Making Sense of the “Trial Work Period” and Its Impact on Your SSDI Benefits

Posted June 16, 2023 by Premier Disability Services, LLC®

If you’re receiving disability benefits and are thinking about getting back to work, you might be worried about how it could affect your benefits. Thankfully, the Social Security Administration has guidelines for this situation. They’ve created a supportive policy called a trial work period (TWP) to make things easier for you. Here’s a simple explanation of what it’s all about.

What is the Trial Work Period?

The TWP is essentially a “test drive” for returning to work. It’s a provision that enables Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients to assess their capacity to work for at least nine months. During this time, you’ll still receive your full SSDI benefits, irrespective of your earnings, as long as you report your work activity and continue to meet SSA’s disability criteria.

Think of the TWP as a safety measure. It’s a designated period where you can explore working without immediately having your disability status affected. This period lasts for nine months, but they need not be consecutive, as they can occur within a rolling 60-month window.

Earnings During the Trial Work Period

In 2023, if you earn $1,050 or more in a month, or if you’re self-employed and work over 80 hours in a month, it will count as a TWP service month. However, it’s crucial to note that during these months, you’ll still receive your full disability benefits.

What Happens After the Trial Work Period?

When your Trial Work Period ends, you’ll move into what’s called the extended period of eligibility (EPE). This lasts for three years.

During the EPE, the Social Security Administration (SSA) looks at how much you’re earning from work. They compare your earnings to a limit they’ve set, which is called the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit. In 2023, the SGA limit is $1,470 per month for people who aren’t blind, and $2,460 for people who are blind.

If you earn less than these limits, you can continue to receive your full benefits. If you earn more, you might not be eligible for benefits.

There’s also a safety net. If you stop receiving benefits because you’re earning more than the SGA limit, and then later find you can’t work as much because of your disability within the next five years, you can get your benefits reinstated without having to apply all over again. This is known as expedited reinstatement.

Wrap-up

The journey back to work while still receiving SSDI benefits is indeed a personal one, and it’s important to remember that every individual’s path will look different. The decision to explore employment during your benefits period is entirely yours, dependent on your specific circumstances, abilities, and comfort levels.

The goal is to ensure you have the freedom to make the best decision for your situation, with the assurance that support and assistance are always within reach. The path forward may have its complexities, but it also comes with supporting resources, making the journey manageable. After all, the journey is about more than just benefits and earnings—it’s about carving out the life that suits you best, with the knowledge that you have the support needed to make it possible.

If you want to learn more about the trial work period, you can check out this handout from the SSA.