Social Security disability is based on a claimant’s ability to work. If a claimant has significant physical or mental health impairments it may prevent them from working, but at other times a claimant may find they are able to work, but not at a fulltime level and could still be eligible for disability benefits. When a beneficiary is receiving disability benefits and working it could trigger a trial work period. Below is a description of what the trial work period is and how it works.
Earnings trigger a trial work period
During a trial work period, a beneficiary receiving Social Security disability benefits based on his or her own earnings history may test his or her ability to work and still be considered disabled. We do not consider services performed during the trial work period as showing that the disability has ended until work is 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.
Method used to determine earnings that trigger a trial work period
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.
