SSDI Trial Work Period: Mississippi Guide

Returning to work after a disability can feel like a financial gamble. Social Security's Trial Work Period (TWP) is designed to remove that risk — giving Mississippi recipients the opportunity to test their ability to work without immediately losing their disability benefits. Understanding exactly how this program works, and how to navigate it without making costly mistakes, is essential for anyone considering a return to employment.

What Is the Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period is a federally administered program that allows SSDI recipients to work for up to nine months within a rolling 60-month window while continuing to receive full monthly disability benefits. Critically, those nine months do not need to be consecutive — they are tracked cumulatively over any five-year period.

During TWP months, Social Security does not evaluate whether your earnings are "substantial" under the normal rules. Your benefit checks continue regardless of how much you earn, as long as you remain medically disabled. This provision applies to every SSDI recipient in Mississippi and across the country, since SSDI is a federal program administered uniformly by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

For 2025, a month counts as a Trial Work Period month if your gross earnings exceed $1,110, or if you are self-employed and work more than 80 hours in that month. These thresholds are adjusted periodically for inflation, so Mississippi recipients should confirm the current figure with SSA or a disability attorney before returning to work.

How the 60-Month Window Works in Practice

The rolling 60-month rule is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the Trial Work Period, and misunderstanding it can cost Mississippi beneficiaries their benefits. SSA looks back over the past 60 consecutive months to count how many of those months qualify as Trial Work months. Once you accumulate nine qualifying months within that window, your TWP is exhausted.

Consider a practical example: A Mississippi resident receiving SSDI works briefly in 2022 for three months, stops, then attempts to return in 2024. Those earlier months still count toward the nine-month total. By 2025, some of the 2022 months may have rolled outside the 60-month window — but this requires careful calculation. Assuming months have expired when they have not is a frequent and serious error.

SSA should notify you when you have used all nine Trial Work months, but recipients cannot rely solely on that notification. Mississippi beneficiaries should independently track their qualifying months and contact SSA or a disability attorney if there is any uncertainty.

What Happens After the Trial Work Period Ends

Once the nine-month Trial Work Period is exhausted, SSA evaluates your earnings against the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold. In 2025, SGA is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for blind individuals. If your earnings exceed SGA, SSA will initiate a Continuing Disability Review and may terminate your benefits.

This transition leads into a separate protection called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which lasts 36 months following the end of your Trial Work Period. During the EPE, your benefits are reinstated automatically in any month your earnings fall below SGA — without having to file a new application. This safety net is particularly important for Mississippi workers in seasonal or inconsistent employment situations, such as those in agriculture, fishing, or construction.

If your earnings remain above SGA consistently after the EPE ends and benefits are terminated, you may still qualify for Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) within five years of termination if your condition worsens and forces you to stop working again.

Reporting Requirements for Mississippi SSDI Recipients

Mississippi SSDI recipients are legally obligated to report all work activity to SSA, regardless of whether earnings exceed the monthly threshold. Failure to report — even unintentionally — can result in overpayments that SSA will seek to recover, sometimes years later. These overpayments can reach thousands of dollars and create significant financial hardship.

Required reporting includes:

• Starting any new job, including part-time or temporary work
• Changes in pay rate or hours worked
• Self-employment activity, including gig work and freelance income
• Receipt of employer-provided benefits such as health insurance or sick pay
• Use of a ticket through the Ticket to Work program

Mississippi recipients can report work activity by calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213, visiting a local SSA office (Mississippi has field offices in Jackson, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, Tupelo, and other cities), or through your My Social Security online account. Documenting every report — including the date, time, and name of the SSA representative — provides critical protection if a dispute arises later.

Strategic Considerations for Mississippi Workers

The Trial Work Period is a genuine opportunity, but it requires deliberate planning. Several factors specific to Mississippi's employment landscape deserve attention.

Mississippi has a higher-than-average rate of employment in physically demanding sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare support. Workers returning to these fields should carefully evaluate whether their disabling condition truly allows sustained employment — a few successful Trial Work months does not necessarily mean continued full-time work is medically feasible.

Mississippi also has one of the lowest median household incomes in the nation. For many SSDI recipients, even part-time wages may push earnings close to — but not over — the SGA threshold. This "benefits cliff" can create difficult decisions. Working slightly more hours could eliminate disability benefits worth more than the additional wages earned. Benefits counseling through Mississippi's WIPA (Work Incentives Planning and Assistance) program, operated through the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, provides free guidance on exactly these calculations.

Individuals receiving both SSDI and Medicaid should be aware that returning to work may affect Medicaid eligibility separately from the cash benefit analysis. Mississippi has not adopted Medicaid expansion, which limits coverage options for working-age adults, making loss of Medicaid-linked medical coverage a serious risk for those with ongoing treatment needs.

Finally, if you disagree with SSA's determination about Trial Work Period months — including a finding that your TWP is exhausted or that your earnings constitute SGA — you have the right to appeal. In Mississippi, the administrative appeals process follows the same four-level structure as other states: reconsideration, hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), Appeals Council review, and federal district court. Time limits are strict: most appeals must be filed within 60 days of receiving SSA's written notice.

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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