Author: April Ogden, Founder and CEO, It’s Your Outcome

You’ve Been Working and Reporting Your Earnings—Then You Get an SSA Notice

You’ve been at your new job for a year and a half.

It took time to find the right role, and after months of interviews and adjustments, you finally feel settled. The job is going well, you’re earning a steady paycheck, and you’re still receiving your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefitsbecause you’ve followed the rules.

You reported your earnings to SSA every month just as required. You knew that working while receiving benefits had guidelines, so you were careful.

Then, one day, a letter arrives from SSA.

It says you were overpaid—by thousands of dollars.

And worse? SSA will withhold your entire SSDI check until the overpayment is repaid.

📢 On March 7, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a major change to how it recovers overpayments. Previously, if SSA determined that you were overpaid, they would withhold 10% of your SSDI check until the debt was repaid. Now, SSA can withhold 100%—meaning your entire SSDI check could be gone until the full balance is recovered.

📌 Every person’s situation is different, and the information shared here may not apply directly to you. That’s why it’s important to seek personalized guidance through one of the trusted resources shared below.

What You’ll Learn in This Blog:

✅ Why overpayments happen—even when you report your income correctly

✅ How to track your benefits and avoid surprises

✅ Steps to take if you receive an overpayment notice

✅ Why working is still a great option—but requires planning

✅ Where to find trusted resources to navigate SSA benefits

📢 SSA’s Updated Overpayment Recovery Policy

On March 7, 2025, SSA announced that it will increase the default overpayment withholding rate for SSDI beneficiaries to 100%, effective March 27, 2025. This means that if SSA determines you have been overpaid, they can withhold your entire SSDI check until the debt is fully recovered.

Previously, SSA only withheld 10% of a person’s SSDI check, allowing them to continue receiving a portion of their benefits.

Overpayments can happen for many reasons, and sometimes you may not realize it until months—or even years—later.

📌 Why Do Overpayments Happen?

SSA regularly reviews benefits to ensure accuracy. Overpayments can occur for reasons like:

✔ Changes in work earnings that affect benefit eligibility

✔ Delays in reporting income or changes in disability status

✔ Adjustments in benefit calculations based on work incentives

📌 What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

✅ Monitor your benefits online. Set up a free SSA account at ssa.gov to track payments and notices.

✅ Report your earnings on time. Keeping SSA updated helps prevent incorrect benefit calculations.

✅ Respond quickly to SSA notices. If you receive an overpayment notice, you may be able to request a waiver or an adjusted repayment plan.

📈 2025 Work Limits: What You Need to Know

If you receive SSDI, you can work—but you need to track your earnings carefully.

💼 SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) Work Limits

• Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA):
  • Non-Blind Individuals: $1,620 per month
  • Blind Individuals: $2,700 per month
  • If you exceed SGA after using your Trial Work Period, SSDI benefits may stop.
• Trial Work Period (TWP):
  • Allows you to test working while still receiving SSDI.
  • In 2025, any month you earn more than $1,160 counts toward your TWP.

📚 SSA Resources & Publications: Where to Get More Information

🔹 SSA Red Book (Guide to Work Incentives & Benefits)

• 📖 View Online: ssa.gov/redbook
• 📥 Download PDF: ssa.gov/pubs/EN-64-030.pdf

🔹 Find a Certified Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) for Free Benefits Planning

• 💼 Connect with a CWIC: ssa.gov/work/WIPA.html

📌 Because every person’s situation is different, the best way to ensure you’re making the right decisions is to seek professional guidance through one of these resources.

📢 Looking for Career Guidance? We Can Help.

At It’s Your Outcome, we help job seekers and professionals navigate career transitions, workplace challenges, and job search strategies. We can also connect you with trusted disability resources that support your journey.

📌 Looking for expert guidance on career growth, job searching, or professional development? Let’s connect.

👉 Visit It’s Your Outcome to contact us.