Substantial Gainful Activity and Trial Work period

SSD Claimant - Trial Work Period

Our Social Security Disability team is here to help you with your claim. For guidance on how to secure benefits, we welcome you to connect with our office for a free initial consultation.

I was recently asked about the rules regarding work for people on Social Security Disability. If you are on SSD, you can earn up to $810, gross, per month, and not affect your benefits. You can make more than $810 per month, for a period of 9 total months in a 5 year window, without affecting your benefits. The 9 months need not be in a row, just 9 months in the 5 year period. This is called a “Trial Work Period.”

Once you have used up the 9 month trial work period, SSA will look to your earnings to see if you have been doing “substantial gainful activity” or SGA. For 2016, SGA means gross earnings over $1,130 or more per month. If you make $1,130 or more, your benefits will stop.

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