What the Trial Work Period lets you do

The Trial Work Period is a span of time when you can work and earn money while still receiving your full SSDI payment. Social Security does not reduce or stop your benefits during this period, no matter how much you earn. This is different from other work incentives where your payment shrinks as your earnings go up.

The Trial Work Period lasts for nine months, but those nine months do not have to be consecutive. You can use one month, take a break, use another month later, and Social Security will count them all toward your nine-month total. The only requirement is that you earn at least $200 in a month for it to count as a Trial Work Period month.

After your nine months end, Social Security moves you into the Extended Period of may be able to access, a 36-month window where your benefits can be reduced based on your earnings, but you keep some protection. Understanding what happens after the Trial Work Period ends is as important as knowing what you can do during it.

Key Takeaways

  • During your nine Trial Work Period months, you keep your full SSDI payment regardless of 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 at least $200 that month, so you control the pace by choosing when to work.
  • The nine months do not have to happen in a row — you can spread them across years if you need to test your ability to work gradually.
  • After the Trial Work Period ends, you enter the Extended Period of may be able to access, where your benefits begin to reduce based on your earnings.
  • You must report your earnings to Social Security each month, or your benefits can be stopped for non-reporting even if you are still within the Trial Work Period.

How to count your nine months

Social Security counts a month toward your Trial Work Period only if you earn $200 or more in that calendar month. The $200 threshold is the same whether you work for an employer, run your own business, or do both. If you earn $199 in a month, that month does not count, and you still have all nine months ahead of you.

You decide which months count by controlling when you work. If you work three months, take four months off, then work again, only those working months count. This flexibility is the Trial Work Period's main advantage — you can test whether you can sustain work without losing benefits, and you can do it on your own timeline.

Social Security tracks your nine months from the first month you earn $200 or more. If your first Trial Work Period month is March 2024, Social Security begins counting then, even if you do not use another month until September 2024. Keep records of which months you have used, because Social Security's records and yours may not match, and you need to know when your nine months will end.

What you must report and when

You are required to report your work and earnings to Social Security every month, even during the Trial Work Period when your benefits will not change. Social Security uses these reports to track which months count toward your nine and to verify that you are still disabled. Failing to report can result in your benefits being stopped, even if you are still within your Trial Work Period.

The way you report depends on your situation. Some people report through a phone call, others through an online portal, and some through a representative. When you are assigned a work incentive specialist or representative, they can tell you the reporting method Social Security expects from you. Do not assume that because your benefits are not changing, reporting is optional — it is not.

Keep pay stubs or records of your earnings for each month you work. Social Security may ask to see them, and having them ready prevents delays or disputes about whether a month counts. If you are self-employed, keep records of your net profit for each month, since that is what Social Security counts as your earnings.

What happens when your nine months end

Once you have used all nine Trial Work Period months, you move into the Extended Period of may be able to access, which lasts 36 months. During this period, your SSDI payment begins to reduce based on how much you earn. The reduction follows a formula: if your earnings exceed a certain amount (called the Substantial Gainful Activity level, or SGA), your payment is reduced or stopped.

The Extended Period of may be able to access is not a cliff. Your benefits do not disappear the day your ninth Trial Work Period month ends. Instead, Social Security applies a monthly earnings test. If you earn above the SGA amount in a month, your payment for that month is reduced. If you earn below it, you receive your full payment. This continues for 36 months after your Trial Work Period ends.

After the Extended Period of may be able to access ends, if you are still working and earning above the SGA level, your SSDI stops. However, you become may be able to access for Expedited Reinstatement, which allows you to restart benefits quickly if you stop working or your earnings drop below SGA within five years. Understanding this pathway matters if you are testing your ability to work long-term.

The SGA threshold and how it affects your payment

The Substantial Gainful Activity level is the earnings amount that Social Security uses to decide whether you are working at a level that suggests you are no longer disabled. In 2024, the SGA level for non-blind individuals is $1,550 per month, though this amount changes each year. If you earn more than this in a month during your Extended Period of may be able to access, your payment is reduced or eliminated for that month.

The SGA level is different from the Trial Work Period threshold. During your nine months, you can earn any amount and keep your full payment. Once those nine months end, the SGA level becomes the measure that determines your payment. This is why understanding the transition from Trial Work Period to Extended Period of may be able to access is critical — your work incentive changes.

Social Security publishes the current SGA level each year, usually in December for the following year. If you are working or planning to work, ask your work incentive specialist or call Social Security to confirm the current SGA level. Earning just above or below this threshold can mean the difference between receiving your full payment and receiving nothing.

Planning your work during the Trial Work Period

Because you control which months count, you can use the Trial Work Period strategically. Some people work steadily for nine months to test full-time employment. Others work a few months, rest, work again, and use the flexibility to manage their disability while gradually increasing work. There is no single right approach — it depends on your health, your job, and your goals.

Before you start working, consider meeting with a work incentive specialist or a representative who understands SSDI work rules. They can help you plan how to use your nine months, explain what happens after, and answer questions about your specific situation. Many state vocational rehabilitation agencies and some nonprofits offer this guidance at no cost.

Keep in mind that using your Trial Work Period does not commit you to working forever. If you work for three months, use three of your nine months, and then decide work is not sustainable, you can stop. Your remaining six months stay available if you want to try again later. The Trial Work Period is designed to let you test work without the risk of losing benefits permanently.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You can use them however works for you. Work nine months straight, or work one month, take six months off, work two more months, and so on. Only months where you earn $200 or more count, so you control the pace entirely. Social Security will track all nine months regardless of how you space them.

What if I earn $199 in a month — does that month count?

No. The threshold is $200 or more per calendar month. If you earn $199, that month does not count toward your nine, and you still have the full nine months remaining. This means you can work part-time or test a job without using up your Trial Work Period months if your earnings stay below $200.

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

No. Your Medicare or Medicaid coverage continues throughout the Trial Work Period and into the Extended Period of may be able to access. Work does not affect your health insurance during these periods. After the Extended Period ends and your SSDI stops, you may be able to keep Medicare for a limited time depending on your situation.

What happens if I do not report my earnings to Social Security?

Your benefits can be stopped for non-reporting, even if you are still within your Trial Work Period and your earnings would not reduce your payment anyway. Reporting is a requirement separate from the earnings rules. If Social Security stops your benefits for non-reporting, you have to contact them to restart them.

Can I go back to the Trial Work Period if I stop working and then want to work again later?

No. You get one Trial Work Period per disability claim. Once you have used all nine months, you move into the Extended Period of may be able to access. If you stop working during the Extended Period and your earnings drop below SGA, you keep receiving benefits based on the earnings test, but you do not get a new Trial Work Period.