What the 9-month trial work period does

The 9-month trial work period (TWP) is a window during which you can work and earn money without losing your SSDI cash benefit. During these nine months, Social Security does not count your work activity or earnings against you—you keep your full monthly benefit check no matter how much you earn or how many hours you work.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. A month counts toward your TWP only if you earn $940 or more in that month (as of 2024; this amount changes yearly). So if you work part-time one month and earn $500, that month does not count. If you earn $1,200 the next month, that month does count. You can spread nine may have access to months across several years if you choose.

Once you have used all nine months, the rules change. You enter what Social Security calls the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During extended may be able to access, you can still work, but now your benefit is tied to your earnings. If you earn above the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level—$1,550 per month in 2024—your benefit stops for that month.

Key Takeaways

  • During your 9-month trial work period, you keep your full SSDI benefit regardless of how much you earn or work.
  • A month only counts toward the nine months if you earn $940 or more that month; lower-earning months do not count.
  • The nine months do not need to be in a row—you can use them over several years at your own pace.
  • After you use all nine months, you enter a 36-month extended may be able to access period where your benefit depends on whether you earn above the SGA threshold.
  • You must report your work activity to Social Security; they do not automatically know you are working.

How months count toward your nine-month limit

Social Security counts a month toward your TWP only if your gross earnings in that month reach the monthly threshold. For 2024, that threshold is $940. This amount is set by federal law and increases each year based on wage growth.

Gross earnings means what you are paid before taxes, deductions, or any other withholding. If you are self-employed, it is your net profit from self-employment. If you work for an employer, it is your wages before anything is taken out.

The key point: if you earn $939 in a month, that month does not count. If you earn $940 or more, the entire month counts—it does not matter whether you earned $941 or $5,000. Once a month counts, it counts fully. You cannot "save" part of a month or carry earnings forward to the next month.

You control the pace. If you work only three months a year, you will use up your nine months over three years. If you work nine months in a single year, you will use them all up in that year. Social Security does not force you to use them on any schedule.

What happens after your nine months end

After you have accumulated nine months where you earned $940 or more, you move into the extended may be able to access period. This 36-month window is a transition: you can still work and keep some of your benefit, but the rules are stricter.

During extended may be able to access, your benefit stops in any month you earn at or above the SGA level. For 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries. If you earn $1,550 or more in a month, Social Security withholds your entire benefit for that month. If you earn $1,549 or less, you receive your full benefit.

This is different from the TWP: during the trial period, you could earn $10,000 in a month and still get your full check. During extended may be able to access, earning $1,551 means you lose the entire month's benefit.

After the 36-month extended may be able to access period ends, the rules tighten further. You enter what is called the post-may be able to access period. At that point, if you are still working and earning above SGA, your SSDI case closes. You would need to reapply and go through the full medical review process again if you later stop working or your earnings drop.

Reporting your work to Social Security

You are required to tell Social Security about your work. They do not automatically know you have a job. If you do not report and Social Security later discovers you were working without telling them, they can overpay you—meaning you owe the money back—and they can also impose penalties.

Report your work by contacting your local Social Security office or calling 1-800-772-1213. You can also report online through your my Social Security account. Tell them when you started working, who your employer is (or that you are self-employed), how much you earn, and how often you are paid.

You do not need to report every paycheck. You report once when you start work, and then Social Security will ask you to provide earnings information periodically—usually once a year or when your situation changes. Keep pay stubs and tax documents so you can show Social Security what you earned in each month.

How the trial work period interacts with Medicare and Medicaid

Your trial work period does not affect your Medicare coverage. If you are receiving SSDI, you became may be able to access for Medicare after 24 months on the benefit. Once you have Medicare, you keep it even during and after the trial work period—as long as you do not lose SSDI may be able to access entirely.

Medicaid is different and depends on your state. In most states, your Medicaid continues during the trial work period because your SSDI benefit does not stop. Once you enter extended may be able to access and your benefit stops in months when you earn above SGA, your Medicaid may also stop in those months—but this varies by state. Some states have Medicaid continuation rules that keep you covered even when your SSDI benefit stops temporarily.

If you are concerned about losing Medicaid when your benefit stops, ask your state Medicaid office or your Social Security representative about Section 1619(b) coverage. This is a federal rule that can keep you on Medicaid even when your SSDI benefit has stopped due to work earnings, as long as you meet certain income and resource limits.

Planning your trial work period strategically

Because the nine months do not have to be consecutive, you can use them in a way that fits your situation. Some people work intensively for nine months and then step back. Others spread the nine months across several years while they test whether they can sustain work.

One common strategy is to use the trial work period to test a new job or return to work gradually. You can earn as much as you want during these nine months without losing any benefit, so it is a low-risk way to see whether you can handle working again. If you find that work is too difficult or your condition worsens, you can stop and your benefit continues without interruption.

Another consideration: once you move into extended may be able to access, your benefit becomes sensitive to the SGA threshold. If you know you will earn above SGA regularly, you might want to plan for the months when your benefit will stop and budget accordingly. Some people use the trial work period to build savings that will help them through extended may be able to access.

What to do if you are unsure whether you have used your nine months

Social Security keeps a record of your trial work period. You can ask them how many months you have used. Call 1-800-772-1213, log into your my Social Security account, or visit your local office in person. Bring recent pay stubs or tax documents if you have them.

If you believe Social Security made an error in counting your months, you can request a detailed statement of your trial work period. Ask for a written record showing which months counted and why. If you disagree with their count, you can file a written appeal through Social Security's standard appeal process.

It is worth checking periodically, especially if you have worked on and off over several years. Knowing how many months you have left helps you plan whether to work more intensively now or pace yourself differently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my nine months all at once, or do I have to spread them out?

You can use them however you want. If you earn $940 or more in nine different months within a single year, all nine count and you move into extended may be able to access that same year. Or you can use one or two months per year over several years. Social Security does not limit how you pace them.

What if I earn less than $940 in a month—does that month still count?

No. A month only counts if you earn $940 or more that month (2024 amount). If you earn $900, that month does not count toward your nine months, and you keep your full benefit with no penalty. You can have as many low-earning months as you want without using up your trial work period.

Do I lose my trial work period if I stop working for a while?

No. Your trial work period does not expire or reset just because you stop working. If you have used five months and then do not work for a year, those five months still count. When you return to work and earn $940 or more in a month, that becomes your sixth month. You can take breaks without losing progress.

What happens to my benefit during extended may be able to access if I earn below SGA?

You keep your full benefit. Extended may be able to access only affects your benefit in months when you earn at or above the SGA threshold ($1,550 in 2024). If you earn $1,000 in a month during extended may be able to access, you receive your entire SSDI check that month with no reduction.

Can I go back to work after my extended may be able to access period ends?

If you stop working before extended may be able to access ends, your SSDI continues and you can return to work later. But if you are still working and earning above SGA when the 36-month extended may be able to access period ends, your case closes. To receive SSDI again, you would have to reapply and go through a new medical review.