The Trial Work Period is nine months when you can work and earn any amount without losing your SSDI payments

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window built into Social Security Disability Insurance that lets you test whether you can work without when ready losing your benefits. During these nine months, you keep your full SSDI payment every month, no matter how much you earn. The only requirement is that you report your work to Social Security.

This period exists because Social Security understands that returning to work is uncertain. You might discover the job is too physically demanding, that your condition worsens, or that the income doesn't justify the effort. The Trial Work Period gives you a real chance to find out before you have to choose between working and keeping your benefits.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. You can use one month, stop working for six months, then use another month later. Social Security counts only the months in which you actually work and earn money.

Key Takeaways

  • During your Trial Work Period, you earn your full SSDI payment each month regardless of how much you work or earn.
  • The nine months are counted only in months when you work—months you don't work don't count toward the nine.
  • You must report your work to Social Security, but reporting does not end your benefits during the Trial Work Period.
  • After the nine months end, your benefits continue for a three-month grace period called the Extended Period of may be able to access before work-related rules change.
  • The Trial Work Period happens only once per disability period, so using it strategically matters.

How to report work during the Trial Work Period

You report your work by contacting your local Social Security office or calling 1-800-772-1213. Tell them the month you started working, the name of your employer, and how much you expect to earn per month. You do not need to wait until the end of the month—you can report as soon as you start.

Social Security will send you a form called the Work Activity Report (Form SSA-821) to fill out. This form asks basic details: your employer's name, the type of work you do, your hours per week, and your monthly earnings. Returning this form is how Social Security officially counts the month toward your nine.

If you do not report your work, Social Security may not count that month toward your Trial Work Period. This means you could lose the benefit of months you actually worked. Reporting is free and takes a few minutes on the phone.

What counts as work during the Trial Work Period

Work means any job where you are paid—whether full-time, part-time, self-employment, or freelance. It includes wages from an employer, income from your own business, and payment for work you do as an independent contractor. Unpaid volunteer work does not count.

The amount you earn does not matter. You could earn $50 in a month or $5,000 and still be in your Trial Work Period. Social Security is testing whether you can sustain work, not whether you earn a specific amount.

Work also includes months when you work but earn nothing—for example, if you own a business that has not yet turned a profit. As long as you are actively working, that month counts.

What happens after your nine months end

After you use all nine months of your Trial Work Period, your benefits do not stop when ready. Instead, you enter the Extended Period of may be able to access, which lasts 36 months (three years). During this period, you keep your SSDI payment in any month your earnings fall below a certain amount, called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).

The SGA amount changes each year. In 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind workers and $2,590 for blind workers. If you earn less than this in a month, you receive your full SSDI payment. If you earn more, you do not receive a payment that month, but you are not permanently off SSDI.

After the 36-month Extended Period of may be able to access ends, the rules change again. At that point, your benefits stop if your earnings exceed SGA, and you would need to reapply to get back on SSDI.

When your Trial Work Period starts and ends

Your Trial Work Period begins the first month you report work to Social Security after being approved for SSDI. If you were already working when you were approved, your Trial Work Period may have already started—Social Security counts back to the month you first reported work.

The nine months are spread across calendar months, not a rolling 36-week period. If you work in January, February, and March, then take a break, those three months count. When you return to work in August, that is month four of your Trial Work Period. You have five months remaining.

You can check how many months you have used by contacting Social Security or logging into your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. Your account shows your work history and how many Trial Work Period months remain.

Why the Trial Work Period matters for your decision to work

The Trial Work Period removes the when ready financial risk of testing work. Many people on SSDI worry that returning to work will cost them their benefits and leave them worse off. The Trial Work Period proves whether that fear is justified in your specific situation.

You can discover whether your condition allows you to work consistently, whether the job accommodates your limitations, and whether the income justifies the physical or mental effort. If the answer to any of these is no, you can stop working and keep your SSDI without penalty.

Because the nine months do not have to be consecutive, you can also use them strategically. Some people use a few months early to test a job, then save the remaining months for later when they want to try again with more confidence.

Common misunderstandings about the Trial Work Period

One common misunderstanding is that you lose your Trial Work Period if you do not use all nine months quickly. This is not true. Your nine months remain available to you for as long as you are on SSDI. You can use one month this year and eight months five years from now.

Another misunderstanding is that reporting work automatically ends your benefits. It does not. Reporting is straightforward how Social Security tracks your progress. Your benefits continue throughout the entire nine-month period, no matter what you earn or report.

A third misunderstanding is that the Trial Work Period applies only to certain types of work or income levels. It applies to all work—any job, any hours, any earnings. The only exception is unpaid volunteer work, which does not count as work for SSDI purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You can use them however you want. You could work nine months straight, or one month per year for nine years. Only months in which you actually work count—months you do not work do not count toward the nine, even if you are still employed.

What if I earn a lot of money during my Trial Work Period—will my benefits be reduced?

No. During the Trial Work Period, you receive your full SSDI payment every month regardless of earnings. The amount you earn has no effect on your payment. This protection lasts for all nine months.

Do I have to tell Social Security about every job I have, or just my main job?

You should report all work to Social Security. If you have multiple jobs or income sources, report each one. Social Security uses this information to accurately count your Trial Work Period months and determine your earnings for the Extended Period of may be able to access that follows.

What happens if I stop working before I use all nine months—can I use the remaining months later?

Yes. Your unused Trial Work Period months stay available to you as long as you remain on SSDI. You can return to work years later and continue using the remaining months. This is one reason the Trial Work Period is valuable—it gives you flexibility to test work on your own timeline.

If I go back to work after my Trial Work Period ends, can I get another Trial Work Period?

No. You receive only one Trial Work Period per disability period. Once you have used your nine months, the Extended Period of may be able to access rules explore instead. If your SSDI stops and you later reapply and are approved again, you would receive a new Trial Work Period with that new approval.