What the 2021 Trial Work Period Rules Were

In 2021, the Trial Work Period (TWP) allowed you to test your ability to work while receiving SSDI payments without losing benefits when ready. During the TWP, you could earn any amount of money and still receive your full SSDI check each month. The TWP lasted nine months, but those nine months did not have to be consecutive — you could use them spread across a rolling 60-month window.

The key rule in 2021 was the definition of a work month. A month counted toward your nine-month TWP if you earned $940 or more in that month (this dollar amount changed yearly; $940 was the 2021 figure). If you earned less than $940 in a month, that month did not count. You could work part-time, full-time, or switch between jobs — what mattered was whether your monthly earnings crossed that threshold.

Once you used all nine TWP months, you entered the Extended may be able to access Period (EEP), which lasted 36 months. During the EEP, you could still receive benefits in months when your earnings fell below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit, which was $1,470 per month in 2021 for non-blind beneficiaries. After the EEP ended, your benefits would stop if your earnings remained above the SGA limit.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2021 Trial Work Period gave you nine months to earn any amount while keeping your full SSDI payment, with months counted only if you earned $940 or more.
  • Those nine months did not need to be consecutive and could be spread across a rolling 60-month window, so you could pause work and resume later without losing unused months.
  • After the TWP ended, you entered a 36-month Extended may be able to access Period where you kept benefits in months your earnings stayed below $1,470.
  • The dollar thresholds ($940 for TWP months and $1,470 for SGA) were set annually by Social Security and changed each year based on wage growth.

How to Count Your Nine Trial Work Months in 2021

Social Security counted a month toward your TWP only if you earned $940 or more that month. This meant you could work multiple jobs, receive self-employment income, or earn wages — as long as the total for the month reached $940, it counted as one TWP month.

The nine months did not have to happen in a row. If you worked three months in January, February, and March 2021, then stopped work for four months, then worked again in August, September, and October, you would have used six of your nine TWP months by October. Your three remaining months would still be available to use anytime within your 60-month rolling window, which began when you first became may have access to to SSDI.

You did not have to tell Social Security when you were using your TWP months — the agency tracked this automatically based on your earnings reports. However, you were required to report your work and earnings to Social Security each month, either through your online account, by phone, or by mail. Failing to report earnings could result in an overpayment that you would have to repay later.

What Happened After Your Nine Months Ended in 2021

Once you had used all nine TWP months, you moved into the Extended may be able to access Period. During the EEP, the rules changed: you could still receive benefits, but only in months when your earnings fell below the SGA limit of $1,470 per month in 2021.

The EEP lasted 36 months from the end of your last TWP month. During this time, if you earned $1,470 or less in a month, you received your full SSDI payment. If you earned more than $1,470 in a month, you did not receive a payment that month, but you were not permanently cut off — you could return to work below the SGA limit the next month and receive benefits again.

After the 36-month EEP ended, your benefits would stop if your earnings remained above the SGA limit. However, you could request a Ticket to Work, which extended your may be able to access for an additional 60 months while you worked with a vocational rehabilitation provider or employment network. The Ticket was free and gave you a longer runway to test whether you could sustain work before losing benefits permanently.

Self-Employment and Trial Work Months in 2021

If you were self-employed in 2021, Social Security counted a month toward your TWP differently than it did for wage earners. For self-employment, the agency looked at your net profit (income minus business expenses) for the month. If your net self-employment profit was $940 or more in a month, that month counted as a TWP month.

Self-employed beneficiaries also had to track hours worked, not just earnings. Social Security used a rule called Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) to adjust how much of your self-employment income counted toward the SGA limit. These programs allowed you to deduct certain work-related expenses or set aside income for a specific vocational goal, which could lower your countable earnings and extend your may be able to access.

If you were unsure whether your self-employment income counted correctly, you could request a work incentive planning session with a Benefits Planning, information, and Outreach (BPAO) counselor. These counselors were free and could help you understand how your specific business structure affected your TWP and EEP.

Reporting Your Earnings During the 2021 Trial Work Period

You were required to report your earnings to Social Security every month during your TWP and EEP. In 2021, you could report earnings through your my Social Security account online, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or by mailing a form to your local Social Security office.

Social Security used your earnings reports to determine whether each month counted as a TWP month and whether you remained under the SGA limit during the EEP. If you reported earnings late or inaccurately, the agency could overpay you — meaning you would receive benefits you were not may have access to to — and you would have to repay the overpayment later, either through a reduction in future benefits or a lump-sum payment.

Many beneficiaries found it helpful to report earnings as soon as they received their paycheck, rather than waiting until the end of the month. This reduced the chance of missing a important date or forgetting the exact amount. If you were self-employed, you could estimate your monthly net profit and report it; Social Security would adjust the amount later when you filed your tax return.

What Changed About the Trial Work Period After 2021

The structure of the Trial Work Period itself did not change after 2021 — it remained nine months within a 60-month rolling window, followed by 36 months of Extended may be able to access. However, the dollar thresholds changed annually. In 2022, the TWP earnings threshold rose to $970 per month, and the SGA limit increased to $1,550 per month. These amounts continued to adjust each year based on the national average wage index.

If you were in your TWP or EEP in 2021 and continued into 2022 or later, your remaining unused TWP months were still available to use, but the earnings threshold for new months would be the current year's amount, not the 2021 amount. For example, if you had three unused TWP months remaining in 2022, a month in 2022 would count as a TWP month only if you earned $970 or more, not $940.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could I use my Trial Work Period months all at once or did they have to spread out?

You could use them however you wanted within your 60-month rolling window. You could work nine months in a row and use all nine months at once, or you could work one month, stop, work again later, and spread them across years. Social Security tracked them automatically based on your monthly earnings reports.

What if I earned exactly $940 in a month in 2021 — did that count as a Trial Work month?

Yes. The threshold was $940 or more, so earning exactly $940 counted as a TWP month. If you earned $939, it did not count. The amount had to meet or exceed the threshold to be counted.

Could I work during my Extended may be able to access Period and still get benefits?

Yes, but only in months when your earnings stayed below $1,470 in 2021. If you earned $1,470 or less, you received your full SSDI payment that month. If you earned more, you did not receive a payment that month, but you could receive benefits again the next month if your earnings dropped back below the limit.

What happened if I did not report my earnings to Social Security?

Social Security could overpay you — you would receive benefits you were not may have access to to. You would then have to repay the overpayment, usually through a reduction in future benefits. Reporting earnings promptly each month prevented this problem.

Did the Ticket to Work cost anything in 2021?

No. The Ticket to Work was free. It extended your may be able to access for 60 months while you worked with a vocational rehabilitation provider or employment network, giving you more time to test whether you could sustain work before losing benefits.