SSDI Trial Work Period in Oklahoma

Returning to work after a disabling condition is a goal many Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients share. The Social Security Administration (SSA) built the Trial Work Period (TWP) specifically to support that goal — allowing Oklahoma beneficiaries to test their ability to work without immediately losing their monthly disability benefits. Understanding exactly how this program works can mean the difference between a successful return to employment and an unexpected loss of income.

What Is the Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period is a federally governed provision that applies equally to SSDI recipients in Oklahoma and every other state. During the TWP, you can perform substantial services in self-employment or work for an employer and still receive your full SSDI benefit, regardless of how much you earn — as long as you continue to have a disabling impairment.

The TWP lasts for nine months, but those months do not have to be consecutive. The SSA looks back over a rolling 60-month (five-year) window to count your trial work months. Any month in which your gross earnings exceed the TWP threshold counts as one of those nine months. For 2024, that threshold is $1,110 per month. For self-employed individuals, working more than 80 hours in a month triggers a trial work month regardless of net profit.

Once you use all nine trial work months within that 60-month window, the TWP ends and your benefits enter a different phase of SSA's work incentive rules.

What Happens After the Trial Work Period Ends

When your nine trial work months are exhausted, the SSA evaluates whether your work activity constitutes Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). In 2024, SGA is defined as earning more than $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals, or $2,590 per month for individuals who are statutorily blind.

If your earnings exceed the SGA level after the TWP, your SSDI benefits will be suspended — not immediately terminated. You then enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, your benefits can be reinstated in any month your earnings drop below SGA without the need to file a new application. This grace period is an essential safety net for Oklahoma workers whose conditions may fluctuate.

After the EPE ends, if you are still earning above SGA, SSA will formally terminate your SSDI benefits. At that point, if your condition worsens within five years, you may be eligible for Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) — a faster path back to benefits than filing a brand-new disability claim.

Reporting Work Activity in Oklahoma

Oklahoma SSDI recipients are required to report any work activity — including part-time or trial work — to the SSA promptly. Failure to report earnings is one of the most common causes of overpayments, which the SSA will demand be repaid, sometimes in substantial lump sums. You can report work activity through several channels:

• Calling your local SSA field office (Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Lawton, and others across the state)
• Using the My Social Security online portal at ssa.gov
• Mailing written notice to the SSA with supporting pay stubs
• Contacting SSA's national line at 1-800-772-1213

Keep copies of every document you submit. Oklahoma recipients who work with an attorney or benefits counselor often avoid reporting errors that lead to costly overpayments.

Work Incentives That Support Oklahoma Workers

The TWP does not stand alone. The SSA provides additional work incentives that Oklahoma beneficiaries should know:

• Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs): Costs you pay out-of-pocket for items or services needed to work because of your disability — such as specialized transportation, assistive technology, or certain medications — can be deducted from your gross earnings when SSA calculates whether you are performing SGA.
• Subsidies and Special Conditions: If your employer provides extra assistance or supervision beyond what a non-disabled worker would need, SSA may reduce the earnings amount they count toward SGA.
• Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS): Allows you to set aside income or resources toward a work goal, potentially qualifying you for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) while pursuing employment.
• Ticket to Work: A free SSA program connecting Oklahoma recipients with approved Employment Networks and State Vocational Rehabilitation services. Participating in Ticket to Work can also protect you from continuing disability reviews while you are making timely progress toward employment goals.

Oklahoma's Vocational Rehabilitation services, administered through the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), can work alongside these federal incentives to provide job training, placement, and assistive technology at little or no cost to eligible individuals.

Common Mistakes Oklahoma Recipients Should Avoid

Even well-intentioned SSDI recipients make mistakes during the Trial Work Period that create long-term problems. Understanding what to avoid is just as important as knowing your rights.

Assuming earnings automatically stop benefits. Many recipients quit a job or refuse a promotion believing they will lose benefits immediately. In reality, the TWP is designed so that moderate, exploratory work does not trigger benefit termination. Giving up income you are entitled to earn is unnecessary.

Failing to document all expenses. Impairment-Related Work Expenses must be documented with receipts and medical records demonstrating the necessity. Without documentation, SSA will not reduce the earnings figure used in the SGA determination.

Not tracking trial work months. Since months accumulate over a five-year rolling window, an Oklahoma recipient who worked briefly several years ago may have already used some TWP months without realizing it. Request your complete earnings record from SSA and confirm how many trial work months remain.

Missing the Expedited Reinstatement window. If benefits are terminated after the EPE and your condition worsens, you have only 60 months from termination to request EXR. Missing that window means starting the full disability application process over from scratch.

Oklahoma SSDI recipients navigating the Trial Work Period face a genuinely complex regulatory framework. The stakes — your monthly income, your Medicare continuation, and your long-term financial stability — are too high to navigate alone based on general information. A Social Security disability attorney familiar with Oklahoma practice can help you document work activity correctly, calculate remaining TWP months, and respond appropriately if SSA initiates a Continuing Disability Review or overpayment notice during your return-to-work effort.

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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