payments could be permanently stopped? The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed two major reasons this can happen. Here’s what you need to know to avoid losing your benefits.
Reason 1: Medical Improvement That Ends Your Disability Status
When you’re approved for SSDI, your eligibility is based on having a medical condition that prevents you from working. However, this status isn’t permanent for everyone. The SSA regularly reviews beneficiaries through what’s called a Continuing Disability Review (CDR). The purpose of a CDR is to determine whether your condition has improved to the point where you can return to work.
How often these reviews happen depends on your specific case:
- If improvement is expected: A review will typically occur within 6 to 18 months.
- If improvement is possible: You’ll generally be reviewed every 3 years.
- If improvement is unlikely: Reviews occur about every 7 years.
If the SSA finds that your condition has improved enough for you to engage in what they call “substantial gainful activity” (SGA), your benefits will be discontinued. To avoid surprises, make sure you stay on top of any changes in your medical condition and keep the SSA informed.
Reason 2: Returning to Work and Earning Over the SGA Limit
One of the quickest ways to lose SSDI benefits is by earning more than the SSA’s threshold for substantial gainful activity. For 2025, this limit is $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,700 per month for those who are blind.
If your earnings consistently exceed these amounts, the SSA may determine that you no longer qualify for disability benefits.
Fortunately, there are some work incentives designed to help you transition back to employment without immediately losing your payments:
- Trial Work Period (TWP): This allows you to test your ability to work for up to nine months without any reduction in benefits, no matter how much you earn.
- Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE): After your trial period, you’ll have 36 additional months where you can still receive benefits during months when your earnings fall below the SGA limit.
However, if you continue to earn over the limit after these periods, your SSDI benefits will be terminated.
Other Factors That Can End SSDI Benefits
While medical improvement and returning to work are the main reasons for benefit termination, there are a few other situations that can also cause you to lose payments:
- Incarceration: If you’re convicted of a felony and incarcerated for more than 30 days, your benefits may be suspended or stopped.
- Reaching Retirement Age: When you hit full retirement age, your SSDI payments automatically convert to Social Security retirement benefits. The amount typically stays the same, but the program changes.
Protect Your Benefits: What You Should Do
To avoid losing your benefits, always inform the SSA of changes in your medical condition or work activity. If you experience significant improvement or return to work, you may be able to take advantage of trial periods or other work incentives without immediately risking your payments.
Being proactive and understanding the rules can help you avoid unexpected interruptions and maintain the financial stability you rely on.
