What the trial work period does

The trial work period is a nine-month window during which you can work and earn money without losing your SSDI payments. Social Security counts these nine months whether they are consecutive or spread across a longer time — what matters is that you complete nine months of work, not that they happen back-to-back.

During the trial work period, you keep your full SSDI payment each month, no matter how much you earn. There is no income limit and no reduction to your check. This is designed to let you test whether you can actually work without the financial penalty that normally comes with earning too much.

The trial work period is separate from the extended may be able to access period that follows it. Once your nine trial months end, different rules take over — but you do not lose benefits when ready. Understanding the sequence matters because the choices you make during the trial period affect what happens next.

Key Takeaways

  • During your nine-month trial work period, you receive your full SSDI payment regardless of how much you earn, with no income limit.
  • The nine months do not have to be consecutive — Social Security counts any nine months in which you work and earn, even if they are separated by months you do not work.
  • A month counts toward your trial work period only if you earn over $240 per month (this amount may change yearly) or work 15 or more hours in self-employment.
  • After your trial work period ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period, during which your benefits reduce or stop if you earn above a monthly limit.
  • 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 overpayment you must repay.

How Social Security counts your trial work months

Social Security does not count every month you work toward your nine-month trial period. A month only counts if you earn more than a set amount — currently $240 per month, though this threshold changes each year. If you work but earn $240 or less in a month, that month does not count, and you can work that month without using up any of your nine.

For self-employment, the rule is different. A month counts if you work 15 or more hours in your business, regardless of how much money you make. Hours matter more than income for self-employed people.

You can space out your nine months across years if you need to. If you work four months in 2024, then take time off, then work five months in 2025, Social Security adds them together. Once you complete nine months total, your trial work period ends and the extended may be able to access period begins.

What happens to your benefits during the trial work period

Your SSDI payment stays the same every month during the trial work period, even if you earn $500, $2,000, or $5,000 in a single month. Social Security does not reduce your check based on earnings during these nine months. This is the core protection of the trial work period — it removes the financial risk of trying to work.

You do continue to receive Medicare coverage (if you are on SSDI) or Medicaid (depending on your state) throughout the trial work period. Your health insurance does not change based on your earnings during this time.

The only requirement is that you report your work and earnings to Social Security. You do this by contacting your local Social Security office or calling 1-800-772-1213. Social Security does not automatically know you are working — you must tell them. If you do not report and Social Security discovers you worked without reporting it, you can end up owing back an overpayment.

The difference between trial work period and extended may be able to access

After your nine trial months end, you move into the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During extended may be able to access, your benefits do not stop automatically, but they reduce or stop if your monthly earnings exceed a limit. That limit is called the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level, and it changes each year — in 2024 it is $1,550 per month for most people, though it is higher for people who are blind.

During extended may be able to access, Social Security subtracts your earnings from your benefit amount. If you earn $1,000 and your SGA limit is $1,550, you keep your full benefit. If you earn $1,700, you are $150 over the limit, and your benefit reduces. The exact reduction depends on how much you earn above the limit.

The extended may be able to access period gives you a cushion. You can work and earn without losing benefits entirely, as long as you stay under the SGA limit. But once extended may be able to access ends (36 months after your trial work period), the rules change again — at that point, if you are still working and earning above SGA, your benefits stop.

When your trial work period starts

Your trial work period begins the first month you work and earn over $240 (or work 15+ hours in self-employment if you are self-employed). You do not have to ask Social Security to start it — it starts automatically when you meet the earnings threshold.

If you have been receiving SSDI for a while and have not worked, your trial work period is still available to you. It does not expire. Whenever you decide to work, the nine-month clock begins.

If you stopped working for a time and then start again, Social Security may treat it as a new trial work period, depending on how long you were not working. The rules around this are complex, so it is worth asking your local Social Security office whether a gap in work affects your trial work period.

Reporting your work and earnings

You are responsible for telling Social Security about your work. You can report in person at your local Social Security office, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You should report as soon as you start working, not wait until the end of the month.

Have ready the name and address of your employer (or your business name if self-employed), your job title, the date you started, how many hours you work per week, and your expected monthly earnings. If your earnings change, report the change.

Social Security uses this information to track your trial work period and to make sure you receive the correct payment. If you do not report and Social Security finds out you worked, they will ask you to repay any benefits you received while working without reporting. This overpayment can be substantial, so reporting promptly protects you.

What to do before your trial work period ends

As you approach the end of your nine trial months, contact Social Security to confirm how many months you have used and when your extended may be able to access period will begin. This is important because the rules change, and you need to understand what your benefit will be once the trial period ends.

If you are earning close to or above the SGA limit ($1,550 in 2024), you should understand that your benefit will reduce once extended may be able to access starts. Social Security can show you a projection of what your payment will be at different earnings levels. Ask for this before your trial work period ends so you are not surprised.

If you think you might return to work after a break, or if your situation changes, tell Social Security. They can explain how a gap in work affects your remaining trial months and what your options are.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my trial work period in separate years?

Yes. Your nine trial months do not have to be consecutive. If you work three months in 2024, take six months off, then work six months in 2025, Social Security counts all nine months toward your trial work period. The clock does not reset just because time has passed.

What if I earn less than $240 in a month — does that month count?

No. A month only counts toward your nine if you earn over $240 (or work 15+ hours in self-employment). You can work and earn $200 in a month and it does not use up any of your trial months. This lets you ease back into work without burning through your protection.

Do I lose my trial work period if I stop working?

No. Your trial work period does not expire or reset just because you take time off. If you work four months, stop for a year, then start working again, you still have five trial months left. The nine months are spread across your lifetime on SSDI, not compressed into a single year.

What happens to my Medicare if I work during the trial work period?

Your Medicare coverage continues unchanged during the trial work period. You keep your coverage and your benefits do not change based on your earnings. After the trial work period ends, Medicare rules are different — you may be able to keep Medicare even if your SSDI benefits stop, but the details depend on your age and situation.

Can I go back on SSDI if I stop working after the trial work period?

If you stop working during extended may be able to access (the 36 months after your trial work period), your benefits usually restart without a new process. If you stop working after extended may be able to access ends, restarting benefits is more complicated and may require a new medical review. Contact Social Security to discuss your specific situation.