The 2023 Trial Work Period Earnings Threshold

During your Trial Work Period in 2023, you can earn up to $970 per month and still have that month count as a Trial Work Period month. This is the amount Social Security uses to measure whether you are working; it is not a cap on what you can actually earn. If you earn more than $970 in a month, that month still counts toward your nine-month Trial Work Period, but Social Security will track your earnings more closely as you approach the Substantial Gainful Activity level.

The $970 figure changes each year because Social Security adjusts it for inflation. In 2022, the threshold was $950. In 2024, it rose to $1,050. These annual adjustments mean the amount you see in your Social Security notice or on the SSA website will differ depending on which year you are reading about.

It is important to understand that the Trial Work Period threshold and the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit are two separate numbers. SGA in 2023 was $1,470 per month for non-blind beneficiaries. You can earn above the Trial Work Period threshold without losing your benefits, as long as you stay under the SGA limit during the nine-month window.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2023 Trial Work Period threshold is $970 per month, meaning any month you earn $970 or less counts as a Trial Work Period month.
  • Earning more than $970 in a month still counts that month toward your nine-month Trial Work Period, so you are not penalized for exceeding the threshold.
  • The Trial Work Period threshold is separate from the Substantial Gainful Activity limit ($1,470 in 2023), which determines whether you lose benefits after the Trial Work Period ends.
  • Social Security adjusts the $970 amount each year for inflation, so the threshold will be different in 2024 and beyond.
  • You must report your earnings to Social Security each month during the Trial Work Period so they can accurately count which months may have access to.

Why the $970 Threshold Exists

Social Security created the Trial Work Period threshold to give you a clear, predictable measure of whether a month counts toward your nine months of work. Without a specific dollar amount, determining which months "count" would depend on subjective judgments about whether you were truly working. The $970 figure provides a bright line: if you earn that much or less, the month counts, period.

The threshold is deliberately set low enough that most people testing their work capacity will exceed it if they are working at all. This design means the Trial Work Period is not really about staying under $970—it is about using nine months to test whether you can work and earn enough to support yourself, regardless of the threshold. The real test comes after the Trial Work Period ends, when the SGA limit ($1,470 in 2023) determines whether you keep your benefits.

How Earnings Above $970 Affect Your Trial Work Period

If you earn $1,200 in a month during your Trial Work Period, that month still counts as one of your nine months. You do not get a "pass" or an extra month because you went over $970. Social Security will record the $1,200 and count the month, but your benefits continue without interruption as long as you remain under the SGA limit of $1,470.

The reason this matters is that some beneficiaries worry they will "waste" a Trial Work Period month if they earn too much. That is not how it works. Every month you work—whether you earn $500 or $2,000—counts toward the nine months, as long as you are under SGA. The Trial Work Period is designed to let you work without penalty while you test your capacity. Once the nine months are used up, the SGA limit becomes the threshold that determines your ongoing benefit status.

Reporting Your Earnings to Social Security

You must report your monthly earnings to Social Security during the Trial Work Period. Social Security does not automatically know how much you earned; your employer does not report it to them in real time. You are responsible for telling Social Security about your income each month, either by phone, mail, or through your online my Social Security account.

If you do not report earnings accurately or on time, Social Security may incorrectly count or not count months toward your Trial Work Period. This can delay your understanding of when the nine months end and when the Extended may be able to access Period begins. Keep records of your pay stubs and report consistently so there is no confusion about which months may have access to.

The Difference Between Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access

After you use your nine Trial Work Period months, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period. During Extended may be able to access, the rules change: you can earn up to the SGA limit ($1,470 in 2023) without losing your benefits. If you earn more than SGA in any month during Extended may be able to access, your benefits stop for that month, but they can restart in future months if your earnings drop back below SGA.

The Trial Work Period threshold of $970 no longer applies once Extended may be able to access begins. You are now measured against the higher SGA limit. This is why understanding when your nine Trial Work Period months end is crucial—it marks the shift from a testing period to a period where your ongoing benefit status depends on whether you stay under SGA.

What Counts as Earnings During the Trial Work Period

Social Security counts wages from employment as earnings. This includes salary, hourly pay, bonuses, and commissions. If you are self-employed, Social Security counts your net profit from self-employment (income minus business expenses). Unearned income—such as interest, dividends, rental income, or gifts—does not count toward the Trial Work Period threshold or the SGA limit.

Work incentive programs like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) can reduce the amount of earnings Social Security counts. If you use these work incentives, your countable earnings may be lower than your actual gross pay, which could affect whether a month counts as a Trial Work Period month. Discuss work incentives with a benefits planner before you start working so you understand how they explore to your situation.

When the $970 Threshold Changes Year to Year

The Trial Work Period threshold is tied to the national average wage index. Each October, Social Security announces the new threshold for the following year. In recent years, the increases have been modest—$20 to $50 per year—but they reflect inflation in the broader economy.

If you are in the middle of your Trial Work Period when the year changes, the threshold does not change for you mid-stream. You continue using the threshold that was in effect when you started your Trial Work Period. Only when you begin a new Trial Work Period (which is rare, since most beneficiaries get only one) would you use the new year's threshold.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I earn $1,500 in one month during my Trial Work Period, do I lose my benefits?

No. As long as you stay under the 2023 SGA limit of $1,470, your benefits continue. The $970 Trial Work Period threshold is separate from SGA. You can exceed $970 and still be protected. However, if you earn $1,500 and SGA is $1,470, you would exceed SGA and lose benefits for that month only.

Does the $970 threshold explore after my nine Trial Work Period months end?

No. After the nine months end, the SGA limit ($1,470 in 2023) becomes the measure of whether you can work and keep benefits. The $970 threshold is only used during the Trial Work Period itself.

What if I earn $500 one month and $1,200 the next month during my Trial Work Period?

Both months count toward your nine Trial Work Period months. The amount you earn does not matter as long as you stay under SGA. Each month you work counts as one month, regardless of whether you earned $100 or $2,000.

If I do not report my earnings, will Social Security still count the months?

Social Security may not count months accurately if you do not report. They rely on you to tell them your earnings. If you fail to report and they later discover unreported income, they may recalculate which months counted, which could affect when your Trial Work Period ends and when Extended may be able to access begins.

Does the $970 threshold include taxes and deductions?

No. Social Security counts your gross earnings before taxes, insurance premiums, or other deductions. Report the full amount you earned, not the amount you took home after taxes.