What the Trial Work Period lets you do

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which you can work and still receive your full SSDI payment. Social Security counts only nine months of work during this period—it does not matter how much you earn or how many hours you work each month. After those nine months end, Social Security looks at your earnings more carefully to decide whether you can still receive benefits.

The purpose of the Trial Work Period is to let you test whether you can work without losing your benefits right away. Many people on SSDI worry that returning to work means losing their income when ready. The Trial Work Period removes that risk for a defined stretch of time.

In 2023, the rules for the Trial Work Period were the same as they have been for several years. Social Security does not change the nine-month structure or the way it counts months based on earnings.

Key Takeaways

  • You have nine months during your Trial Work Period in which you can work at any earnings level and still receive your full SSDI payment.
  • A month counts toward your nine months only if you earn more than $970 in that month—this threshold does not change year to year within 2023.
  • After your nine months end, Social Security measures your earnings against the Substantial Gainful Activity level to decide if you stay on benefits.
  • You must report your work and earnings to Social Security; they do not find out on their own, and failing to report can result in overpayments you must repay.
  • The Trial Work Period is a one-time benefit—once you use your nine months, you cannot get another Trial Work Period unless your benefits stop and restart.

How Social Security counts a month of work

Social Security counts a month toward your nine-month Trial Work Period only if you earn more than $970 in that calendar month. This $970 threshold applied in 2023 and has remained stable. The threshold is not based on hours worked or the type of job—only on gross earnings before taxes.

If you earn $970 or less in a month, that month does not count. You can work multiple jobs, earn money from self-employment, or receive other income, and Social Security adds it all together for the month. Only the total matters.

Months do not have to be consecutive. You could work in January, take three months off, work again in May through July, and those five months would count toward your nine. Social Security tracks which months you earned over $970 and stops counting once you reach nine.

What happens after your nine months end

Once you have used your nine months, Social Security enters a different phase called the Extended may be able to access Period. During this period, which lasts 36 months, you can still receive benefits in any month you earn less than the Substantial Gainful Activity amount. In 2023, that amount was $1,470 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,460 for blind beneficiaries.

If you earn more than the Substantial Gainful Activity amount in a month during the Extended may be able to access Period, you do not receive a benefit payment that month. However, you do not lose your benefits permanently—you can return to receiving them in future months when your earnings drop below the threshold.

After the Extended may be able to access Period ends, Social Security reviews your case. If your earnings have been consistently high, your benefits may stop. If your earnings have been low or you have stopped working, your benefits continue.

Reporting your work and earnings

You are responsible for telling Social Security about your work. They do not receive this information automatically from your employer or the IRS. You must report your job, your hours, and your monthly earnings to your local Social Security office or through your online account at ssa.gov.

Reporting is important because if you do not tell Social Security about your earnings and they discover the discrepancy later, you may owe back benefits. This is called an overpayment. Social Security can recover overpayments by reducing your future checks or, in some cases, by asking you to repay a lump sum.

Many people report their earnings through the Ticket to Work program, which provides additional support and protection during the work phase. Others report directly to Social Security. Either way, the reporting requirement is the same.

Self-employment and the Trial Work Period

If you are self-employed, Social Security counts a month toward your Trial Work Period if your net self-employment income is more than $970. Net income means your total business income minus your business expenses.

Self-employment reporting is more complex than wage reporting because you must track expenses and calculate net profit. Keep records of all business income and expenses so you can report accurately to Social Security. If you are unsure how to calculate your net self-employment income, a tax professional or Social Security representative can help.

The same $970 threshold applies whether you are working for an employer or running your own business.

What you cannot do during the Trial Work Period

The Trial Work Period does not mean you can ignore other SSDI rules. You must still report any changes in your medical condition, your living situation, or your household composition. You must still submit to continuing disability reviews if Social Security requests one. You must still follow any work incentive rules if you are using the Ticket to Work program.

The Trial Work Period only suspends the earnings rule—it does not suspend other program requirements. If Social Security determines that your medical condition has improved enough that you are no longer disabled, they can stop your benefits even if you are still within your nine months.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Your months do not have to be consecutive. You can earn over $970 in nine separate months spread across any timeframe. Social Security tracks cumulative months, not calendar years, so your nine months might span 2023 and 2024, or any other period.

What if I earn exactly $970 in a month—does that count?

No. The threshold is more than $970, so $970 exactly does not count as a work month. You must earn $971 or more in a calendar month for it to count toward your nine months.

Do I lose my health insurance if I use up my Trial Work Period?

No. Your Medicare or Medicaid coverage continues even after your Trial Work Period ends and even if your SSDI payments stop. You may have a grace period of several months after your benefits end before coverage stops, depending on your state and your situation.

Can I get another Trial Work Period if my benefits stop and I reapply?

Yes. The Trial Work Period is tied to a specific period of benefits. If your benefits end and you later become may have access to to SSDI again, you receive a new Trial Work Period with a fresh nine months.

What if I did not report my work during the Trial Work Period—what happens now?

Contact Social Security when ready and report the unreported earnings. Explain that you did not report at the time. Social Security will recalculate your payments and may determine you owe an overpayment. Reporting late is better than not reporting at all, and Social Security may work with you on repayment.