Trial Work Period
(TWP):
The
Trial Work Period
will help
Social Security
Disability Insurance
(SSDI)
beneficiaries in
their efforts toward
employment, by
allowing them to
test their ability
to work to their
fullest potential,
while still
receiving their SSDI
cash benefit.
How it Helps You:
The Trial Work
Period allows you
nine months during
which you can
initially test your
ability to work,
without restrictions
on how much you can
earn. During these
nine months you can
work and receive
your full Social
Security Disability
Insurance benefit
check no matter how
much you earn.
How it Works:
The Trial Work
Period months (also
called Service
Months) are nine
months not
necessarily in a
row, during a
60-month (5 year)
rolling period.
Depending on how
much you earn in
gross earnings,
you may use these
nine months
consecutively (one
right after another)
or intermittently
(once in a while).
In 2012, each month
you earn gross wages
of $720, you have
used a Trial Work
Month. Prior to
2010, the amount was
less. Trial Work
Month amounts change
each year with the
cost of living
adjustments. You may
have used Trial Work
months in the past,
so it is important
to know what months
you earning over the
Trial Work amount in
previous years.
Below is a list of
the Trial Work
amounts for previous
years:
2011- Gross earnings over $720 per month will use a Trial Work month
2010- Gross earnings
over $720 per month
will use a Trial
Work month
2009- Gross earnings
over $700 per month
will use a Trial
Work month
2008- Gross earnings
over $670 per month
will use a Trial
Work month
2007- Gross earnings
over $640 per month
will use a Trial
Work month
2006- Gross earnings
over $620 per month
will use a Trial
Work month
2005- Gross earnings
over $590 per month
will use a Trial
Work month
2004- Gross earnings
over $580 per month
will use a Trial
Work month
2003- Gross earnings
over $570 per month
will use a Trial
Work month
2002- Gross earnings
over $560 per month
will use a Trial
Work month
2001- Gross earnings
over $530 per month
will use a Trial
Work month
1999-2000 - Gross
earnings over $200
per month will use a
Trial Work month
Depending on how
much you are
earning, or have
earned in the past
since you have been
eligible for SSDI,
you may have used
TWP months.
If you do not work a
total of nine months
within the five-year
period, the
timeframe moves
forward until you
have worked nine
Trial Work Months.
Once you have used
all nine Trial Work
Period months, the
Extended Period of
Eligibility
automatically
begins.
It is important to
consult with an
Indiana
Works Community Work
Incentives
Coordinator
and the
Social Security
Administration
to understand if you
are using Trial Work
Period months, or
may have used them
in the past few
years. After the
nine months of Trial
Work Period are
used, the Social
Security
Administration will
also contact you to
review your
Substantial Gainful
work Activity.
This is called a
work-related
Continuing
Disability Review.
When you have used
all of the Trial
Work Period months
an Extended Period
of Eligibility
begins, and there
are other work
incentives available
during this period.
An
Indiana Works
Community Work
Incentives
Coordinator
can help you
understand the Trial
Work Period, how to
track your Trial
Work Period months
and other work
incentives that are
applicable to you.
