SSDI Trial Work Period: Indiana Guide

Returning to work after a disability is a goal many Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients share, but the fear of losing benefits stops most from trying. The Trial Work Period (TWP) is a federal program provision that allows SSDI recipients in Indiana—and across the country—to test their ability to work without immediately losing monthly cash benefits. Understanding how this provision works, and how Indiana recipients can use it strategically, can make the difference between financial stability and an unexpected benefits crisis.

What Is the SSDI Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period is a nine-month window during which an SSDI beneficiary can work and earn any amount of income without it affecting their disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not count Trial Work Period months against your benefit eligibility as long as you continue to have a disabling impairment.

These nine months do not need to be consecutive. The SSA looks at a rolling 60-month window—five years—and counts any month within that period in which you earned above the monthly threshold as a Trial Work Period month. Once you accumulate nine such months within that 60-month window, your Trial Work Period is exhausted.

For 2024, the Trial Work Period earnings threshold is $1,110 per month. Any month you earn at least this amount counts as one of your nine Trial Work Period months. Self-employed individuals are evaluated differently—the SSA may look at hours worked or net earnings, applying a threshold of 80 hours of self-employment per month as an alternative measure.

How Indiana SSDI Recipients Use the Trial Work Period

Indiana SSDI recipients should understand that the Trial Work Period is designed to encourage, not penalize, attempts to re-enter the workforce. If you receive SSDI and find part-time or full-time employment in Indiana, you are entitled to continue receiving your full monthly benefit check throughout all nine Trial Work Period months, regardless of how much you earn.

This means an Indiana recipient earning $3,500 per month at a new job can simultaneously receive their SSDI monthly payment for each of the nine Trial Work Period months. There is no offset, no reduction, and no penalty during this window.

Practically, Indiana recipients should:

• Report all work activity and earnings to the SSA promptly each month
• Keep records of pay stubs, employer names, and dates worked
• Track how many Trial Work Period months have been used within the current 60-month window
• Notify SSA if employment ends before the nine months are exhausted
• Contact the Indiana Disability Determination Bureau if questions arise about how work activity is being evaluated

Failing to report earnings is one of the most common mistakes Indiana SSDI recipients make. Unreported work activity can trigger an overpayment determination, requiring you to repay months of benefits—sometimes years after the fact.

What Happens After the Trial Work Period Ends

Once you exhaust all nine Trial Work Period months, the SSA enters what is called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). This is a 36-month window immediately following the end of the Trial Work Period. During the EPE, the critical question becomes whether your earnings constitute Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).

For 2024, SGA is defined as earning more than $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals, or $2,590 per month for blind individuals. During the 36-month EPE, any month you earn below the SGA threshold, you are entitled to receive your full SSDI benefit. Any month your earnings exceed SGA, your benefit is suspended—but not terminated.

This distinction is critical for Indiana beneficiaries. If you experience a medical setback or lose your job during the EPE and your earnings drop below SGA, benefits can be reinstated without filing a new application. After the EPE concludes, however, earning above SGA can result in termination of SSDI entitlement, and reinstatement becomes more complex.

Indiana recipients who believe their disability prevents them from maintaining SGA-level work should document medical evidence carefully during and after the Trial Work Period. A worsening condition or new functional limitations can support a continued finding of disability even when some work attempts are made.

Expedited Reinstatement: A Safety Net for Indiana Workers

Indiana SSDI recipients who have their benefits terminated due to SGA-level earnings have access to an important protection called Expedited Reinstatement (EXR). If your benefits were terminated within the past five years because of work and earnings, and you again become unable to work due to the same or a related disability, you can request reinstatement without filing a brand-new disability application.

During the EXR request period, SSA can provide up to six months of provisional payments while your case is reviewed. This is a significant safety net for Indiana workers who attempt a return to the workforce and discover their condition prevents them from sustaining employment.

To qualify for EXR in Indiana, you must:

• Have had SSDI terminated due to SGA-level work
• Request reinstatement within 60 months of the termination month
• Demonstrate that your disability—or a related condition—is again preventing substantial work
• File your reinstatement request with your local Indiana SSA field office or online through SSA.gov

Practical Steps for Indiana SSDI Recipients Returning to Work

Before accepting employment, Indiana SSDI recipients should take several concrete steps to protect their benefits and avoid costly errors.

First, contact the SSA to request your current benefit payment status and confirm how many Trial Work Period months, if any, you have already used within the past 60 months. Many Indiana recipients are unaware that part-time work years earlier may have already consumed some of their Trial Work Period allotment.

Second, consider working with Indiana's Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program through the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. VR services can provide job training, placement support, and employer coordination—all of which can smooth the transition back to the workforce while maintaining your medical coverage and SSDI eligibility.

Third, understand that Medicare coverage continues for at least 93 months after the Trial Work Period begins, even if SSDI cash benefits are eventually suspended or terminated due to SGA. This Extended Medicare Coverage is a significant financial protection for Indiana beneficiaries managing ongoing medical conditions while working.

Finally, document everything. Keep a detailed log of your work activity, earnings, medical appointments, and any communications with SSA. If SSA later claims an overpayment or disputes your work history, your records are your best defense.

The Trial Work Period is one of the most valuable—and most misunderstood—provisions in federal disability law. Used correctly, it gives Indiana SSDI recipients a meaningful opportunity to test their capacity to work without gambling their benefits. Used carelessly, it can lead to unexpected overpayments, benefit suspensions, or complex reinstatement proceedings that take months to resolve.

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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