SSDI Trial Work Period: Florida Guide

Returning to work after a disability can feel like walking a tightrope. For Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients in Florida, the Trial Work Period (TWP) exists precisely to give you a safety net while you test your ability to work without immediately losing your benefits. Understanding how this program works—and how to protect yourself during it—can make the difference between a successful transition and an unexpected overpayment demand from the Social Security Administration.

What Is the Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period is a federal program that allows SSDI recipients to work and earn income for up to nine months without affecting their monthly disability benefits. During this window, you continue receiving your full SSDI payment regardless of how much you earn, as long as you report your work activity to the SSA.

Those nine months do not have to be consecutive. The SSA measures them within a rolling 60-month (five-year) window. Any month in which you earn above a set threshold counts as a Trial Work Period month, whether those months happen back-to-back or spread out over several years.

For 2024, a month counts as a Trial Work Period month if your gross earnings exceed $1,110. If you are self-employed, the SSA may also count months where you work more than 80 hours in your business. These thresholds are adjusted annually for inflation, so always verify the current figure with the SSA or an attorney.

How the Trial Work Period Works in Practice

Once you begin working, the SSA does not automatically suspend your benefits. You must report your earnings to your local Social Security office—in Florida, this can be done online through your my Social Security account, by phone, or in person at one of the SSA field offices located throughout the state, including offices in Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Fort Lauderdale.

After you exhaust all nine Trial Work Period months, the SSA enters what is called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE)—a 36-month window during which your benefits can be reinstated quickly if your earnings drop below Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) levels. In 2024, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for those who are blind.

If your earnings exceed SGA during the EPE, the SSA will suspend and eventually terminate your benefits. If they fall below SGA, benefits can be reinstated without filing a new application—a significant protection for Florida recipients whose work may be seasonal or inconsistent.

Common Mistakes Florida SSDI Recipients Make

The Trial Work Period is designed to help you, but procedural errors can create serious financial problems. Below are the most frequent mistakes seen in Florida SSDI cases:

• Failing to report earnings promptly. Florida recipients sometimes assume the SSA will learn about income through IRS records and delay reporting. Late or missing reports can result in overpayments that must be repaid, sometimes totaling thousands of dollars.
• Misunderstanding what counts as a TWP month. Bonuses, back pay, and certain employer benefits can push a month's gross earnings above the threshold even if your regular wages would not. Gross—not net—income is what the SSA counts.
• Confusing the TWP with SGA rules. During the Trial Work Period, SGA limits do not apply. After the TWP ends, they do. Many recipients are confused about when this transition occurs and continue working under the assumption that their benefits are still protected.
• Not tracking TWP months used. Because the nine months occur within a rolling five-year window, recipients who worked briefly years ago may have already used some TWP months without realizing it. Request your complete earnings record from the SSA to get an accurate count.
• Overlooking work incentives that may reduce countable income. The SSA allows deductions for Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs)—costs like specialized transportation, medications, or assistive devices you need in order to work. These deductions can reduce your countable income below SGA thresholds.

Medicare Coverage During and After the Trial Work Period

One of the most valuable protections for Florida SSDI recipients who return to work is continued Medicare coverage. Even if your cash benefits are suspended after the Trial Work Period ends, Medicare continues for at least 93 months (approximately 7.5 years) from the month your TWP began—provided you remain disabled.

Florida's healthcare landscape makes this particularly important. Without Medicare, the cost of specialty care, prescription medications, and ongoing disability-related treatment could be prohibitive. If your Medicare coverage eventually ends and you still need it, you may be eligible to purchase Medicare Buy-In coverage, which allows certain working individuals with disabilities to pay a premium to maintain their coverage.

Florida also participates in the Medicaid Buy-In for Workers with Disabilities program, administered through the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). This program allows Floridians with disabilities who work to maintain Medicaid eligibility at a reduced premium, filling gaps that Medicare may not cover.

Expedited Reinstatement: A Critical Protection

If your benefits are terminated after the Extended Period of Eligibility and your condition later worsens or your employment ends, you may qualify for Expedited Reinstatement (EXR). Under EXR, you can request reinstatement without filing a completely new application—a significant advantage that can restore benefits in a fraction of the time a new claim would take.

To qualify, you must request EXR within five years of your termination, have the same or related disabling condition, and be unable to engage in SGA. During the up-to-six-month provisional benefit period while the SSA reviews your request, you receive temporary payments. If the reinstatement is denied, you generally do not have to repay those provisional benefits—an important financial safeguard.

For Florida residents navigating this process, documentation is critical. Keep records of all medical visits, employer correspondence, pay stubs, and SSA communications throughout your Trial Work Period and beyond. Florida's Social Security offices can experience processing delays, and a well-documented file speeds resolution considerably.

Steps to Protect Your Benefits While Testing Work

• Notify the SSA before you start working, not after your first paycheck arrives.
• Keep copies of all pay stubs and report earnings monthly, in writing when possible.
• Calculate and document all Impairment-Related Work Expenses with receipts.
• Request a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) from the SSA to get a complete picture of your current benefit status and TWP months used.
• Work with a Benefits Counselor certified through Florida's Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program—a free service that helps SSDI recipients understand how work affects their benefits.
• Consult a disability attorney if the SSA sends any notice of overpayment or benefit cessation. You have appeal rights, and many overpayment demands can be reduced or waived.

The Trial Work Period is one of the most underutilized tools in the Social Security system. Used correctly, it gives Florida disability recipients a genuine opportunity to rebuild their working lives without the all-or-nothing risk of losing income and healthcare simultaneously. The rules are complex and the stakes are high—but with the right guidance, the path forward is manageable.

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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