What the Trial Work Period lets you do in 2022

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which you can work and earn money without losing your SSDI benefits. During these nine months, Social Security does not count your work earnings against you — you keep your full benefit check no matter how much you earn. This is the only time SSDI gives you this protection.

The nine months do not have to be consecutive. You can use them spread across a longer time — work for three months, stop, work again later — and Social Security counts only the months in which you actually work. The goal is to let you test whether you can sustain work before your benefits end permanently.

After your nine Trial Work Period months end, you enter a different phase called the Extended may be able to access Period, where the rules change. Understanding what happens during 2022 specifically matters because the dollar amounts and the timeline are set each year.

Key Takeaways

  • During your nine Trial Work Period months in 2022, you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI check — Social Security does not reduce or stop your benefits based on work income.
  • A Trial Work Period month counts only if you earn $970 or more in that month; months with lower earnings do not count toward your nine months.
  • The nine months do not need to be consecutive — you can work, stop, and work again, and only the months you actually work count.
  • Once your nine Trial Work Period months are used, you move into Extended may be able to access, where Social Security begins to withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above a monthly limit.

The $970 monthly earnings threshold in 2022

Social Security uses a specific dollar amount to decide whether a month counts as a Trial Work Period month. In 2022, that amount is $970. If you earn $970 or more in a calendar month, that month counts as one of your nine Trial Work Period months. If you earn less than $970 in a month, that month does not count, even if you worked.

This threshold changes each year — Social Security adjusts it in January based on national wage trends. The $970 figure applies only to 2022. If you are reading this in a different year, the amount will be different, and you should check the current year's threshold on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

The earnings are counted based on the month you earn them, not the month you receive the payment. If your employer pays you in January for work done in December, Social Security counts it in December.

How your nine months work across time

You do not have to use all nine months in a row. You might work for four months, then stop and receive benefits for six months, then work again for five more months. Social Security counts only the months in which you earned $970 or more, so in this example you would have used all nine months across a longer calendar period.

This flexibility exists because Social Security recognizes that people test their ability to work in different ways. Some people work steadily; others work part-time, take breaks, or increase hours gradually. The Trial Work Period accommodates all these patterns.

Once you have used all nine months — meaning you have had nine separate months where you earned $970 or more — your Trial Work Period ends. You then move into the Extended may be able to access Period, which lasts for 36 months. During Extended may be able to access, the rules change significantly.

What happens after your nine Trial Work Period months end

After you finish your nine Trial Work Period months, Social Security does not when ready stop your benefits. Instead, you enter a 36-month Extended may be able to access Period. During this time, Social Security continues to pay you, but it now withholds money based on your earnings.

The withholding rule during Extended may be able to access is: Social Security withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above a monthly limit. In 2022, that monthly limit is $3,822. If you earn $4,000 in a month, you are $178 over the limit, so Social Security withholds $89 from that month's benefit.

If your earnings rise high enough that your benefit would be withheld entirely, Social Security stops your check for that month. However, you remain on the SSDI rolls during Extended may be able to access, which means your Medicare coverage continues. This is important: even if your benefit is zero, you keep your health insurance.

When your benefits end permanently

Your SSDI benefits end permanently when one of two things happens: either your Extended may be able to access Period (the 36 months after your Trial Work Period) ends, or your earnings become high enough that you no longer meet the definition of disability under Social Security's rules.

If you work steadily and earn above the Substantial Gainful Activity level — which in 2022 is $1,470 per month for most people — Social Security will review your case to determine whether you can still be considered disabled. This is not automatic; Social Security conducts a review. But if your earnings show you can do substantial work, your benefits may end.

If your earnings drop back below the Substantial Gainful Activity level before your Extended may be able to access period ends, you can request that your benefits restart. You do not have to reapply; you contact Social Security and ask for reinstatement.

Reporting your work to Social Security

You are required to report your work and earnings to Social Security. You should do this every month, even during your Trial Work Period when your earnings do not affect your check. Social Security needs accurate information to track which months count toward your nine and to prepare for the Extended may be able to access phase.

You can report your earnings by phone, by mail, or through your online Social Security account at ssa.gov. Many people report monthly to avoid confusion later. If you do not report and Social Security discovers unreported earnings, it can overpay you, and you will owe the money back.

Keep records of your pay stubs and any other proof of earnings. If Social Security questions your report later, you will need to show what you actually earned.

Work incentives beyond the Trial Work Period

The Trial Work Period is one of several work incentives Social Security offers to SSDI recipients. Other programs exist if you want to continue working after your Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access end.

The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) allows you to set aside income and resources for a specific work goal without it counting against your benefits. The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) program lets you deduct certain costs related to your disability from your earnings before Social Security calculates the withholding. These programs have their own rules and timelines, and they are separate from the Trial Work Period.

If you think you might want to use one of these programs, ask Social Security about them before your Trial Work Period ends. Planning ahead makes the transition smoother.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use all nine Trial Work Period months?

No. You can use fewer than nine months if you choose to stop working or if your earnings drop below $970 in a month. However, once your nine months are used, you cannot get them back. If you use all nine and then stop working, you move into Extended may be able to access anyway.

What if I earn $970 in one month and $500 the next month?

The month with $970 counts as a Trial Work Period month. The month with $500 does not count. You keep your full benefit both months, but only one of your nine months is used up.

Can I restart my Trial Work Period if I stop working?

No. You get one nine-month Trial Work Period per SSDI claim. Once those nine months are used, they are gone. You then move into Extended may be able to access for 36 months, and after that, different rules explore.

What if I become unable to work during my Trial Work Period?

If you stop working and your condition worsens, you can remain on SSDI. You do not lose benefits because you could not continue working. However, the months you did work still count toward your nine, so you cannot "restart" the Trial Work Period later.

Does self-employment count the same way as regular employment?

Self-employment earnings count toward the $970 threshold, but Social Security calculates them differently. You report your net profit (income minus business expenses), not your gross income. If you are self-employed, ask Social Security how to report your earnings correctly.