What if I am receiving benefits but think I can go back to work?

If you are receiving Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA), you have an opportunity to decide whether you are able to work and whether working is the right thing for you. The program is called a Trial Work Period (TWP).

SSA will allow you to receive your monthly benefit payments for 9 months during the TWP. Each person receiving disability benefits from SSA is eligible for a single TWP to support beneficiaries while they explore long-term employment.

Earnings trigger an SSD trial work period

During a trial work period, a beneficiary receiving Social Security disability benefits on the basis of his or her own earnings history may test his or her ability to work and still be considered disabled. SSA does not not consider services performed during the trial work period as showing that the disability has ended until services have been performed in at least 9 months (not necessarily consecutive) in a rolling 60-month period. In 2022, any month in which earnings exceed $970 is considered a month of services for an individual’s trial work period. In 2023, this monthly amount increases to $1,050. The trial work period does not apply to SSI benefits.

What method does SSA use to determine earnings that trigger a trial work period?

The formula for TWP earnings is a bit complicated. Here is how the SSA explains it:

Monthly earnings in 2023, used to determine whether a month is part of a trial work period, is such amount for 2001 multiplied by the ratio of the national average wage index for 2021 to that for 1999, or, if larger, such amount for 2022 ($970). If the amount so calculated is not a multiple of $10, we round it to the nearest multiple of $10. Below are details on how we determined the latest amount.

If you have more questions about SSD or a TWP, give our office a call at (610) 446-3457 or click here to send us an email.