Only months when wages exceed $640 in 2007 (or 80 hours of work for self-employed people) count as Trial Work Period months. The TWP ends after a person has performed nine (not necessarily consecutive) of trial work within a rolling period of 60 consecutive months. Sheltered workshop earnings equal to or in excess of $640 a month in 2007 count as TWP months.

Individuals with disabilities may have unlimited earnings during a trial work period and still receive full benefits. Once one has completed his/her nine-month trial work periods, Social Security will determine if he/she is still entitled to disability benefits. Individuals with disabilities may also be eligible for other work incentives to help make the transition back to work.

• The Trial Work Period (TWP) is the nine Trial Work months occurring within a five-year window.
• SSDI beneficiaries can receive full benefits and work.
• These work months can be used one right after the other (consecutively) or one at a time (non-consecutively).
• The Trial Work Months add up to what Social Security calls a Trial Work Period only if they occur within the five-year window.
• A Trial Work Month is any month when gross earnings (income before taxes) are above the threshold.

Unsuccessful Work Attempt

An effort by a person with a disability to perform substantial work that either stopped or produced earnings below SGA level after 6 months or less because of:

• The individual’s disabling condition, or
• Elimination of the special services or assistance that the individual needed in order to work
• Unsuccessful Work Attempt are not factors when SSA calculates your SSI payment amount

Continuation of Medicare Coverage

• Premium free Medicare hospital insurance coverage continues for 93 months (7 years, 9 months) after the end of the Trial Work Period
• After premium-free coverage ends, Medicare coverage ends, Medicare hospital and medical insurance can be purchased if disability continues