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 ($1,620 a month or $2,700 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 ($1,160 in 2025) with its monthly limits for substantial gainful activity ($1,620 in 2025, or $2,700 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 $1,160 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 the cessation of disability benefits.
Blog comments
In reply to Help! The good news is that I by SM (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
Trial work period months would only be considered from the time you start receiving benefits, rather than when you had applied. It may be a good idea to contact your local SSA office regarding this as the could give you advice specific to your particular case.
Hello,
Hello,
One question, when do we inform SS about our intentions on returning to work or Trial Work? When looking for work ( Applying ) or when actually hired and with a date to start working? Thanks!
In reply to Hello, by Daniel (not verified)
Hi Daniel,
Hi Daniel,
It is recommended that you let them know about your intentions when you are applying.
Best of Luck,
Eric
Hi. In 2011 I started working
Hi. In 2011 I started working full time and got cut off from disability after my trial work ended. In 2012 I became disabled again and got back on ssdi. Does the trial period or 60 months start all over again?
In reply to Hi. In 2011 I started working by Dee (not verified)
Hi Dee,
Hi Dee,
The trial period is 9 months of work over SGA over a period of 60 months, so you may not be eligible for a trial work period.
So what about the Ticket to
So what about the Ticket to Work program.....do you have to join it in order to try to go back to work? Or can you try to go back to work without the Ticket program
In reply to So what about the Ticket to by Randal (not verified)
Hi Randal,
Hi Randal,
If you're planning on returning to work, it may be a good idea to contact your local SSA office regarding this.
On SSDI,legally blind
On SSDI,legally blind,completed Trial period , in EXP period. Want to work part time 1 day a week "doing same type of work" earning $600 month. Will SS try to say I am able to do SGA and cease my benefits
In reply to On SSDI,legally blind by Elen (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
The SSA may not do so as they would consider $1,130 a month SGA for the year of 2017.
I was just approved
I was just approved disability benefits in march. I am approved by my doctor to work only part time hours between 15-20 a week. If I am able to do the work and don't make more than $840 a month will I be able to keep my total benefit payment virtually for years? Should I speak to SSA or just submit my pay stubs as needed? Will the trial period still end after nine months? I would appreciate any info I can get on this subject!
In reply to I was just approved by Amy (not verified)
Hi Amy,
Hi Amy,
It is always best to reach out to the SSA with any questions you are unsure about.
Best of Luck,
Eric
In reply to Hi Amy, by Eric
Hi Eric , thank you for your
Hi Eric , thank you for your speedy answer! I will do that as well once I get settled somewhere and then I hope find work soon after.
Amy
In reply to Hi Eric , thank you for your by Amy (not verified)
Hi Amy,
Hi Amy,
I hope you will too! Wishing you nothing but the best
-Eric
I have been on disability
I have been on disability since 2006. When I went on disability, my wife and I were told that I cannot work at all because if I did my benefits would be in jeopardy. Now I see that I can earn up to $840 dollars a month without putting my benefits at risk. Which one is true? I'd like to do part time work driving for uber but my wife is nervous that I'm risking losing my benefits.
In reply to I have been on disability by Bill (not verified)
Hi Bill,
Hi Bill,
You can still work and receive SSDI benefits, but it cannot exceed the 2017 monthly SGA amount which is $1,170/Month.
Best Wishes,
Eric
I feel so confused on this
I feel so confused on this and I'm sure it can't be truly this difficult to understand.
If I make more than $840/month, it counts towards my WTP. What I don't understand is the $1,170 limit. If I make more than $1,170/month during my WTP, will I lose my benefits? OR does the $1,170/month only matter after the 9 months?
Thank you in advance.
In reply to I feel so confused on this by Alycia (not verified)
Hi Alycia,
Hi Alycia,
That's a great question! You may be able to earn over the SGA amount ($1,170 a month) while on a trial work period. After 9 months of earning over 840 a month, you would become ineligible for monthly benefits, however if you return to work and your condition worsens, you may be eligible for expedited reenstatement of benefits.
Can you get another trial
Can you get another trial work period after 5 years has passed. I had one in 2007 for nine months. If so, can I make any amount I want during that period and have it not affect my benefits.
In reply to Can you get another trial by Kay (not verified)
Hi Kay,
Hi Kay,
You may be able to do so, however you would become ineligible for SSDI benefits after those nine months.
Im on disability , and drove
Im on disability , and drove for uber a month but made 859.00 from driving , does this affect my SSD ??
In reply to Im on disability , and drove by SHARON (not verified)
Hi Sharon,
Hi Sharon,
It may not, however the SSA would consider the month that you made that money a successful trial work period month.
In reply to Hi Sharon, by Bryan
A couple questions.
A couple questions.
I started on ssdi in January of 2015.I am am 57 years of age and am a renal cell carcinoma stage 4 patient. Haven't worked since 2014.I have found a job for the next 4 months where I possibly could make 2500 a month. After October I likely will be off for a while and then picks up again. I know it'll take 18 months to hit those 9 month trial before the extended period hits.
My question is if 1170 is the number that deems you to be in engaging in gainful activity do they determine that over the 18 months that it takes to get those 9 trial months? Or just that 9 months average. I also know they have to prove that I can do medium gainful activity which is part of that 5 step determination of getting ssdi. Just wondering
In reply to A couple questions. by Matt (not verified)
Hi Matt,
Hi Matt,
Trial work months would be counted for any month in which you make over $840 a month.
In reply to Hi Matt, by Bryan
Brian
Brian
I understand 840 is a trial month but when they once you get trial period and they figure out your SGA is that a average of those 9 trial months or say for a comparison it takes 20 months to get those 9 trial. Do they average it out. I may make well over 1170 for 3 or 4 months then have a gap then pu again. How do they figure the SGA out?
In reply to Brian by Matt (not verified)
Hi Matt,
Hi Matt,
If you do have a trial work period month in which you make over 1,175, you may retain benefits for that month until the trial work period is completed.
My daughter was full time
My daughter was full time student and received payment by the school for an internship. She receives SSDI. I was told that Soc Sec would not count this payment toward her Trial Work Period unless she was 22 or older (Student Earned Income Exclusion). Soc Sec disagrees and says that any month she received greater than $770 can counted although she was 21 years old and a student at the time. Any idea which is correct?
In reply to My daughter was full time by Debra D (not verified)
Hi Debra,
Hi Debra,
The Student Earned Income Exclusion applies to SSI recipients rather than SSDI recipients.
If I am working and on
If I am working and on disability and paying Social Security tax,my pay is being reported to Social Security. Do I also need to report my earnings to Social Security?
In reply to If I am working and on by Ralph (not verified)
Hi Ralph,
Hi Ralph,
You may need to, it might be a good idea to contact the SSA regarding this as they can give you detailed information as to what would be required in your particular case.
Should I report my earnings
Should I report my earnings if im in the ticket to work program? I have been working for five months and haven't reported my earnings yet will I get in trouble
In reply to Should I report my earnings by Zelma (not verified)
Hi Zelma,
Hi Zelma,
It is always best practice to report any additional earnings you receive. Better be safe than sorry.
-Eric
The trial work period starts
The trial work period starts when you make $840.00 a month. Is that before or after taxes?
In reply to The trial work period starts by Ralph (not verified)
Hi Ralph, That is pre-tax.
Hi Ralph,
That is pre-tax.
Clarify something. The 840.00
Clarify something. The 840.00 a month is gross you can't go over or net?? If my monthly pay take home is 830.00 but my gross income is 1000.00. Which does SS use for SGA! I can't and don't want to attemp any interruptions in my check. I can't afford to. So take home is counter or gross?
In reply to Clarify something. The 840.00 by Doug (not verified)
Hi Doug,
Hi Doug,
It would be prior to taxes, so gross.
I'm on Sadi I only
I'm on Sadi I only receive $771,a month. So am I allowed to work and make up to $1170 a month on top of my $771 or can I only make up to $399 a month which will total the $1170. Should it be that I can make the $1170 on top if my SSDI, how will my check be affected
In reply to I'm on Sadi I only by Sandie (not verified)
Hi Sandie,
Hi Sandie,
If it doesn't exceed the limit then yo should be okay though. You should notify the SSA with any additional income you do receive.
-Eric
I just now completed my nine
I just now completed my nine month trial work period and I am in Ticket to Work. My condition has gotten worse in the last couple of months and I am becoming doubtful of my ability to continue to work. If I quit my job during my EPE can my check be restarted the first month I go below the SGA amount?
In reply to I just now completed my nine by Cathy (not verified)
Hi Cathy,
Hi Cathy,
I would double check with the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 just to be sure.
-Eric
I noticed that the trial work
I noticed that the trial work period for 2017 is $840 but is there a number of hours limit when working (working for employer, not self-employed)? I am working part-time within my restrictions but don't want to jeopardize my benefits. So if I am making minimum wage at $7.25 for about 100 hours per month (give or take 5-10 hours per month depending on number of work days in month). Even at the highest it is $797.50 gross (110 hours). Is the number of hours going to have a negative effect on me? Is the hours I am working going to trigger a successful month even though I am under the $840 mark? I just want to make sure I am not screwing myself over here.
In reply to I noticed that the trial work by Jimmy (not verified)
Hi Jimmy,
Hi Jimmy,
There are no limits for hours, just gross income.
Hello, My wife will be going
Hello, My wife will be going back to work and we were just informed of this great benefit of the 9 month trial period. My question is, will we have to pay back the amount of those checks earned during the 9 months?
In reply to Hello, My wife will be going by Ron (not verified)
HI Ron,
HI Ron,
Unless the SSA determined they had overpaid her, she may not be obligated to repay those benefits.
Hello there!
Hello there!
I'm still confused. I've recently started trying to go back to work no more than 8 hours a week to start to see if I can mentally do the work. In my profession though my base pay is $40 an hour. So I would make over SGA but this would be my first month (ever) of the work trial period. So can I make more than the SGA during the work trial period or can I not make any more than the $1170? Does that mean I need to drop my base pay to make less? Thank you in advance for any advice. I hve trouble understanding or comprehending so any light on this subject is greatly appreciated.
Respectfully,
Sarah
In reply to Hello there! by Sarah (not verified)
Hi Sarah,
Hi Sarah,
You may be able to make over SGA while in a trial work period.
In reply to Hi Sarah, by Bryan
Does that mean during the
Does that mean during the trial work phase I can make above $1170 since my pet hourly work is $40?
So in plan terms you can work
So in plan terms you can work for 9 months make any amount but anything after 9 months may affect your benefits correct?
In reply to So in plan terms you can work by Leigh (not verified)
Hi Leigh,
Hi Leigh,
If you're on SSDI benefits, you would work for those nine months and then you would not be eligible for benefits for any months that you make over $1,170 a month.
So I am applying for benefits
So I am applying for benefits and have been denied and now heading to court ! I have been working part time.. I am wondering if the trial work period applies if you have not been approved yet . I went back to work after a brain surgery and hearing decrease for 6 months but due to my hearing I could not do the job I had . I ended up leaving that job and I filed for disability. However along the way I had to earn some money. I was told that you have a period where you can make more money than the limit. Does that apply to people who have have not been approved yet ??
In reply to So I am applying for benefits by Nichole (not verified)
Hi Nichole,
Hi Nichole,
The trial work period does not apply for people who are only applying for benefits, but if you make over $1,170 a month you may not be considered eligible for benefits.
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