SSDI Trial Work Period in Connecticut

Returning to work after a disabling condition is a goal many Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients share — but the fear of losing hard-won benefits often holds people back. The Trial Work Period (TWP) is a federal program provision designed to remove that barrier, giving Connecticut recipients a structured opportunity to test their ability to work without immediately risking their monthly benefits. Understanding how the TWP works, and what happens after it ends, is essential to protecting your financial security during the transition back to employment.

What Is the Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which Social Security Administration (SSA) allows SSDI recipients to attempt substantial work activity without any reduction in their monthly disability benefit payments. The nine months do not need to be consecutive — they are counted within a rolling 60-month (five-year) period. This means a recipient could work for a few months, stop, and then resume work later, with each qualifying month counting toward the total until all nine are used.

A month counts as a "trial work month" any time your earnings exceed a threshold set by SSA. For 2024, that threshold is $1,110 per month. If you are self-employed, the threshold is triggered either by earnings over that amount or by working more than 80 hours in your business during that month. Below this threshold, a month does not count against your nine-month limit, no matter how long it takes to exhaust them.

During all nine trial work months, your SSDI benefits are paid in full, regardless of how much you earn. This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the program — many recipients assume their check will be reduced the moment they start working, but that is not how the TWP operates.

How Connecticut Recipients Trigger and Track the TWP

Connecticut residents receiving SSDI benefits should be aware that the SSA expects you to report any work activity promptly. Failure to report earnings can result in overpayments that SSA will demand be returned, often years after the fact. Connecticut's SSA field offices — including locations in Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and Waterbury — process work reports and disability reviews, but initial responsibility for reporting falls on the beneficiary.

To report work activity, you should:

• Contact your local Connecticut SSA field office directly by phone or in person
• Use the SSA's My Social Security online portal to report wages
• Submit pay stubs or employer verification letters as documentation
• Keep copies of every report you file and every piece of correspondence you receive

Connecticut has no state-level supplement to SSDI (unlike SSI, which Connecticut does supplement through the state's Title XIX program), so the TWP is governed entirely by federal SSA rules. However, working in Connecticut may affect other state benefits such as HUSKY Health (Medicaid), Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership coverage, or state housing assistance. Recipients should evaluate each program's work rules separately before returning to employment.

What Happens After the Trial Work Period Ends

Once you use all nine trial work months, the SSA enters a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, your benefits are evaluated against the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold — for 2024, that figure is $1,550 per month for non-blind recipients and $2,590 per month for blind recipients.

During the EPE, here is how benefits are handled:

• Any month your earnings fall below the SGA threshold, you receive your full SSDI benefit
• Any month your earnings exceed SGA, your benefit is suspended for that month
• Benefits are not permanently terminated during the EPE simply because you exceeded SGA — only a formal cessation determination ends benefits outright

If your earnings drop below SGA at any point during the 36-month EPE window, benefits are reinstated without filing a new application. This protection is critically important for Connecticut workers in jobs with variable hours or seasonal employment patterns — common in industries like construction, hospitality, and retail across the state.

Work Incentives That Complement the Trial Work Period

The TWP works alongside several other SSA work incentives that Connecticut recipients should understand before attempting any employment.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE): If you incur costs related to your disability that allow you to work — such as prescription medications, medical equipment, transportation to medical appointments, or home health aide services — those expenses can be deducted from your gross earnings when SSA calculates whether you've exceeded the SGA threshold. For many Connecticut recipients managing chronic conditions, IRWEs can meaningfully lower the income amount SSA counts against them.

Ticket to Work Program: Connecticut has authorized Employment Networks and State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies that participate in SSA's Ticket to Work program. Assigning your Ticket to an approved provider temporarily pauses Continuing Disability Reviews while you pursue employment services, adding another layer of protection during your return-to-work effort.

Expedited Reinstatement: If your benefits are terminated after the EPE because your earnings exceed SGA, and you later become unable to continue working due to the same disabling condition, you may request reinstatement within five years without filing a completely new disability application. This provision provides a meaningful safety net for Connecticut recipients whose conditions fluctuate.

Common Mistakes That Put Benefits at Risk

Connecticut SSDI recipients attempting the Trial Work Period often make errors that create serious legal and financial problems down the road. The most consequential mistakes include:

• Failing to report work activity promptly — SSA can and does conduct wage record matches with Connecticut's Department of Labor, which means unreported work is frequently discovered, sometimes years later, triggering large overpayment demands
• Assuming the TWP ends all benefits — Many recipients stop working the moment they believe their nine months are used, not realizing the EPE provides continued protection
• Not documenting impairment-related expenses — Without proper records, IRWEs cannot be applied to reduce your countable earnings
• Accepting employer accommodations without documenting them — SSA may use employer-provided accommodations as evidence your job constitutes less than true SGA, or conversely may disregard them; documentation matters either way
• Misunderstanding self-employment SGA rules — Connecticut recipients who freelance or run small businesses face a more complex SGA calculation that requires careful tracking of hours and net earnings

The rules governing when a benefit is suspended versus terminated versus subject to formal cessation are nuanced, and an incorrect assumption about your status can lead to months of unpaid benefits that are difficult to recover through appeals.

Connecticut SSDI recipients have the right to appeal any adverse SSA decision — including overpayment determinations, cessation decisions, and SGA findings — through a structured process that includes reconsideration, an Administrative Law Judge hearing, and federal court review if necessary. Acting quickly on any unfavorable notice is critical, as deadlines are strictly enforced.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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