How to request your trial work period

You do not submit a separate request form for a trial work period. Instead, you report your work and earnings to Social Security when you start working, and Social Security automatically counts your months toward the nine-month trial work period once you meet the earnings threshold. The threshold is $1,090 per month in 2024 (this amount changes each year). You must report your work to Social Security within the month you earn the income—waiting until later can delay your trial work period from starting.

The fastest way to report is to call your local Social Security office or call the main SSDI line at 1-800-772-1213. Have your Social Security number and details about your job ready: the employer name, start date, and expected monthly earnings. You can also report in person at your local office, though calling is usually faster. Do not wait for Social Security to contact you—the burden is on you to report.

Once you report, Social Security will send you a written notice confirming that your trial work period has started and listing the nine months during which your work will be counted. Keep this notice. You will need it to track which months count and to prove you were in a trial work period if questions arise later about your benefits.

Key Takeaways

  • You report your work to Social Security by phone, in person, or online through your my Social Security account—there is no separate trial work period request form.
  • Your trial work period begins automatically once you earn $1,090 or more in a calendar month (the 2024 threshold; this amount increases yearly).
  • You must report your work within the same month you earn the income to may support Social Security counts that month toward your nine-month trial work period.
  • Social Security will send you a written notice listing your nine trial work months; save this document because you will need it to track your progress.
  • Work during your trial work period does not reduce your SSDI payment, but you must continue to report your earnings every month to Social Security.

What counts as reporting your work

Reporting means telling Social Security the facts about your job: your employer's name, the date you started, how many hours you work per week, and how much you earn per month. You do not need to submit pay stubs or tax forms at the time of reporting, though Social Security may ask for them later to verify your earnings. A phone call to 1-800-772-1213 is the simplest route and takes about ten minutes.

If you have a my Social Security account online, you can also report work through that portal. Log in, go to the "Benefit and Work Information" section, and select "Report Work." You will enter the same information: employer name, start date, hours, and monthly earnings. Online reporting is available 24 hours a day, but you still need to report within the calendar month you earn the income.

In-person reporting at your local Social Security office is also an option, though it requires an appointment. Call ahead or use the office locator at ssa.gov to find your nearest office and schedule a time. Bring your Social Security card and a recent pay stub or letter from your employer showing your job title, start date, and pay rate.

The monthly reporting requirement during your trial work period

You must report your earnings to Social Security every month you work, even during your trial work period. This is separate from the initial report that starts your trial work period. Each month, you report how much you earned that month and how many hours you worked. Social Security uses this information to track which months count toward your nine-month trial work period and to monitor whether you remain disabled.

The important date to report is the 13th of the month following the month you earned the income. For example, if you earned money in January, you must report by February 13. Reporting late does not disqualify you, but it can delay Social Security's processing and may cause confusion about which months count. The easiest approach is to report as soon as you know your monthly total—often by the end of the month you worked.

You can report monthly earnings the same three ways: by phone at 1-800-772-1213, through your my Social Security account online, or in person at your local office. Many people find the online portal fastest because you can report at any time without waiting on hold. Keep a record of each report you make—write down the date you reported and the earnings amount—so you have proof if a discrepancy arises later.

What happens after you report

After you report your work, Social Security processes the information and counts that month toward your nine-month trial work period if your earnings were $1,090 or more. Your SSDI payment continues unchanged during the trial work period—work does not reduce your check. At the end of each month, Social Security updates your case file with your reported earnings and trial work month count.

You will not receive a new notice every month. Instead, Social Security sends you an annual "Earnings and Benefit Update" statement that shows all the work you reported during the year and how many trial work months you have used. Review this statement carefully to make sure the earnings and months are correct. If you spot an error, call Social Security when ready to correct it.

Once you have used all nine trial work months, your trial work period ends. Social Security will send you a notice explaining what happens next: you enter the Extended may be able to access Period (also called the grace period), during which you can continue to work and keep your benefits as long as your earnings stay below the Substantial Gainful Activity level. After that period ends, your benefits will stop if your earnings remain high enough.

If you miss the reporting important date or report late

If you do not report your work in the month you earned it, Social Security may not count that month toward your trial work period. For example, if you worked and earned $1,200 in March but did not report until May, Social Security might count May as your trial work month instead of March. This matters because it shifts which nine months make up your trial work period and can affect when your trial work period ends.

If you realize you missed reporting a month, contact Social Security as soon as possible. Call 1-800-772-1213 and explain that you worked in a previous month and did not report it. Have your pay stubs or a letter from your employer ready to show the dates and amounts you earned. Social Security can backdate your report and correct your trial work month count, but only if you report within a reasonable time—usually within a few months of the work.

The best protection is to report every month, even if your earnings were low or you worked only part of the month. If you earned anything, report it. This creates a clear record and prevents gaps or confusion later.

Reporting work if you are self-employed

If you are self-employed, the reporting process is the same, but the earnings calculation is different. For self-employment, Social Security counts your net profit (income minus business expenses), not your gross revenue. You report your business name, the type of work, how many hours per week you work, and your expected monthly net profit.

Self-employed work can be harder to track month to month because you may not know your exact profit until you file taxes. In that case, report your best estimate of monthly net profit when you report to Social Security. You can revise the estimate later if your actual profit is different. Keep records of your business income and expenses so you can show Social Security how you calculated your net profit if they ask.

The $1,090 threshold for counting a trial work month applies to net profit, not gross income. If your net profit is $1,090 or more in a month, that month counts toward your nine-month trial work period, even if your gross revenue was much higher.

Common mistakes to avoid when reporting

The most common mistake is not reporting work at all, thinking Social Security will find out through tax records or employer reports. Social Security does not automatically receive this information. If you do not report, Social Security will not count your work months toward your trial work period, and you may lose benefits you were may have access to to keep. Always report directly to Social Security.

Another mistake is reporting only once and then assuming Social Security knows about all your future work. You must report every month you work. Reporting is not a one-time event at the start of your trial work period—it is an ongoing monthly responsibility.

A third mistake is underreporting your earnings to try to avoid using up your trial work months. This is fraud. Report your actual earnings. The trial work period is designed to let you test your ability to work without losing benefits; it is not a trap. Use it honestly, and you will have a clear record of your work history and a smooth transition if your benefits eventually end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to report my work if I earn less than $1,090 a month?

Yes, you should report all work, even if you earn less than $1,090. Months under $1,090 do not count toward your nine-month trial work period, but Social Security still needs to know you are working. Reporting low-earning months creates a complete record of your work activity and helps Social Security understand your situation if your case is reviewed.

What if I start working but then stop before the end of my trial work period?

Your trial work period does not end just because you stop working. The nine months are spread across a rolling 60-month window, so you have time to use them. If you work three months, stop for six months, then work again, all nine months can still count as long as they fall within the 60-month window. Keep reporting even if you are not working, so Social Security knows your status.

Can I report my work online if I do not have a my Social Security account?

You can create a my Social Security account for free at ssa.gov. It takes about 10 minutes and requires your Social Security number, email, and a way to verify your identity (usually a phone number or address on file). Once your account is set up, you can report work online anytime. If you do not want to create an account, you can always report by phone or in person.

What if Social Security says I reported wrong earnings?

Ask Social Security to show you the discrepancy in writing. Compare their record to your pay stubs or employer letter. If you made a mistake, ask them to correct it. If you believe their record is wrong, provide documentation of your actual earnings. You have the right to request a correction, and Social Security must investigate if you dispute their figure.

Does reporting my work affect my Medicare or Medicaid?

Reporting work does not automatically affect your Medicare coverage—it continues during and after your trial work period. Medicaid may be affected depending on your state and income level, but that is a separate question from your SSDI trial work period. Contact your state Medicaid office or your local Social Security office to understand how your specific work and earnings affect your Medicaid status.