SSDI Trial Work Period: Testing Your Ability to Work
TL;DR: The Trial Work Period (TWP) gives SSDI recipients 9 months (not necessarily consecutive) to test their ability to work without losing benefits. A trial work month is any month you earn over $1,110 (2026) or work more than 80 self-employment hours. You keep your full SSDI payment during all 9 months regardless of earnings. After the TWP, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility. The TWP resets only if your benefits are terminated and later reinstated.
The Trial Work Period is one of the most generous work incentives in the SSDI program. For 9 months, you can earn any amount and still receive your full SSDI check. It's designed to let you test whether you can sustain employment without the fear of immediate benefit loss.
How the TWP Works
| 2026 TWP Rules | Details |
|---|---|
| Trial work month trigger | $1,110 in gross earnings OR 80+ self-employment hours |
| Total trial months | 9 months within a rolling 60-month period |
| Must be consecutive? | No |
| Benefits during TWP | Full SSDI payment regardless of earnings |
| Medicare during TWP | Continues |
After the TWP
The month after your 9th trial work month, you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the 36-month EPE, the SSA checks your earnings each month. Months where you earn below SGA ($1,620/month): you get your SSDI check. Months above SGA: no payment. After the EPE ends, any month above SGA terminates benefits.
Medicare Continuation
Even after your SSDI cash benefits end due to work, your Medicare coverage continues for at least 93 months (about 7.75 years) after the TWP. This extended Medicare is a significant safety net for people who return to work but may not have employer health coverage immediately.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I know about ssdi trial work period: testing your ability to work?
TL;DR: The Trial Work Period (TWP) gives SSDI recipients 9 months (not necessarily consecutive) to test their ability to work without losing benefits. A trial work month is any month you earn over $1,110 (2026) or work more than 80 self-employment hours. You keep your full SSDI payment during all 9 months regardless of earnings.
What should I know about after the twp?
The month after your 9th trial work month, you enter the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the 36-month EPE, the SSA checks your earnings each month. Months where you earn below SGA ($1,620/month): you get your SSDI check.
What should I know about medicare continuation?
Even after your SSDI cash benefits end due to work, your Medicare coverage continues for at least 93 months (about 7.75 years) after the TWP. This extended Medicare is a significant safety net for people who return to work but may not have employer health coverage immediately.