SSDI Trial Work Period

For a nine-month trial work period, there is no limit on the amount that your client can earn without facing a loss or reduction of benefits. These nine months do not need to be consecutive. A trial work month is any month in a rolling 5 year period, in which your client earns more than $700 (effective January 1, 2009). For self-employed clients, however, if the client works more than 80 hours or earns more than $700, that counts as a trial work month. See chart below.

After the end of the trial work period, SSA will re-evaluate the client for disability. SSA considers earnings over $980 per month (effective January 1, 2009) as "substantial gainful activity" If they do average more than $980 per month, benefits will continue for a three-month grace period and then stop. If earnings have not averaged more than $980 per month, benefits will generally continue.

After the work period is over, your client enters what is called an extended period of eligibility. For 36 months after a successful trial work period, your client will get a monthly benefit check for any month that earnings fall below $980. This allows a client to continue working, knowing that any period of inability to work, SSDI benefits will begin again. In addition, Medicare coverage continues for 39 months beyond the trial work period without regard to the client's earnings or whether SSA considers the client to be disabled.

For more information, please join us at one of our Back to Work Seminars and/or request a copy of our publication Returning To Work: A Helpful Guide, December 2002)
 

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