How the Trial Work Period Lets You Test Working While on SSDI

What the Trial Work Period Does

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which you can work and earn money without losing your SSDI payments. Social Security counts these nine months whether they are consecutive or spread across a longer time frame — you do not have to use them all at once. During this period, you report your work activity to Social Security, but your benefit amount does not change based on how much you earn.

After the nine months end, Social Security moves you into a different phase called the Extended may be able to access Period. During Extended may be able to access, you keep your benefits for nine more months, but now your payments stop in any month you earn over a certain amount (called the Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA, threshold). Understanding when your Trial Work Period starts and how to use it correctly prevents accidental overpayments and benefit loss.

Key Takeaways

Your Trial Work Period is nine months total, and you can spread these months across multiple years — they do not have to be consecutive.
During Trial Work Period months, you keep your full SSDI payment no matter how much you earn, as long as you report the work to Social Security.
You must report your work activity to Social Security each month; failure to report can result in overpayment and a demand to repay benefits.
After your nine Trial Work Period months end, you enter Extended may be able to access, where your benefits stop in months you earn above the SGA threshold (which changes yearly).
If you return to work and then stop, your Trial Work Period does not reset — you only get nine months total during your entire time on SSDI.

When Your Trial Work Period Starts

Your Trial Work Period begins the first month you report work activity to Social Security after your SSDI benefits start. This is not automatic — you must tell Social Security that you are working. The month you report the work counts as month one, even if you worked before reporting it.

If you were already working when your SSDI began, the month you first report that work to Social Security is when the clock starts. If you stop working and then start again later, the same nine-month counter continues from where it left off — you do not get a fresh nine months. This is why tracking your Trial Work Period months carefully matters: once you use all nine, you cannot get them back.

How Much You Can Earn During Trial Work Period

There is no earnings limit during your nine Trial Work Period months. You can earn $100 per month or $5,000 per month, and your SSDI payment stays the same. Social Security does not reduce your benefit based on income during this phase.

The only requirement is that you report your work to Social Security. You do this by contacting your local Social Security office, calling 1-800-772-1213, or logging into your my Social Security account online. Tell them the month you started working, your employer's name, and how much you expect to earn. After that, you report your monthly earnings — most people do this once a year when they file taxes, though you can report more frequently if your situation changes.

What Happens After 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 nine more months. During Extended may be able to access, your benefits continue, but now they stop in any month you earn more than the SGA threshold. For 2024, the SGA threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,590 for blind beneficiaries. These amounts change each year, so check with Social Security for the current year's threshold.

If you earn under the threshold in a given month, you get your full benefit that month. If you earn over it, you receive no benefit for that month. After your nine Extended may be able to access months end, you enter the Expedited Reinstatement Period, a 60-month window during which you can return to SSDI quickly if you stop working or drop below SGA, without reapplying from scratch.

Reporting Your Work and Earnings

You must report work activity to Social Security before or as soon as you start working. Waiting to report until tax time can create problems: if Social Security later discovers you were working but did not report it, they may demand repayment of benefits you received during months you should have reported work.

Report through one of these channels: call your local Social Security office, call the national number 1-800-772-1213, or use your my Social Security account online. You will need to provide your employer's name, the date you started, and your expected monthly earnings. After that, report your actual earnings monthly or when they change significantly. Social Security may ask for pay stubs or tax documents to verify your earnings.

Common Mistakes During Trial Work Period

The most common error is not reporting work at all. Some beneficiaries think that if they earn under a certain amount, they do not have to tell Social Security. This is wrong — you must report any work, no matter the amount. Unreported work can lead to overpayment, and Social Security will ask you to repay the benefits you received during months you should have disclosed the work.

Another mistake is assuming your Trial Work Period resets if you stop working and start again. It does not. If you use six months, stop for a year, and then return to work, you have only three Trial Work Period months left. Plan accordingly: if you are unsure whether you can sustain work, you may want to save your Trial Work Period months for when you are more confident.

A third error is confusing Trial Work Period with Extended may be able to access. During Trial Work Period, earnings do not matter — you keep your full benefit. During Extended may be able to access, earnings above SGA mean no benefit that month. Mixing these up can lead to unexpected benefit loss.

Tracking Your Trial Work Period Months

Social Security keeps an official record of your Trial Work Period months, but you should track them yourself as well. Write down each month you report work, starting with the first one. Keep a straightforward list: Month 1 (January 2024), Month 2 (March 2024), and so on. This helps you know when you are approaching the end of your nine months and when Extended may be able to access begins.

You can also call Social Security and ask them to tell you how many Trial Work Period months you have used. They can provide this information over the phone or in writing. Knowing your exact status prevents surprises when your benefits change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Trial Work Period months all in one year or do they have to spread out?

You can use them however you want — all in one year or spread across multiple years. The nine months do not have to be consecutive. What matters is that you report work in nine separate months total during your time on SSDI. Once those nine months are used, Extended may be able to access begins.

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

No. During your nine Trial Work Period months, you keep your full SSDI payment no matter how much you earn. There is no earnings limit. This protection ends once Extended may be able to access begins, when earnings above SGA will stop your benefit for that month.

Do I have to work full-time during Trial Work Period?

No. You can work part-time, full-time, or any amount. The only requirement is that you report the work to Social Security. Even one hour of work in a month counts as a Trial Work Period month if you report it.

What if I did not report my work when I should have?

Contact Social Security when ready and report the work retroactively. They may ask you to repay benefits from months you did not report, but reporting late is better than not reporting at all. Explain the situation and provide pay stubs or other proof of when you worked and how much you earned.

Can I get my Trial Work Period months back if I stop working?

No. Once you use a Trial Work Period month, it is gone. If you use six months and then stop working for two years, you still have only three months left when you return to work. Plan your return to work with this in mind — do not use all nine months if you are uncertain you can sustain employment.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.