What a Trial Work Period Does

A trial work period is a span of time when you can work and earn money without losing your SSDI payments. Social Security lets you test whether you can work consistently before deciding whether to stay on benefits or leave the program entirely. During this period, you keep your full benefit check every month, no matter how much you earn.

The trial work period lasts nine months, but those nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security counts only the months in which you earn more than $220 per month (this amount may change yearly). So if you work three months, take two months off, then work four more months, you have used seven of your nine trial work months. You still have two left whenever you want to use them.

This is different from other work incentives that reduce your payment based on what you earn. During your trial work period, Social Security does not reduce your check at all. You are testing your ability to work in real conditions, with real paychecks, while keeping your safety net intact.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn any amount during your nine-month trial work period and keep your full SSDI payment each month.
  • Only months in which you earn more than $220 count toward the nine months, so you can space out your work over a longer calendar period.
  • After your trial work period ends, a nine-month extended period of may be able to access begins, during which you can still use other work incentives to keep some benefits if you earn above the limit.
  • You must report your work and earnings to Social Security, even during the trial work period, so they can track which months count.
  • If you stop working and your earnings drop below $220 per month, your benefits continue without interruption.

How the Nine Months Are Counted

Social Security counts a trial work month only if you earn more than $220 in that calendar month. The $220 threshold is set by federal law and may increase each year. It does not matter whether you work full-time or part-time—only whether your monthly earnings cross that line.

The nine months do not need to be in a row. You might use three months in your first year of work, then take a break, then use the remaining six months two years later. Each time you earn over $220 in a month, Social Security marks it as one of your nine. Once you have used all nine, the trial work period ends and a different set of rules takes over.

If you are self-employed, Social Security counts a trial work month based on the hours you work, not just the money you make. Generally, you must work at least 15 hours per week in your business for it to count as a trial work month. This rule exists because self-employment income can be unpredictable.

What Happens After Your Trial Work Period Ends

When you have used all nine trial work months, you enter a nine-month extended period of may be able to access. During this time, you still receive your full SSDI payment in any month your earnings fall below the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit. The SGA limit changes yearly but is currently around $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries.

If your earnings stay above the SGA limit for nine consecutive months during this extended period, your SSDI benefits stop. But if you drop below the limit in any month, your payment resumes for that month. This gives you a second safety net while you figure out whether work is sustainable for you.

After the extended period of may be able to access ends, other work incentives may still be available to you. These include the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), which lets you set aside income and resources for a work goal, and Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE), which lets you deduct certain disability-related costs from your earnings before Social Security counts them.

Reporting Your Work to Social Security

You must tell Social Security about any work you do, even during your trial work period. You do this by reporting your earnings each month. Social Security uses this information to track which months count toward your nine and to determine whether you have entered the extended period of may be able to access.

You can report your earnings online through your Social Security account, by phone, or by mail. Many people find it easiest to report monthly so there are no surprises later. If you do not report work, Social Security may overpay you, and you will have to repay the money even though it was not your fault.

If you work for an employer, you can ask your employer to report your wages directly to Social Security in some cases. If you are self-employed, you will report your net earnings from self-employment. Keep records of your hours, income, and any work-related expenses so you can answer Social Security's questions accurately.

When Your Trial Work Period Starts

Your trial work period begins the first month you earn more than $220 after you start receiving SSDI. You do not have to ask Social Security to start it or fill out a special form. It begins automatically the moment your earnings cross the threshold.

If you were already working when you were approved for SSDI, Social Security counts backward to identify which months you earned over $220 in the months before your approval. Those months count toward your nine. This means you might have already used some of your trial work months before you even knew the period had started.

For this reason, it is important to tell Social Security about any work you did in the months before you were approved. If you do not report it, you might think you have nine full months remaining when you actually have fewer.

What You Should Know About Reporting Earnings

Reporting your earnings does not automatically reduce your SSDI payment during the trial work period—that is the whole point of the trial work period. But Social Security still needs the information to track your progress and to know when you have used up your nine months.

If you miss a month of reporting, contact Social Security as soon as you remember. Delays in reporting do not affect your benefits, but they can delay Social Security's ability to update your case. If you have questions about whether a particular job or income counts, call Social Security before you start work so there are no misunderstandings later.

Some people worry that reporting work will cause them to lose benefits when ready. This is not how the trial work period works. You report the work, Social Security counts the month, and you keep your full payment. The only time your payment changes is after the trial work period ends and you move into the extended period of may be able to access.

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 you want. You could work nine months in a row, or you could work one month, take six months off, then work eight more months. Only the months in which you earn over $220 count, so the calendar time it takes to use nine months is entirely up to you.

What if I earn exactly $220 in a month—does that count?

No. You must earn more than $220 for the month to count. If you earn $220 or less, that month does not count toward your nine, and you can use it again later.

If I go back to work after my trial work period ends, do I lose my benefits right away?

Not when ready. During the nine-month extended period of may be able to access, you keep your full payment in any month you earn below the SGA limit (currently around $1,550 per month). Your benefits only stop if you earn above that limit for nine consecutive months.

Do I have to use all nine trial work months, or can I stop after a few?

You do not have to use all nine. If you work for three months and decide you cannot sustain it, you can stop. Your trial work months stay available for up to 60 months (five years) from when you first used one, so you can return to work later if you want to.

What happens to my Medicare or Medicaid while I am in my trial work period?

Your Medicare coverage continues regardless of how much you earn during the trial work period. Medicaid rules vary by state, so contact your state Medicaid office to learn how your work affects your coverage. Some states continue Medicaid even after SSDI payments stop, under a program called Medicaid continuation.