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The SSDI Trial Work Period, Extended Eligibility, and Expedited Reinstatement

This guide presents selected U.S. government consumer education from Social Security Administration. References to “we” or “us” in the source material refer to the issuing agency. Source dates and links appear below.

Trial Work Period (TWP) (SSDI eligible)

How Does The TWP Help You?

The TWP allows you to test your ability to work for at least 9 months. During your TWP, you will receive full Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. You will receive them regardless of how high your earnings might be if you report your work activity, and you have a disabling impairment.

When Does The TWP Start?

Your TWP starts when you begin working and performing "services." We consider your work to be services for the TWP if your gross earnings are above the monthly threshold of $1,210 in 2026. We also consider your work to be services for the TWP if you work more than 80 hours in self-employment in a month. Your TWP cannot begin until the 1st month you are entitled to SSDI benefits, or the month you file for benefits, whichever is later.

What Happens When You Complete Your TWP?

After you complete your TWP, you begin your Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, we evaluate your work and earnings to decide if you can work at the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level.

What Else Do You Need To Know About The TWP?

  • You are not eligible for disability benefits or a TWP if you work at the SGA level within 12 months of the start of your impairment(s) and before we approve your claim for disability benefits. This is because your impairment does not meet our definition of disability.
  • We can consider medical evidence that might demonstrate your medical recovery at any time. Therefore, it is possible for your benefits to stop due to your medical recovery before the end of your TWP.
  • We will not conduct a continuing disability review if you are participating in the Ticket to Work program, and you are actively working on your employment goal with your Ticket provider.
  • Unsuccessful Work Attempts do not apply during the TWP.

Usually, we adjust the dollar amount of TWP "services" each year based on the national average wage index.

Does The TWP Apply To Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

No. A TWP does not apply to the SSI program.

Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) (SSDI eligible)

What Is The EPE?

The EPE begins the month after the Trial Work Period (TWP) ends, even if you are not working that month. The first 36 months of the EPE is the re-entitlement period.

How Does The EPE Help You?

During the 36-month re-entitlement period, you get benefits for all months your earnings or work activities are below the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level if you continue to have a disabling impairment. We suspend cash benefits for months your earnings are over the SGA level. If your earnings fall below the SGA level in the re-entitlement period, we can start your benefits again. (This is a different rule from Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) that we described earlier.)

What Happens The First Time You Work Above SGA?

The first time that you work above SGA in the EPE, we will decide that you no longer meet the requirements for disability due to work, and we say that your disability "ceased”. We will pay benefits for the month your disability ceased and the following 2 months. We call this the grace period. If your earnings fall below SGA and you are still in the 36-month re-entitlement period, we can restart your benefits without a new application.

Can You Continue To Receive Benefits After The 36-Month Re-Entitlement Period Ends?

If you are not working above SGA and are eligible for a benefit payment for the 37th month of the EPE, you will continue to receive benefits until you work a month at the SGA level or medically recover.

What Happens If You Work After The Re-Entitlement Period Ends?

Your benefits will end if you work above SGA after the 36-month re-entitlement period. However you may be able to start your benefits again if you stop work within the next 5 years (see EXR on EXPEDITED REINSTATEMENT.)

Do You Get An EPE Under Supplemental Security Income?

No. The EPE applies only to people who receive Social Security Disability Insurance cash benefits.

Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) (SSDI and SSI eligible)

What Is EXR?

EXR serves as a safety net for individuals who successfully return to work and, as a result, lose their entitlement to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and payments. If your benefits ended because of your work and earnings, and you stop working within 5 years of when your benefits ended, you may be able to have your benefits restarted immediately by requesting EXR.

How Does EXR Help You?

If you have stopped receiving benefits due to your work, we may be able to restart them. The EXR provision allows you to receive up to 6 months of temporary cash benefits while we conduct a medical review to decide if we can reinstate your benefits. You may also be eligible for Medicare and/or Medicaid during this provisional benefit period.

Who Can We Reinstate?

You are eligible to request EXR if you meet all the following requirements:

  • Your previous entitlement to SSDI benefits is terminated due to performance of substantial gainful activity (SGA); or your previous SSI disability or blindness eligibility terminated because of excess earned income or a combination of earned and unearned income.
  • You are unable or become unable to perform SGA in the month you apply for EXR.
  • You are unable to work at the SGA level due to your medical condition.
  • Your current medical impairment(s) is the same as, or related to, your original disabling impairment(s).
  • You request EXR within 5 years from the month your benefits stopped.

What Happens After My Request For Reinstatement Is Approved?

The month we reinstate your disability payments begins your initial reinstatement period (IRP). The IRP can last for 24 months (not necessarily consecutive) and ends when you have received 24 months of payable benefits. If you receive SSDI benefits, we can pay you for any month during the IRP that your earnings are not substantial gainful activity (SGA). If you receive SSI benefits, the normal income counting rules apply.

When Is The Irp Completed?

The IRP is completed when you have received a total of 24-months (not necessarily consecutive) of payable benefits.

What Happens After Completion Of The Irp?

If you receive SSDI benefits, you are entitled to:

  • A new 9-month trial work period.
  • A new 36-month extended period of eligibility.
  • A new 60-month period to file an EXR request if your reinstated benefits are stopped due to SGA.
  • A new period of extended Medicare coverage.

Sources and publication details

The federal agency source text is U.S. government work in the public domain. Fynoptic selected, adapted, and formatted it for this guide. No agency endorsement is implied. Follow the linked sources for current program details and the rules applicable to your circumstances.

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