How the Trial Work Period works in 2025
The Trial Work Period (TWP) in 2025 operates the same way it has for years: it lets you test whether you can work while keeping your SSDI benefits. During the nine-month TWP, you can earn any amount of money without losing your monthly benefit check. Social Security doesn't count the months you earn less than $1,090 per month toward your nine-month limit.
The $1,090 threshold is the amount Social Security uses to decide whether a month "counts" toward your nine months. This figure changes each year based on federal wage averages. In 2025, if you earn $1,090 or more in a calendar month, that month counts. If you earn less, it doesn't count, even if you work many hours at a low wage.
After your nine countable months end, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period (EEP), which lasts 36 months. During EEP, you can still work, but now Social Security watches your earnings more closely. If you earn over the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit in any month during EEP, you lose that month's benefit. The SGA limit for 2025 is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers.
Key Takeaways
- During your nine-month Trial Work Period, you keep your full SSDI benefit no matter how much you earn, as long as you report your work to Social Security.
- A month only counts toward your nine months if you earn $1,090 or more; months under that amount don't count, so your TWP can stretch longer than nine calendar months.
- After TWP ends, the 36-month Extended may be able to access Period begins, and you lose your benefit for any month you earn $1,550 or more.
- You must report all work and earnings to Social Security, even during months that don't count toward your TWP.
- The $1,090 and $1,550 figures are set by federal law and change yearly; check with Social Security for the current year's amounts.
The $1,090 threshold and how it affects your timeline
The $1,090 figure is the key to understanding how long your TWP actually lasts. If you earn exactly $1,089 in a month, that month does not count. You could work part-time for 18 calendar months and still have only used four or five countable months, leaving you most of your nine months unused.
This matters because many people think the TWP lasts nine calendar months no matter what. It doesn't. It lasts until you have nine months where you earned $1,090 or more. If you work inconsistently, take unpaid leave, or earn below the threshold some months, your TWP stretches out longer.
Social Security tracks this for you, but you need to report your earnings every month. If you don't report, Social Security may suspend your benefits by mistake, and you'll have to prove later that you were may have access to to them. Report even the months you earn under $1,090.
What happens when your Trial Work Period ends
When you finish your nine countable months, your TWP ends automatically. You don't have to do anything, and you don't lose your benefits when ready. Instead, you move into the Extended may be able to access Period (EEP), which lasts 36 months from the month after your TWP ends.
During EEP, the rules change. Now Social Security looks at whether you earn over the SGA limit ($1,550 in 2025). If you do, you lose your benefit for that month only. You don't lose your entire case. The next month, if you earn under $1,550, your benefit comes back.
This is very different from what happens after EEP ends. Once EEP is over, if you earn over SGA, Social Security stops your benefits entirely and you have to reapply. That's why EEP is sometimes called a "safety net"—you have 36 months to see whether work is sustainable for you.
Reporting your work and earnings to Social Security
You must tell Social Security about any work you do, including self-employment, volunteer work that pays, and informal jobs. You report through your My Social Security account online, by phone, or by mail. Most people find the online account easiest because you can report whenever you want and see your record when ready.
Report the month you start work and every month after, even if you earn nothing that month. Include your gross earnings (before taxes), not your take-home pay. If you're self-employed, report your net profit after business expenses.
Social Security uses your reports to track which months count toward your TWP and to watch for SGA during EEP. If you don't report and Social Security finds out you worked, they may overpay you and ask for the money back later. Reporting protects you.
The difference between TWP and Extended may be able to access Period
| Feature | Trial Work Period (TWP) | Extended may be able to access Period (EEP) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Nine countable months (can span longer than nine calendar months) | 36 months after TWP ends |
| Earnings limit that counts a month | $1,090 per month (2025) | No threshold—every month is tracked |
| What happens if you earn over the limit | You keep your full benefit; the month counts toward your nine | You lose your benefit for that month only |
| What happens after this period ends | You move into EEP | If you earn over SGA ($1,550 in 2025), your case closes and you must reapply |
Planning your work during the Trial Work Period
Many people use the TWP to test a job before committing to full-time work. You might work part-time for a few months, see how your disability affects your ability to work, and then decide whether to increase your hours. Because you keep your full benefit during TWP, you have a financial cushion while you figure this out.
Some people use TWP to try self-employment. You can start a business, report your net earnings, and see whether it's sustainable. If it isn't, you still have your SSDI benefit to fall back on.
Others use TWP to work full-time and save money, knowing that EEP comes next and the rules will tighten. The key is to understand that TWP is temporary and to think ahead about what you want to do during EEP and after.
What to know about the Substantial Gainful Activity limit
The SGA limit ($1,550 for non-blind workers in 2025) is the earnings threshold that matters during EEP and after. It's also the amount Social Security uses to decide whether you're working at a level that suggests you're no longer disabled. If you consistently earn over SGA, Social Security may decide you can work and close your case.
The SGA limit is different from the TWP threshold. During TWP, you can earn any amount. During EEP, you lose your benefit for any month you earn over SGA, but your case stays open. After EEP, if you earn over SGA, your case closes.
Blind workers have a higher SGA limit ($2,590 in 2025). If you're blind, ask Social Security which limit applies to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use my Trial Work Period right away?
No. Your TWP starts the first month you tell Social Security you're working. You can wait months or years after you start receiving SSDI before you begin work. When you do work, that's when your nine-month clock starts. You don't lose the TWP if you wait.
What if I stop working during my Trial Work Period?
Your TWP pauses, not resets. If you work for three months, stop for six months, then work again, those three months still count. You pick up where you left off. You only lose your TWP if you return to work after your case has closed.
Can I work more than one job during the Trial Work Period?
Yes. Social Security counts your combined earnings from all jobs. If you earn $1,090 or more total across multiple jobs in a month, that month counts toward your nine. Report all jobs and all earnings.
What happens if I earn over $1,550 during Extended may be able to access Period?
You lose your benefit for that month only. Your case stays open. The next month, if you earn under $1,550, your benefit returns. This continues for 36 months. After EEP ends, the rules change and your case closes if you earn over SGA.
Do I need to tell Social Security before I start working?
You don't need permission, but you should report as soon as you start. Report through your My Social Security account, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting your local Social Security office. Reporting early protects you and makes sure Social Security tracks your TWP correctly.