The 2025 monthly earnings limit for your Trial Work Period
During your Trial Work Period in 2025, you can earn up to $1,110 per month and still have that month count as a non-work month. This means Social Security will not count that earnings toward the nine work months that end your Trial Work Period.
If you earn more than $1,110 in a month, that month counts as a work month, even if you only went over by a dollar. The nine months you hit this threshold will use up your Trial Work Period. After those nine months end, your benefits stop unless your earnings fall back below the substantial gainful activity level for your disability category.
This $1,110 figure changes each year because Social Security adjusts it for inflation. The 2024 limit was $1,050, so the increase reflects the cost of living adjustment announced in late 2024.
Key Takeaways
- You can earn $1,110 or less in a month during 2025 without using up a work month in your Trial Work Period.
- Any month you earn more than $1,110 counts as a work month, and nine work months will end your Trial Work Period.
- The $1,110 limit applies only to your Trial Work Period; after it ends, a different earnings limit (substantial gainful activity) determines whether you keep your benefits.
- Social Security counts only your net self-employment income if you are self-employed, not your gross revenue.
- The monthly limit increases each January based on inflation, so check the current year's figure before you work.
How Social Security counts your earnings during the Trial Work Period
Social Security looks at your gross wages if you work for an employer — that is, what you earn before taxes, insurance, or other deductions. If you are self-employed, they count your net income, which is your revenue minus your business expenses.
The month you earn the money is the month that counts, not the month you receive the paycheck. If your employer pays you on the 15th and the 30th of each month, Social Security adds both payments together for the calendar month they were earned in, even if one payment arrives in the next month.
Certain types of income do not count toward the $1,110 limit. Unearned income — such as interest, dividends, rental income, or other benefits — does not affect your Trial Work Period. Only work you do and money you earn from that work counts.
What happens when you exceed the $1,110 limit
If you earn $1,111 or more in a single month, Social Security marks that month as a work month. You do not lose your benefits that month or face any penalty. The work month straightforward counts toward your nine-month total.
You can have work months and non-work months in any order during your Trial Work Period. You might earn $800 in January (non-work month), $1,500 in February (work month one), $900 in March (non-work month), and so on. Once you accumulate nine work months, your Trial Work Period ends.
After your Trial Work Period ends, your benefits continue for a three-month grace period. During those three months, you receive your full benefit amount regardless of how much you earn. After the grace period, your benefits stop if your earnings exceed the substantial gainful activity limit for your disability type.
The difference between the Trial Work Period limit and the substantial gainful activity limit
The $1,110 monthly limit is specific to your Trial Work Period. It is a low threshold designed to let you test your ability to work without when ready losing benefits.
Once your Trial Work Period ends and your three-month grace period is over, a different rule takes over. Social Security then looks at your monthly earnings against the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit, which is much higher. For 2025, the SGA limit is $3,822 per month for people who are blind and $2,590 per month for people who are not blind.
This means you could earn $2,590 per month (if you are not blind) after your Trial Work Period without losing your benefits. The Trial Work Period is the bridge that lets you explore work at a lower risk; the SGA limit is the threshold that applies once you have finished testing.
Tracking your work months and reporting to Social Security
You are responsible for telling Social Security about your earnings. They do not automatically know how much you earned unless you report it. You should report your earnings every month, even if you think the month will not count as a work month.
Keep records of your pay stubs, invoices, or other proof of earnings. If you are self-employed, keep records of your business income and expenses. Social Security may ask to see these documents to verify your earnings, especially if you are near the end of your nine work months.
You can report your earnings by phone, mail, or online through your Social Security account. Many people report monthly to avoid surprises later. If you report late and Social Security has already paid you based on incomplete information, you may owe money back.
Self-employment and the $1,110 limit
If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net self-employment income — your revenue minus your business expenses. This is different from what you report to the IRS, though the two often align.
Business expenses that reduce your net income include rent for your workspace, supplies, equipment, utilities, and wages you pay to employees. Personal expenses, such as your own meals or transportation to work, do not count as business expenses for Social Security purposes.
If you own a business and earn $1,500 in revenue but have $600 in business expenses, your net income is $900. That month would not count as a work month because $900 is below the $1,110 limit. Keep detailed records of all expenses so you can show Social Security your actual net income.
What to do if you think you have miscounted your work months
If you believe Social Security has counted your work months incorrectly, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213. You can ask them to review your Trial Work Period record and explain which months they counted as work months and why.
Bring your pay stubs or other earnings records with you. If Social Security made an error, they can correct it. If you disagree with their count, you have the right to request a reconsideration, which is a formal review of their decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn exactly $1,110 and not use a work month?
Yes. You can earn $1,110 or less in a month without it counting as a work month. Only earnings above $1,110 trigger a work month. If you earn $1,110.50, that month counts as a work month.
Does the $1,110 limit explore if I work part-time or full-time?
The limit applies the same way regardless of how many hours you work. It is based on how much you earn, not how many hours you work. You could work one hour and earn $2,000, and that would count as a work month. You could work 40 hours and earn $900, and that would not.
What if I get a bonus or back pay in one month?
Social Security counts the money in the month you earned it, not the month you received it. If your employer pays you a bonus in December for work you did throughout the year, only the bonus itself counts toward December's earnings. Back pay is counted in the month it was earned, based on the dates your employer specifies.
Do I need to report my earnings if I know I will not hit the $1,110 limit?
Yes, you should report all earnings every month. Social Security needs accurate information to track your Trial Work Period correctly. If you do not report and they later discover unreported earnings, it can cause problems with your benefits and may result in overpayment that you have to repay.
What happens to my benefits the month I use my ninth work month?
You continue to receive your full benefit amount during the month you use your ninth work month and for the three months that follow (your grace period). After the grace period ends, your benefits stop if your earnings are above the substantial gainful activity limit for your category.