What Changed for the Trial Work Period in 2023

The Trial Work Period (TWP) itself did not change in structure or length in 2023. You still get nine months to test your ability to work while keeping your full SSDI payment, and those nine months do not have to be consecutive. What did change in 2023 was the dollar amount that counts as a "trial work month" — the threshold Social Security uses to decide whether a month counts toward your nine.

In 2023, a trial work month was any month in which you earned $1,550 or more. This amount increases each year based on inflation. If you earned less than $1,550 in a month, that month did not count against your nine-month total, even if you worked. The threshold matters because once you use all nine months, your benefits enter a different phase with stricter income rules.

The 2023 figure applied to anyone in their Trial Work Period during calendar year 2023. If your TWP started before 2023 and continued into 2023, you used the 2023 threshold ($1,550) for months falling in 2023, then the 2024 threshold for any remaining months in 2024 and beyond.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2023 trial work month threshold was $1,550 in monthly earnings; months below that amount did not count against your nine-month total.
  • The threshold changes each year with inflation, so the 2024 amount and future years will differ from the 2023 figure.
  • Your nine trial work months do not have to be consecutive, and you can spread them across multiple years if your earnings fluctuate.
  • Once you exhaust your nine months, you enter the Extended Period of may be able to access (EPE), which has a different income limit and different rules for when benefits pause.
  • Tracking which months count is your responsibility; Social Security will not always flag when you have used all nine unless you ask.

How the 2023 Threshold Affected Your Monthly Check

During 2023, if you earned $1,550 or more in a calendar month, that month counted as a trial work month. Your SSDI payment remained unchanged — you received your full benefit amount regardless of how much you earned, as long as you were in the Trial Work Period. This is the core feature of the TWP: work does not reduce your check.

If you earned $1,549 or less in a month during 2023, that month did not count, even if you worked. You could work part-time, earn $1,000, and still have a "free" month that did not use up one of your nine. This structure lets people test different jobs or gradually increase hours without burning through the Trial Work Period.

The $1,550 figure was a threshold only — it did not cap your earnings. You could earn $3,000, $5,000, or more in a single month and still receive your full SSDI payment. The amount mattered only for deciding whether the month counted toward your nine.

What Happens After Your Nine Trial Work Months End

Once you have used all nine trial work months, you move into the Extended Period of may be able to access (EPE), which lasts 36 months. During the EPE, the income rules change. Your benefits now pause in any month you earn $1,550 or more — the same threshold as 2023, though this amount also increases yearly.

The difference is critical: during the Trial Work Period, you keep your full payment no matter what you earn. During the EPE, you lose your payment in months where you earn at or above the threshold. This is why tracking your nine months matters — once they are gone, the same earnings amount has a different consequence.

After the EPE ends, you enter the Expedited Reinstatement period, which gives you another window to return to benefits if your work attempt does not last. Understanding where you are in this timeline helps you plan whether to keep working or what to expect from your payment.

Tracking Your Trial Work Months in 2023

Social Security does not automatically send you a notice each time a month counts toward your nine. You need to keep your own record. Write down each month in 2023 when you earned $1,550 or more, and keep pay stubs or other proof of earnings.

When you contact Social Security — by phone at 1-800-772-1213, in person at a local office, or through your online account at ssa.gov — ask them to confirm how many trial work months you have used. They can pull this from your record, but they may not volunteer the information. Request a written statement showing which months counted and how many remain.

If you believe Social Security made an error in counting your months, you can request a detailed breakdown. Keep copies of your pay stubs for at least the past three years, since the Trial Work Period can span multiple calendar years.

How Inflation Affects Future Trial Work Thresholds

The $1,550 threshold for 2023 was set based on the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) announced in October 2022 for 2023 benefits. Each October, Social Security announces the next year's COLA, and the trial work month threshold increases along with it.

This means the threshold for 2024 was higher than $1,550, and the 2025 threshold will be higher still. If your Trial Work Period spans multiple years, you will use different thresholds in different calendar years. For example, if you had trial work months in both 2023 and 2024, you would use the 2023 threshold ($1,550) for months in 2023 and the 2024 threshold for months in 2024.

You can find the current year's threshold on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213. The threshold is published each year in October or November for the following calendar year.

What to Do If You Are Unsure About Your Remaining Months

Contact Social Security and request a written statement of your Trial Work Period status. Include the date you started your TWP and ask them to list which months have counted so far. This gives you a clear record to work from as you continue.

If you are planning to increase your work hours or take a new job, knowing how many months you have left helps you decide whether to push forward or pace yourself. Some people use their nine months quickly and move into the EPE sooner; others spread them out over several years by keeping earnings below the threshold in some months.

There is no "right" strategy — it depends on your health, your job prospects, and whether you think you can sustain work long-term. But the decision should be informed by knowing exactly where you stand in your nine months.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I earned $1,549 in one month and $1,551 in the next month during 2023, do both months count?

No. The month with $1,549 does not count because it fell below the $1,550 threshold. The month with $1,551 does count. Each month is evaluated separately against the threshold for that calendar year.

Can I go back and count months from 2022 or earlier toward my 2023 Trial Work Period?

No. Your nine trial work months are counted in the order they occur, starting from when your TWP began. Months from 2022 would have already been counted (or not) using the 2022 threshold. You cannot retroactively reassign them to 2023.

What if I worked part-time and earned $800 one month, then $900 the next month — do either of those count?

Neither month counts toward your nine. Both fell below the $1,550 threshold for 2023. You could work both months and still have two "free" months remaining in your Trial Work Period.

Does the $1,550 threshold include tips, bonuses, or self-employment income?

Yes. Social Security counts all earned income — wages, tips, bonuses, and net self-employment income — toward the $1,550 threshold. If your total earnings in a month reach $1,550 or more from any combination of these sources, the month counts.

If my Trial Work Period started in 2022 and I still have months left in 2024, which threshold do I use?

You use the threshold for the calendar year in which the month falls. Months in 2024 use the 2024 threshold, even though your TWP started in 2022. Each calendar year has its own threshold, regardless of when your TWP began.