What changed in 2018 for the Trial Work Period

In 2018, Social Security did not change the core rules of the Trial Work Period itself — the nine-month window during which you can work and earn any amount without losing your SSDI check. What changed was the dollar amount that counts as a "trial work month." Starting January 1, 2018, a trial work month was any month in which you earned $910 or more. Before 2018, that threshold was $850.

This annual adjustment happens every year because Social Security ties the threshold to the national average wage index. The $910 figure for 2018 was the highest it had been to that point. The adjustment matters because once you use up your nine trial work months, you enter the Extended may be able to access period — and during Extended may be able to access, any month you earn $910 or more counts as a month in which you are "working," which can affect your benefits.

If you were already in your Trial Work Period before 2018, the new threshold applied to any trial work months you had remaining. If you were in Extended may be able to access in 2018, the higher earnings threshold actually worked in your favor — you could earn more without triggering a work month.

Key Takeaways

  • In 2018, the monthly earnings threshold for a trial work month rose to $910, up from $850 in 2017.
  • This threshold adjusts every January based on national wage data, so the 2018 amount was specific to that year only.
  • The nine-month Trial Work Period itself did not change — only the dollar amount that counts as one of those months.
  • If you were in Extended may be able to access in 2018, the higher threshold meant you could earn more before a month counted against your benefits.

Why the threshold changed every year

Social Security adjusts the trial work month threshold annually to keep pace with wage growth. The adjustment is tied to the national average wage index, which measures what workers across the country earned in the prior year. Because wages generally rise over time, the threshold rises too.

In 2017, the threshold was $850. In 2018, it jumped to $910 — a $60 increase. In 2019, it rose again to $940. This pattern continues every year, which is why the 2018 figure is no longer the current threshold. The adjustment is automatic; you do not need to do anything, and Social Security applies the new threshold to your account on January 1 of each year.

How the 2018 threshold affected your trial work months

During your nine-month Trial Work Period, you can work and earn any amount without losing your SSDI payment. However, Social Security still counts which months count as "trial work months" for record-keeping purposes. In 2018, a month counted as a trial work month only if you earned $910 or more that month.

This distinction matters because once your nine trial work months are used up, you move into Extended may be able to access. During Extended may be able to access, months in which you earn $910 or more still count as work months — but now those months are tracked differently. If you have too many work months in a row during Extended may be able to access, your benefits can stop. So the threshold affects how quickly you burn through your nine months and when Extended may be able to access begins.

If you earned less than $910 in a month during 2018, that month did not count as a trial work month, even though you were working. You could accumulate those low-earning months without using up your nine months faster.

What happened after your nine trial work months ended in 2018

Once you completed your nine trial work months in 2018, you entered the Extended may be able to access period. Extended may be able to access lasts 36 months (three years) from the end of your last trial work month. During this time, you keep your SSDI check in any month you earn less than the threshold — which in 2018 was $910.

If you earned $910 or more in a month during Extended may be able to access in 2018, that month counted as a "work month." If you had nine or more work months in a row, your benefits would stop. This is why the threshold matters: the higher it is, the more you can earn before a month counts against you.

After Extended may be able to access ended, you entered the Expedited Reinstatement period, which lasted another 24 months. During Expedited Reinstatement, you could request your benefits back if you stopped working or your earnings fell below the threshold, without having to file a new claim or go through medical review.

The 2018 threshold compared to other years

The $910 threshold in 2018 was higher than 2017 ($850) but lower than 2019 ($940) and subsequent years. By 2024, the threshold had risen to $1,550. This steady increase reflects wage growth in the economy.

If you were planning your work strategy in 2018, knowing the threshold mattered. Some people tried to keep their earnings just under $910 to avoid using up trial work months quickly. Others earned more, knowing they were using a trial work month but building work history and potentially higher future benefits. The threshold gave you a concrete number to plan around.

How to find the threshold for your current year

The trial work month threshold changes every January. To find the current year's threshold, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov and search for "trial work period." Social Security publishes the new threshold in December of the prior year.

If you are currently in your Trial Work Period or Extended may be able to access, ask your work incentives planning and information (WIPA) project or your local Social Security office what the current threshold is. They can also help you understand how your specific earnings will count toward your nine months and what happens next.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I earned less than $910 in 2018, did that month still count as a trial work month?

No. In 2018, a month only counted as a trial work month if you earned $910 or more. Months with lower earnings did not count, even though you were working. You could have many low-earning months without using up your nine trial work months.

Did the 2018 threshold change affect people already in Extended may be able to access?

Yes, but in a favorable way. If you were in Extended may be able to access in 2018, the higher $910 threshold meant you could earn more that year before a month counted as a work month. The threshold applies to everyone, regardless of which work incentive period you are in.

What was the threshold before 2018 and after?

In 2017, it was $850. In 2019, it rose to $940. The threshold has continued to increase each year since then. The exact amount depends on national wage data from the prior year, so it changes annually on January 1.

If I am still in my trial work period now, does the 2018 threshold still explore?

No. The 2018 threshold only applied during 2018. If you are in your trial work period now, the current year's threshold applies to your earnings. Call Social Security or check ssa.gov to find out what this year's threshold is.