The Trial Work Period is one of Social Security's most generous provisions for people on SSDI, yet many beneficiaries either don't know about it or don't fully understand how it works. If you've been thinking about going back to work — even just to test the waters — the Trial Work Period lets you earn any amount of money while keeping your full SSDI benefits. Here's how it works and what you need to know.
In this article, we'll cover:
- What the SSDI Trial Work Period is and why it exists
- How the 9-month Trial Work Period works within the 60-month window
- The 2026 earnings threshold that triggers a Trial Work Period month
- What happens to your benefits during and after the Trial Work Period
- How to track your Trial Work Period months
- What comes after the Trial Work Period ends
What Is the Trial Work Period?
The Trial Work Period (TWP) is a built-in feature of the SSDI program that lets you try working without losing your disability benefits. During the TWP, you receive your full SSDI payment regardless of how much you earn. The idea is to remove the financial risk from exploring employment, so you can find out whether you're able to sustain work without the pressure of potentially losing your income.
Social Security created the TWP because they understand that returning to work after a disability is uncertain. You might be able to handle a job for a few months and then realize your condition makes it unsustainable. Or you might find that part-time work is manageable but full-time employment isn't. The TWP gives you room to figure that out.
How the 9-Month Window Works
You get 9 Trial Work Period months within a rolling 60-month (5-year) period. The months don't have to be consecutive — they can be spread out over the full five years. Each time you work above the monthly threshold, it uses up one of your nine months.
In 2026, a month counts as a Trial Work Period month if you earn more than $1,210 in gross wages. For self-employed individuals, a month counts if you earn over $1,210 or work more than 80 hours in your business, regardless of earnings.
Here's what makes this so valuable: during every single one of these nine months, you receive your full SSDI check plus whatever you earn from working. There's no reduction, no offset, and no penalty. If you earn $3,000 in a month, you still get your full SSDI payment for that month.
The 60-month rolling window means your Trial Work Period months eventually expire and reset. If you used a TWP month four years ago but haven't used one since, it eventually falls outside the window, giving you that month back.
Tracking Your Trial Work Period
Social Security tracks your TWP months, but it's wise to keep your own records as well. Knowing exactly how many TWP months you've used helps you plan your work activity and avoid surprises.
Keep copies of your pay stubs and note which months your earnings exceeded the $1,210 threshold. If you have months where your earnings are close to the threshold, keep especially good records — you want to be able to show Social Security exactly what you earned in case there's ever a question.
You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office to ask how many TWP months you've used. It's a reasonable question that any claims representative should be able to answer.
One thing to watch out for: Social Security's records aren't always perfectly current. Earnings data comes from employer reports and tax filings, which can lag by several months. Your own records give you a real-time picture of where you stand.
During the Trial Work Period
While you're in your Trial Work Period, life is relatively simple from a benefits perspective. You work, you earn, and you receive your full SSDI check. The only requirement is that you report your work activity to Social Security.
Reporting is important even during the TWP. Social Security needs to know that you're working so they can properly track your Trial Work Period months. If you don't report and Social Security finds out about your work activity later (which they will, through tax records), it can create confusion and potentially lead to overpayment notices.
Your Medicare coverage continues throughout the Trial Work Period and beyond. Even after your Trial Work Period ends, you get at least 93 months of premium-free Medicare Part A, which provides significant peace of mind when it comes to health coverage.
After the Trial Work Period
Once you've used all nine TWP months, you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which lasts 36 months. During the EPE, Social Security looks at your earnings each month. In any month where your earnings exceed the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit — $1,690 per month in 2026 — your SSDI benefits are not paid for that month. In months where you earn below SGA, your benefits resume automatically.
The first month during the EPE where you earn above SGA is called your cessation month. After the cessation month, you get a three-month "grace period" where benefits continue regardless of earnings. Then the month-by-month evaluation based on SGA kicks in for the remainder of the 36-month EPE.
After the EPE ends, if you're still earning above SGA, your SSDI benefits will stop. But Social Security provides one more safety net: Expedited Reinstatement. If you stop being able to work within five years of your benefits ending, you can request expedited reinstatement, and Social Security can provisionally restart your benefits while they review your case.
Making the Most of Your Trial Work Period
The Trial Work Period is a valuable opportunity, and it's worth thinking strategically about how you use it. Some people use all nine months quickly by jumping into full-time employment. Others spread their TWP months out, testing different types of work or gradually increasing their hours.
There's no right or wrong approach — it depends on your health, your goals, and your financial situation. The important thing is to go in informed, track your months, and report your work activity so there are no surprises down the road.
Exploring work while on SSDI is a big step — and the right banking tools can help you stay on track. Purple offers checking accounts designed for SSDI recipients, making it easy to manage both your benefits and your earnings.