Trial Work Period

When receiving Social Security Disability Insurance going back to work can be frightening. It’s common to feel anxious about returning to work after being at home for so long, especially if you think your disability might still prevent you from working as well as you use to. To help people cope with this fear the Social Security Administration allows a trial work period.

During this trial work period SSDI recipients can return to work and keep receiving benefit payments for nine months. Once the nine months are over the SSA will determine if the recipient engaged in “substantial gainful activity,” which is typically an average of $1,090 per month. If the monthly average during the trial period was more than $1,090, benefits will stop.

The law allows for a total of nine trial months for anyone who receives SSDI. These nine months do not need to be consistent, so there can be gaps in between months of work. Once you have used all nine of your trial works months in a five-year period, you are not allowed anymore. You are only allowed more trial work months if your benefits end because of working and you become eligible for SSDI benefits by submitting a new application.

If you use less than nine trial work months during a five-year period you are entitled to a fresh set of nine months. You can also gain a new set of trial work months if your benefits are stopped and you apply for expedited reinstatement and are approved.

Using a nine-month trial work period can be a great tool for easing back into work. SSDI recipients who feel they might be able to start working again should consider taking advantage of this program. A good first step is to contact a SSDI attorney to make sure your are in compliance with all SSA rules and regulations.

 

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Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law

Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law
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