SSDI Trial Work Period Rules in Wyoming

Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits does not mean you are permanently barred from attempting to return to work. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a structured opportunity called the Trial Work Period (TWP) that allows beneficiaries to test their ability to work without immediately losing their monthly payments. For Wyoming residents navigating this process, understanding the specific mechanics of the TWP can mean the difference between a successful return to work and an unexpected loss of critical income.

What Is the Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period is a federal program provision that gives SSDI recipients up to nine months to work and earn income while continuing to receive full disability benefits, regardless of how much they earn during those months. These nine months do not need to be consecutive—they are counted within any rolling 60-month (five-year) window.

A month counts as a Trial Work Period service month when your gross earnings exceed a threshold set by the SSA. For 2024, that threshold is $1,110 per month. If you are self-employed, the SSA looks at either your net earnings or the number of hours you work—typically more than 80 hours in a month triggers a TWP service month.

During all nine of those service months, your SSDI check keeps arriving. The SSA is explicitly giving you a runway to figure out whether you can sustain meaningful employment before making any benefit determinations.

What Happens After the Trial Work Period Ends in Wyoming

Once you have used all nine Trial Work Period months, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, the SSA evaluates your earnings against the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold—$1,550 per month in 2024 for non-blind individuals.

• If your earnings fall below SGA in any month during the EPE, you receive your full SSDI benefit for that month.
• If your earnings are at or above SGA, benefits are suspended for that month.
• If your earnings drop back below SGA within the EPE, benefits can be reinstated without filing a new application.

After the 36-month EPE concludes, any month in which you earn above SGA results in termination of SSDI benefits. At that point, re-enrollment requires a new application or an Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) request if your condition worsens within five years of termination.

Wyoming does not have a state-administered supplement to federal SSDI, so there is no separate state-level trial work process to track. Your case is handled entirely through the SSA's Denver Region office, which serves Wyoming claimants.

Reporting Work Activity: Wyoming Recipients Must Act Promptly

One of the most consequential obligations during the Trial Work Period is timely reporting. Wyoming SSDI recipients must notify the SSA of any work activity as soon as it begins. Failure to report promptly can result in overpayments—situations where the SSA continues paying benefits it later determines you were not entitled to receive, then demands repayment, often with interest.

You can report work activity through several channels:

• Calling the SSA's national line at 1-800-772-1213
• Visiting your local Wyoming SSA field office (Cheyenne, Casper, Gillette, Rock Springs, or Riverton)
• Using the my Social Security online portal at ssa.gov
• Submitting written notice to your assigned SSA office

Keep meticulous records—pay stubs, bank statements, tax documents, and any correspondence with the SSA. Wyoming claimants who face an overpayment demand have the right to request a waiver or appeal the finding, but documentation is essential to that process.

Ticket to Work and Wyoming Vocational Rehabilitation

Wyoming SSDI recipients can pair the Trial Work Period with the SSA's Ticket to Work program, which connects beneficiaries with Employment Networks (ENs) and vocational rehabilitation services at no cost. Participating in Ticket to Work also provides certain protections against Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs) while you are making timely progress toward employment goals.

The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Vocational Rehabilitation program is an approved Employment Network under Ticket to Work. Wyoming VR can assist with job training, assistive technology, education funding, and workplace accommodations—services that can be critical for individuals returning to work with a disabling condition. VR services in Wyoming are available statewide, including in rural areas through regional offices and remote consultation.

Using these resources does not accelerate or trigger the end of your Trial Work Period. The nine months run based on your actual earnings activity, not your enrollment in vocational programs.

Common Mistakes That Cost Wyoming Claimants Benefits

The Trial Work Period rules contain several traps that cause unnecessary benefit terminations or overpayment demands for Wyoming recipients.

• Failing to track TWP months: Because the nine months can be scattered across a five-year window, claimants often lose count. Request your earnings and benefit records from the SSA to verify how many service months have been used.
• Confusing TWP thresholds with SGA: During the TWP, the relevant threshold is lower than SGA. Earning $1,200 per month still triggers a service month even though it is below the SGA level for benefit suspension during the EPE.
• Assuming disability status is automatic: Working during the TWP does not guarantee that a subsequent CDR will find you still disabled. A Continuing Disability Review may occur concurrently, and evidence of improved medical condition can end benefits independently of work activity.
• Not appealing overpayment notices: Wyoming claimants who receive an overpayment notice have 60 days to request reconsideration. Missing that deadline significantly limits options for waiver or correction.
• Overlooking impairment-related work expenses (IRWEs): Costs you pay out-of-pocket for items that allow you to work—such as prescription medications, adaptive equipment, or transportation for a disability-related need—can be deducted from gross earnings when the SSA calculates whether you have reached SGA. Many Wyoming claimants leave money on the table by not claiming IRWEs.

The Trial Work Period is one of the most misunderstood provisions in SSDI law. Its mechanics interact with the Extended Period of Eligibility, Continuing Disability Reviews, and overpayment rules in ways that can have serious financial consequences if navigated without a clear understanding of each step. Wyoming residents who attempt to return to work while receiving SSDI deserve accurate guidance before and throughout that process.

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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