What the Trial Work Period lets you do
The Trial Work Period (TWP) is a nine-month window during which you can work and earn any amount without losing your SSDI cash benefit. The nine months do not have to be consecutive, and you do not have to earn a certain amount each month — only that you perform substantial work in that month. This is the core rule that changed nothing between 2022 and 2023, and will not change in 2024.
During your TWP, Social Security continues to pay your full monthly benefit regardless of how much you earn. This is different from the Extended may be able to access Period that follows, where your benefit stops if you earn above a threshold. The TWP exists specifically to let you test whether you can work without the financial penalty most disability programs impose.
You do not have to tell Social Security you are starting work during your TWP — the agency tracks it automatically once you report earnings. However, you must report your work activity and earnings when Social Security asks, usually through your annual Continuing Disability Review (CDR).
Key Takeaways
- The Trial Work Period lasts nine months and allows you to earn any amount without losing your SSDI check, as long as you perform substantial work in each month you count.
- The nine months do not have to be consecutive — you can use one month, stop working for six months, then use eight more months later.
- A month counts toward your TWP only if you earn $940 or more (in 2023) or perform work activity that Social Security considers substantial self-employment.
- After your TWP ends, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period, during which your benefit stops if you earn above the current Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit of $1,470 per month in 2023.
- You must report your earnings to Social Security; the agency does not automatically know you are working unless you tell them or they discover it during a review.
How Social Security counts months toward your nine-month window
A month counts as a Trial Work Period month only if you earn at least $940 in that month (the 2023 threshold) or perform work activity that Social Security considers substantial self-employment. You do not have to work every month — you can work three months, take a break, then work six more months later, and all nine will count toward your TWP.
The $940 figure is adjusted each year. In 2022 it was $920; in 2024 it will be higher. Social Security publishes the current year's threshold in January. If you earn less than $940 in a month, that month does not count, and you keep it available for later use.
Self-employment is measured differently. Social Security looks at whether you are working substantially in your business, not just at how much you earn. A month of substantial self-employment counts toward your TWP even if your net profit is below $940. The agency uses factors like hours worked, duties performed, and whether you are doing the work yourself or relying on others to run the business.
What happens after your nine months end
Once you have used all nine months of your Trial Work Period, you enter the Extended may be able to access Period, which lasts 36 months. During Extended may be able to access, your SSDI benefit continues, but it stops in any month you earn $1,470 or more (the 2023 SGA limit). Below that threshold, you keep your full check.
The Extended may be able to access Period gives you a second safety net: if work does not work out, you can stop and your benefits restart without a new process. But if you earn above SGA for nine months during Extended may be able to access, your case closes, and you would have to reapply to get SSDI back.
After Extended may be able to access ends, you move into the Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) phases, where deductions and work plans can keep your benefit active even at higher earnings. These are more complex and require active planning with Social Security.
Reporting your earnings and work activity
You are required to report your work and earnings to Social Security. The most common way is through your annual Continuing Disability Review, when the agency asks about your work status. You can also report earnings by phone, mail, or online through your my Social Security account.
If you do not report work, Social Security may discover it during a review or through wage records from your employer. Failing to report can result in an overpayment — you would have to repay benefits you received while working, even though you were may have access to to them under the TWP rules. It is always better to report upfront.
Keep records of your earnings, hours worked, and job duties. If you are self-employed, keep receipts, profit-and-loss statements, and a log of hours and work performed. These documents help you and Social Security agree on whether a month counts as substantial work.
How the 2023 earnings thresholds compare to prior years
The $940 Trial Work Period threshold and the $1,470 Substantial Gainful Activity limit are adjusted each January based on the national average wage. The table below shows how these figures have moved:
| Year | TWP Threshold | SGA Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $890 | $1,310 |
| 2022 | $920 | $1,350 |
| 2023 | $940 | $1,470 |
These thresholds rise most years because they are tied to wage growth. If you are tracking your earnings month to month, use the threshold for the year in which you earned the money, not the current year. A month in 2023 counts if you earned $940 or more in 2023, even if you are reviewing it in 2024 when the threshold has changed.
Common mistakes during the Trial Work Period
The most common error is not reporting work at all, thinking that Social Security will not find out. The agency does find out — through wage records, employer reports, or during a review — and you end up with an overpayment you have to repay.
Another mistake is assuming that once you use your nine months, you lose all work incentives. You do not. Extended may be able to access lasts 36 months, and after that, IRWE and PASS can keep you on the rolls at much higher earnings. Work incentives do not end; they change.
A third error is not tracking which months count. If you earn $800 one month and $950 the next, only the second month counts. If you lose track and think you have used eight months when you have only used six, you might stop working thinking your benefits are about to end, when in fact you have three more months of full-benefit work ahead.
How to track your Trial Work Period months
Social Security does track your months for you, but you should also keep your own record. Write down each month you work, the amount you earn, and whether it meets the $940 threshold. At the end of each year, ask Social Security for a statement of your Trial Work Period usage — you can request this by phone, mail, or through your my Social Security account.
If you disagree with Social Security's count, you can appeal. The agency must show its calculation, and you can provide your own records of earnings and work activity. Disputes are usually resolved through your Continuing Disability Review or during a reconsideration if your case is closed.
Some people use a spreadsheet or calendar to mark TWP months as they happen. This is especially useful if you work irregularly or have gaps in employment. Keeping your own record protects you if there is a discrepancy later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Trial Work Period months all at once or do they have to be spread out?
You can use them however you want. You could work nine months straight and use all nine months, or work one month, stop for a year, then work eight more months. The nine months do not have to be consecutive. Social Security will count each month you earn $940 or more, regardless of when it occurs.
What if I earn $900 one month and $950 the next — do both months count?
No. Only the month in which you earn $940 or more counts toward your nine-month window. The month you earn $900 does not count and does not reduce your available months. You keep that month available for future use.
Do I lose my Medicare if I work during the Trial Work Period?
No. Your Medicare coverage continues throughout your Trial Work Period and Extended may be able to access Period, regardless of how much you earn. Medicare does not end until you have been off the SSDI rolls for 93 months (the Medicare Continuation Period). Working during your TWP does not shorten this timeline.
What happens if I earn above SGA during Extended may be able to access — do I have to repay my benefits?
No. If you earn above SGA during Extended may be able to access, your benefit stops for that month, but you do not repay what you already received. Your case may close if you earn above SGA for nine months, but there is no overpayment to repay unless you failed to report earnings you were supposed to report.
Can I restart my Trial Work Period if I stop working and then start again later?
No. You get one nine-month Trial Work Period per SSDI case. Once you have used all nine months, you move into Extended may be able to access. You cannot reset the clock or get a second TWP. However, you can still work at higher earnings during Extended may be able to access and later through IRWE and PASS.