SSDI Trial Work Period in Maryland Explained

Returning to work after a disabling condition is a goal many Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients share, but the fear of losing hard-earned benefits stops many from even trying. The Social Security Administration (SSA) addresses this concern through the Trial Work Period (TWP) — a protected window that allows Maryland SSDI recipients to test their ability to work without immediately forfeiting their monthly benefits. Understanding exactly how this program works can make the difference between a confident return to employment and a costly misstep.

What Is the SSDI Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period is a federal SSA program that gives SSDI beneficiaries up to nine months to attempt substantial work while continuing to receive full disability benefits, regardless of how much money they earn during those months. This protection applies as long as you remain medically disabled and report your work activity to the SSA.

A key detail many Maryland claimants overlook: those nine months do not have to be consecutive. The SSA counts any month in which you earn above a set threshold — called a Trial Work Period service month — and tracks those months within a rolling 60-month (five-year) window. In 2024, a month counts as a TWP service month if your gross earnings exceed $1,110 (this figure adjusts annually for inflation).

Once you have used all nine TWP service months, the SSA conducts a review to determine whether your work constitutes Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). In 2024, the SGA threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals. If your earnings exceed the SGA limit after your TWP is exhausted, the SSA can terminate your benefits — but not before a subsequent protection period kicks in.

The 36-Month Extended Period of Eligibility

Maryland recipients often do not realize that important protections continue even after the Trial Work Period ends. Following the completion of your nine TWP months, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During this window, your SSDI benefits are not automatically cut off. Instead, the SSA evaluates your earnings each month:

• If you earn below SGA, you receive your full SSDI benefit for that month.
• If you earn above SGA, the SSA will not pay benefits for that month.
• If your earnings drop below SGA again during the EPE, your benefits can be reinstated without filing a new application.

This built-in flexibility is designed to accommodate the reality of disability — some months you may be able to work significantly; others you may not. The EPE acts as a safety net during what can be an unpredictable transition back to employment.

Reporting Requirements for Maryland SSDI Recipients

The TWP only protects you if you comply with your reporting obligations. The SSA requires SSDI recipients to promptly report any work activity, changes in earnings, and changes in medical condition. Failure to report can result in overpayments that the SSA will demand you repay — often with interest and, in cases of willful nondisclosure, civil or criminal penalties.

Maryland SSDI recipients should report work to the SSA through one or more of the following methods:

• Calling the SSA's national toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213
• Visiting the Baltimore Social Security field office or another local Maryland SSA office in person
• Using the SSA's online my Social Security portal at ssa.gov
• Reporting through your assigned benefits counselor if you work with a Maryland ABLE or Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program

Maryland is served by several SSA field offices, including locations in Baltimore, Towson, Silver Spring, Rockville, and Annapolis. If you are uncertain where to report or how to document your earnings correctly, a disability attorney familiar with Maryland SSA offices can help you navigate the process without error.

Special Rules: Impairment-Related Work Expenses and Subsidies

Maryland workers returning to employment with a disability may incur costs directly tied to their impairment — specialized transportation, prescription medications, adaptive equipment, or a job coach. The SSA allows you to deduct these costs, known as Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs), from your gross earnings when calculating whether you have reached SGA. This means your countable income for SGA purposes may be lower than your actual paycheck, potentially keeping you under the SGA threshold even when you earn more.

Similarly, if an employer provides extra support or supervision beyond what a non-disabled worker would need — called a subsidy — the SSA may reduce the countable value of your wages. Documenting IRWEs and employer subsidies properly is critical and often requires careful coordination with your employer and the SSA.

What Happens After the Extended Period of Eligibility in Maryland?

If your SSDI benefits terminate because you exceeded SGA after the EPE, you are not permanently without recourse. The SSA offers Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) — a provision allowing former SSDI recipients whose benefits ended due to work to request reinstatement within five years of termination without filing a new disability application. During the EXR review process, the SSA can provide up to six months of provisional benefits while it evaluates your request.

For Maryland residents whose condition has worsened or who are no longer able to maintain substantial employment, EXR can be a lifeline that restores income support far more quickly than starting over with a new application — a process that often takes two years or more when appeals are required.

It is also worth noting that returning to work during the TWP does not affect your Medicare coverage. SSDI recipients continue to receive Medicare for at least 93 months (nearly eight years) after the Trial Work Period begins, providing critical health coverage even if cash benefits eventually stop.

The intersection of return-to-work rules, earnings thresholds, and benefit calculation formulas is genuinely complex. Maryland workers who misjudge a service month, fail to document an IRWE, or misunderstand the SGA calculation can face unexpected overpayments or wrongful benefit terminations. An experienced disability attorney can review your specific earnings history, help you document work incentives correctly, and represent you before the SSA if a dispute arises.

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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