The 2025 Trial Work Period Earnings Threshold

During your Trial Work Period, you can earn up to $1,110 per month in 2025 without losing your SSDI benefits. This is the amount Social Security uses to count a month as a "work month" — the threshold that determines whether you are making substantial progress toward work and whether your benefits will continue.

The threshold changes each year because Social Security adjusts it based on the national average wage index. In 2024, the limit was $1,050 per month. The increase to $1,110 reflects wage growth across the economy, but it does not mean your benefits automatically increase. It only affects how Social Security counts your earnings during the Trial Work Period.

This threshold applies whether you work for an employer, are self-employed, or do both. Social Security counts gross earnings — the money before taxes — not what you take home.

Key Takeaways

  • You can earn up to $1,110 per month in 2025 during your Trial Work Period without that month counting as a work month.
  • The threshold is based on gross earnings, including self-employment income, before any taxes or deductions.
  • Months where you earn $1,110 or less do not count toward your nine-month work month limit, so you can extend your Trial Work Period.
  • Once you exceed $1,110 in a month, that month counts as a work month, and you move closer to the end of your nine-month window.
  • The threshold increases each January based on national wage trends, so check the current year's amount before you start work.

How the Threshold Affects Your Nine-Month Window

Your Trial Work Period lasts nine months, but only months where you earn more than $1,110 count toward that limit. If you earn $1,110 or less in a month, that month does not count, and you keep your full SSDI payment. This means you can work below the threshold for many months without shortening your Trial Work Period.

For example, if you work part-time and earn $900 one month and $1,050 the next, neither month counts as a work month. You still have all nine work months remaining. But if you earn $1,200 in the third month, that counts as one work month, leaving you with eight.

Social Security tracks this automatically once you report your earnings. You do not have to do anything to "use" a work month — it happens when your monthly earnings cross the threshold.

Reporting Your Earnings to Social Security

You must report your earnings to Social Security, even if you stay below the $1,110 threshold. The agency needs accurate information to determine whether each month counts as a work month and whether you remain in your Trial Work Period.

You can report earnings online through your my Social Security account, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Report as soon as you know your monthly earnings — do not wait until the end of the month. If you are self-employed, report your expected monthly net earnings (income minus business expenses).

If you do not report earnings and Social Security discovers unreported income later, the agency may suspend your benefits or require you to repay overpayments. Reporting protects you and keeps your record accurate.

What Counts as Earnings Under the Threshold

Social Security counts wages from a job, net income from self-employment, and certain other payments as earnings. Wages include hourly pay, salary, bonuses, and tips. Self-employment income is your gross business income minus business expenses — not what you pay in taxes.

Some payments do not count as earnings: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), other government benefits, gifts, loans, tax refunds, and investment income. If you receive a one-time payment like a bonus or back pay, Social Security counts it in the month you receive it, which may push you over the threshold that month even if your regular pay is lower.

Work incentives like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) can reduce the amount Social Security counts as earnings, but you must set these up in advance with Social Security. They do not happen automatically.

Planning Your Work Around the Threshold

If you are starting work or increasing your hours, knowing the $1,110 threshold helps you plan. You can work enough to stay below it for several months, extending your Trial Work Period and keeping your full benefit payment while you test your ability to work.

Some people work part-time below the threshold for several months, then increase to full-time work once they are confident they can sustain it. Others use the months below the threshold to build work history and references before moving to higher-paying work. The threshold gives you flexibility to pace your return to work.

Keep in mind that the threshold is about counting work months, not about your total income. You can earn more than $1,110 in a month — you will straightforward use up a work month. Plan based on your own situation: how many work months you want to use, how much you need to earn, and how your benefits fit into your budget.

What Happens After Your Nine Work Months End

Once you have used all nine work months, your Trial Work Period ends. At that point, Social Security moves you into the Extended may be able to access Period, which lasts 36 months. During Extended may be able to access, you keep your benefits as long as your earnings stay below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level — a much higher threshold than the Trial Work Period.

In 2025, the SGA level for non-blind workers is $1,550 per month. If you earn more than that in a month during Extended may be able to access, you lose your benefits for that month. After Extended may be able to access ends, you enter the Expedited Reinstatement period, which allows you to get benefits back quickly if you stop working or drop below SGA.

The $1,110 threshold only applies during your Trial Work Period. Once that ends, the rules change, so do not assume the same earnings limit will explore later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to work every month to use my Trial Work Period?

No. You can take months off without losing your Trial Work Period. Only months where you earn more than $1,110 count as work months. You can space out your work months over several years if you need to, as long as you use all nine within 60 months of starting your Trial Work Period.

What if I earn $1,110 exactly in a month?

If you earn exactly $1,110, that month does not count as a work month. The threshold is $1,110 or less. You only use a work month when you earn $1,111 or more.

Can I work more than one job and stay under the threshold?

Yes. Social Security adds up all your earnings from all jobs in a month. If your combined earnings from two or more jobs total $1,110 or less, that month does not count as a work month. If they total $1,111 or more, it does.

Does the threshold change during my Trial Work Period?

Yes. If your Trial Work Period spans two calendar years, the threshold may change on January 1. For example, if you are in your Trial Work Period in December 2024 and January 2025, you would use the 2024 threshold ($1,050) in December and the 2025 threshold ($1,110) in January. Social Security will notify you of any change.

What if I made a mistake reporting my earnings?

Contact Social Security as soon as you notice the error. You can correct earnings reports by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting your local office. The sooner you report the correction, the sooner Social Security can adjust your record and prevent overpayments or benefit suspensions.