What the Trial Work Period does

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which you can work and earn any amount of money without losing your SSDI payments. Social Security counts a month toward your Trial Work Period only if you earn $940 or more in that month (this amount changes each year). You do not have to tell Social Security in advance that you are starting work — but you do have to report your earnings once you begin.

The purpose is to let you test whether you can sustain work before Social Security decides whether your disability has ended. Many people on SSDI worry that returning to work means losing benefits forever if the job does not work out. The Trial Work Period removes that risk for nine months.

After your nine months end, you enter a different phase called the Extended may be able to access Period, where the rules change. Understanding what happens at each stage helps you plan without surprises.

Key Takeaways

  • You keep your full SSDI payment each month you work during the Trial Work Period, no matter how much you earn.
  • A month only counts toward the nine months if you earn $940 or more that month, so part-time or low-income months do not count.
  • You must report your earnings to Social Security, but you can do this by phone, mail, or online through your My Social Security account.
  • The nine months do not have to be consecutive — if you stop working for a few months and then start again, the clock pauses and resumes when you return to work.
  • After the Trial Work Period ends, you move into Extended may be able to access, where you lose $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above a monthly limit.

How to count your nine months

A month counts toward your Trial Work Period only if your gross earnings (before taxes) are $940 or more. If you earn $939 in a month, that month does not count. If you earn $5,000 in a month, it counts as one month — not five.

The nine months do not have to happen in a row. If you work for three months, then take two months off, then work for six more months, you have used all nine. The clock pauses whenever you fall below $940 in a month and resumes the next time you hit $940 or more. This flexibility is built in because many people test work in fits and starts.

You can track your own count, but Social Security also tracks it on your record. When you report earnings, ask the representative to confirm how many Trial Work Period months you have used so far.

Reporting your earnings to Social Security

You are required to report your work and earnings to Social Security, but you have choices about how. You can call the SSDI helpline at 1-800-772-1213, mail a report, or log into your My Social Security account online and report there. Many people find the online method fastest because you can do it any time and see your report recorded when ready.

Report your gross earnings — the amount before taxes, deductions, or anything else comes out. Include the name of your employer, the dates you worked, and the total amount you earned. If you are self-employed, report your net profit (income minus business expenses). Social Security does not penalize you for reporting late, but the sooner you report, the sooner they can confirm your Trial Work Period count and answer questions about what comes next.

Keep your own records of pay stubs or invoices. If there is ever a disagreement about how much you earned in a month, your documentation is the proof Social Security will ask for.

What happens when your nine months end

Once you have used all nine Trial Work Period months, you move into the Extended may be able to access Period, which lasts 36 months. During Extended may be able to access, you keep your SSDI payment in any month your earnings fall below a limit called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level. In 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind adults (this changes yearly). If you earn $1,550 or more in a month, you do not receive a payment that month.

After Extended may be able to access ends, Social Security reviews your case to decide whether your medical condition still prevents you from working. If they find you can work, your benefits stop. If they find you still cannot work, you return to regular SSDI rules — you lose $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above SGA.

The Extended may be able to access Period gives you a second cushion. Many people use it to gradually increase their work hours or test a new job before facing the full earnings test.

When the clock pauses and restarts

Your Trial Work Period clock pauses automatically whenever you earn less than $940 in a month. If you work part-time for a few months, then take a break, the months you were not working do not count against your nine. When you return to work and hit $940 again, the clock resumes where it left off.

This pause-and-resume feature means you can space out your nine months over several years if you need to. Some people use one or two months, take a long break, then use the remaining months later when they feel ready to work more consistently.

The pause is automatic — you do not have to ask Social Security to stop the clock. Just report your earnings honestly each month, and the system handles the rest.

Work incentives that overlap with the Trial Work Period

Social Security offers other programs that can run at the same time as your Trial Work Period. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) lets you set aside income and resources to reach a work goal without losing benefits. The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) program lets you deduct certain disability-related costs from your earnings before Social Security counts them.

For example, if you need to pay for transportation to work because of your disability, or for medication that lets you work, you can deduct those costs. This can lower your reported earnings and help you stay under the SGA limit during Extended may be able to access.

These programs are complex and rules vary by situation. A Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project — free counseling funded by Social Security — can help you figure out whether PASS or IRWE makes sense for your job and your disability. You can find a WIPA near you through the Social Security website.

Common mistakes during the Trial Work Period

The most common mistake is not reporting earnings at all. Some people think that if they do not tell Social Security, the work does not count. In fact, Social Security can find out through tax records, and unreported work can lead to overpayment — meaning you owe money back. Report as you go, and you avoid this problem.

Another mistake is misunderstanding what "earnings" means. If you are self-employed, you report net profit, not gross revenue. If you receive a bonus or back pay, it counts in the month you receive it, not the month you earned it. If you are unsure how to count something — a gift, a loan, a one-time payment — ask Social Security before you report it.

A third mistake is assuming the Trial Work Period protects you forever. It does not. Once the nine months are done and Extended may be able to access ends, the rules change. Plan ahead so you are not surprised when your payment shrinks or stops.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to work during the Trial Work Period?

No. The Trial Work Period is available to you whether you use it or not. If you never work, your SSDI payment continues unchanged. The Trial Work Period is there if you want to test work — you are not required to.

Can I use my Trial Work Period months all at once or do they have to be spread out?

You can use them however works for you. Some people work nine months straight and finish the period in nine months. Others work two months, take six months off, then work seven more months. The nine months do not have to be consecutive, and the clock pauses whenever you earn under $940 in a month.

What if I earn $940 one month and then lose my job the next month?

That first month counts toward your nine. The second month, when you earn nothing, does not count — the clock pauses. If you find another job and earn $940 again, the clock resumes. You still have eight months left to use.

Do I lose my health insurance during the Trial Work Period?

No. Your Medicare or Medicaid coverage continues throughout the Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access, even if you earn a lot of money. This protection is one reason the Trial Work Period exists — you can test work without risking your health coverage.

What happens if I earn over the SGA limit during Extended may be able to access?

You do not receive an SSDI payment in any month you earn $1,550 or more (in 2024). But you keep your Medicare or Medicaid. After Extended may be able to access ends, Social Security reviews your case. If they find you can work, benefits stop. If they find you still have a disability, you return to regular SSDI rules where you lose $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above SGA.