The “trial work period” is a nine-month state of grace given by the Social Security Administration to any disability benefits recipient who wants to attempt re-entry to the work force. A disability benefits recipient has nine months of trial work period in each period of 60 months.
The idea behind the trial work period is that if your medical condition has improved to the point that you think you might be able to make a living, you can go to work and earn money for that nine-month period of time without jeopardizing your Social Security Disability payments. The ability to participate in the program is dependent on your reporting to the Social Security Administration your work activity, your income, and your expenses.
Even after the end of your trial work period you can still receive disability benefits for any month in which you do not make more than the substantial gainful activity (SGA) amount ($1,550 a month or $2,590 a month if you are blind). You will lose your disability benefits if you make more than the maximum SGA.
Even if your disability benefits are halted because of the amount of your income, you will still be entitled to Medicare Part A for at least 93 months after the end of the nine-month trial period if you still require medical treatment. At the end of that period, you have the option of continuing Medicare Part A coverage by paying a premium. If you have Medicare Part B, you will just continue to pay the premium as you have in the past.
The Social Security Administration understands that while you may be successful in returning to work, your disability or medical condition may worsen and force you to stop work once again. If that is the case, within five years after you return to work, you will be eligible for “expedited reinstatement,” meaning you will not have to reapply for benefits and you will not have to wait for benefits while your medical condition is being reviewed.
As straightforward as the preceding may seem, the reality always differs slightly from the theory. For example, Social Security has not synced the monthly limits for its trial work period ($1,110 in 2024) with its monthly limits for substantial gainful activity ($1,550 in 2024, or $2,590 if you are blind).
If you are receiving benefits, it is important that you be careful not to inadvertently use up your trial work period months by making more than $880 a month.
Another example is that when the Social Security Administration says $940 a month, it doesn’t always mean $940 a month. If you are self employed, that figure means $940 a month after expenses. Also, if you have expenses that are incurred in the course of your employment that relate directly to your disability (such as needing a specific type of computer or a certain type of wheelchair), the Social Security Administration will deduct those expenses from your gross earnings before they determine if you are over the limit. Presumably that means that if you have $1,000 in qualifying expenses, you could make $1,900 a month and still be under the trial work period limit.
The exceptions always prove the rule: before doing any sort of work for any kind of income, check with your Social Security Disability lawyer or other professional advocate and make sure that you are not taking the Social Security Administration’s guidelines at face value to your future detriment. Failure to comply with the SSA's regulations may result in cessation of disability benefits.
Blog comments
In reply to I completed my trial work by Caridad Delgado (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You may be able to! However, it's always a good idea to contact a local SSA office regardign this.
My husband is on disability
My husband is on disability and has been offered a coaching position at a local school. He will earn a stipend paid as 1 lump payment or in 2 payments. The appointment is for an activity occuring over a 3-4 month period. Does he need to figure out the hours worked per month or does the amount count only in the month the check was received. Can he subtract medical expenses necessary for his employment during his trial months.
In reply to My husband is on disability by Laura (not verified)
Hi Laura,
Hi Laura,
You may want to contact the SSA regarding this as this isn't the most common situation. You can contact them at 1-800-772-1213.
Hi,
Hi,
I came to the United States 6 years ago. I am 67 years old.
now I am a us citizen.
I have been working the last 2 years and I get $1,200 monthly.
my question is - can i get retirement benefits and how much is going to be.
thank you
In reply to Hi, by Norik (not verified)
HI Norik,
HI Norik,
I'm not entirely sure if you can, you may want to contact the SSA regarding this, you can call them at 1-800-772-1213.
It is my first time on here
It is my first time on here and the first time I did taxes how does this affect me?
I also wanted to know do they6 go by weekly pay or monthly? Thank you
In reply to It is my first time on here by Babs (not verified)
Hi Babs,
Hi Babs,
I could not say as we do not know the details of your case, we are not affiliated with the SSA or the federal government. Generally they would go by monthly income.
What if you go over the 1,180
What if you go over the 1,180 one month???
In reply to What if you go over the 1,180 by Davy (not verified)
Hi Davy,
Hi Davy,
The SSA would consider it a sucessful trial work month if you receive SSDI.
Can I use my monthly car
Can I use my monthly car insurance premium as an deduction for the IRWE?
In reply to Can I use my monthly car by Mary Jo (not verified)
Hi Mary Jo,
Hi Mary Jo,
You may if it is considered a work expense, however it would be a good idea to contact the SSA regarding this.
In reply to Hi Mary Jo, by Bryan
Thank you Bryan. Have a
Thank you Bryan. Have a great day.
I started working last April.
I started working last April.. I honestly don’t know when my nine months is up?! Do they let you know?! I don’t understand how it’s calculated? Being I get paid biweekly and some weeks go into the next month..
In reply to I started working last April. by Jamie (not verified)
Hi Jamie,
Hi Jamie,
The end of your trial work period would depend on how many months you made over $850 in earned income, the SSA only counts months in which you exceeded that amount.
I receive adult disabled
I receive adult disabled survivor benefits I have 9 months of TWP. From feb- to may im going to gross 1650 per month. Obviously over the SAG. After that I’m only going to gross 840 per month. Will I still lose Benefits
In reply to I receive adult disabled by Rob (not verified)
Hi Rob,
Hi Rob,
You may not have a change in benefits, however those four months of earning over the $850 figure would be counted as sucessful trial work period months.
Is this only applicable to
Is this only applicable to SSA? Or does it also apply to those on SSI (born disabled and have never worked) who are working through vocational rehabilitation?
In reply to Is this only applicable to by M. Skinner (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
It'll be applicable for people on both SSDI and SSI!
Im currently on DDSI and
Im currently on DDSI and started working to test my ability. My question is: How do you calculate total monthly income?
By that I mean, Toward to end of the month, when my income is getting a couple of hundred before going over SGA, Does the income that's earned but paid the next month count toward current month or next months income. What if you work a week that falls in one month and the other half in the next month. I get paid weekly. Hopes there's some calculation for this.
In reply to Im currently on DDSI and by Casey (not verified)
Hi Casey,
Hi Casey,
I would count it within the month timeframe, so if you're paid on a Monday but it's technically a new month, it wouldn't count for the SSA's purposes. You'll want to look out for months with five pay periods.
What happens when there are 5
What happens when there are 5 weeks in the month
In reply to What happens when there are 5 by Jay (not verified)
Hi Jay,
Hi Jay,
The monthly limit is still $1,180.00.
My husband has been receiving
My husband has been receiving disability payments for over a year and a half. he is thinking about going back to work and driving some. Do we need to contact SSA and let them know, or can he just do some driving work. And not go over $1170 a month as states in the Trial period.
In reply to My husband has been receiving by Kay (not verified)
Hi Kay,
Hi Kay,
Yes, that's a good idea. It's always best to be honest and transparent with the SSA.
Is it true that at the end of
Is it true that at the end of your TWP They will add up the total grossed during your TWP an divide it by 9? An if the average comes out to 1180 or more they will Terminate your benefits?
In reply to Is it true that at the end of by Rob (not verified)
Hi Rob,
Hi Rob,
Interesting. I have never heard of that but it's possible we may have never come across it before.
Yes, the sga and twp are very
Yes, the sga and twp are very confusing. I recently applied for ssdi. I was told by my local ss office I could work as long as income was less than sga.
In reply to Yes, the sga and twp are very by Billy Tomas (not verified)
Hi Billy,
Hi Billy,
You are right, it really can be. Good job being pro-active and speaking with your SSA office.
I wanted to know if I drive a
I wanted to know if I drive a couple days out the week for Uber could I possibly loose my social Security.
In reply to I wanted to know if I drive a by Kristen (not verified)
Hi Kristen,
Hi Kristen,
If make less than $800 a month you will be fine.
Can someone help me. Ok I
Can someone help me. Ok I finish my 9 month trial period, and they told me I couldn't go over the amount 1180 does that include my disability plus what I'm making to add up, or Is the checks separate
In reply to Can someone help me. Ok I by Delmar (not verified)
Hi Delmar,
Hi Delmar,
The $1180 is separate from your disability benefits. Your earned income cannot exceed $1180.
Is child support counted as
Is child support counted as SGA?
Say in a hypothetical
Say in a hypothetical situation: The receiver of benefits used up all his/her Trial work period months. The receiver of benefits had been making slightly less than SGA, which is 1,180. One day, the boss explains to him/her that they are really needed for more hours, so the disability recipients goes over SGA one month. Are disability benefits completely cut off at this point, or do they resume once income drops below SGA again?
In reply to Say in a hypothetical by Bryan Hicks (not verified)
Hi Bryan,
Hi Bryan,
If you go over the SGA, the SSA may review your case again and find you now longer qualify for benefits as you can make more than the SGA.
My friend has been receiving
My friend has been receiving SSDI for a chronic medical condition since 2010. He has improved a little and wants to earn a little extra income. He thinks he can work as long as he wants, as long as he earns under the $1170 SGA. I told him that I thought he could only earn less than $850 per month for a 9 month period before he risked losing his SSDI and urged him to contact the local SS office for more information. I told him it was my understanding that any time he earned over $850, even if he had no intention of fully returning to work, it would be applied towards the TWP. Could you clarify?
In reply to My friend has been receiving by Susan (not verified)
Hi Susan,
Hi Susan,
You are correct. Anytime someone makes over $850 that is applied to the Trial Work Period.
Ok so I start work soon and
Ok so I start work soon and will be making 2,080 before taxes. I currently receive 821. Now will I still receive payments and benifits during my 9 month trail work period? I’m currently Wheelchair bound for life after a car accident.
I'm a little confused.
I'm a little confused. Is it true that you have to collect your SSDI benefit for 12 months before you can start the trial work period? I am being told conflicting information by people at my local Social Security office, one saying you do and the other saying you don't. I just received my first payment and don't know if I have to return it or not.
I wanted to know do i have to
I wanted to know do i have to inform soc security before i start work as an uber driver i have been on disability three years now i want to try and go back to work on the ninth month triall.
In reply to I wanted to know do i have to by Jimmy Miner (not verified)
Hi Jimmy,
Hi Jimmy,
Yes, you absolutely need to notify the SSA of any additional money you make.
Is it true that husband and
Is it true that husband and wife can’t get more than $3,000 per household
In reply to Is it true that husband and by Ellie (not verified)
Hi Ellie,
Hi Ellie,
If you are applying for SSI, then yes $3,000 is the resource limit per household for a couple.
I was injured at work, I am
I was injured at work, I am still an employee and still get paid bi-weekly, however I will never be able to return to my job Bc they have deemed it a permanent disability. With still receiving paychecks (a lot less then when I actually worked, but more then the $1220) would I still be eligible for SSDI?
In reply to I was injured at work, I am by Ashley (not verified)
Hi Ashley,
Hi Ashley,
If you are still able to work and make about the SGA then you will not qualify for SSDI
I have never gone over my SGA
I have never gone over my SGA. But this month I might by about $60. Can this cause Me to lose benifits or be penalized?
In reply to I have never gone over my SGA by Mona (not verified)
Hi Mona,
Hi Mona,
You'll likely be entered into the Trial Work Period. If you consistently make over the SGA then your benefits may be reduced or stopped.
I'm attempting to go
I'm attempting to go back to work for about two days a week. I won't make more than $600 a month. Will that mean I will have $300 a month deducted? How long will I be able to make this amount without losing benefits? Still confused on how this works. 880 is the Mac amount I think.
In reply to I'm attempting to go by Jeremy (not verified)
Hi Jeremy,
Hi Jeremy,
You're correct, $880 is the max amount. As long as you are making under this amount you won't need to worry about entering the Trial Work Period or have your benefits reduced. There is no time limit either for how long you can work if you are making less than the $880.
I have been on disability for
I have been on disability for 8 months and I didn't get a SS lawyer because with my metastatised cancer, I qualified immediately. When I work as a substitute teacher, my employer pays into social security for me. I don't need to also contact you to report how much I earn because you are already aware, am I correct?
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