SSDI Trial Work Period: Maryland Guide

Returning to work after a disabling condition can feel daunting, especially when you rely on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits to cover essential expenses. The Trial Work Period (TWP) is a federally mandated program that allows SSDI recipients to test their ability to work without immediately losing benefits. Maryland residents should understand exactly how this program operates — and the specific steps required to protect their benefits while exploring employment.

What Is the Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period gives SSDI beneficiaries the opportunity to work for up to nine months within a rolling 60-month window without triggering a cessation of benefits. During this period, you continue to receive your full SSDI payment regardless of how much you earn — as long as you report your work activity to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

A month counts as a Trial Work Period month in 2024 when your gross earnings exceed $1,110 or, if you are self-employed, when you work more than 80 hours in that month. The nine months do not need to be consecutive. Once you accumulate nine such months, your TWP is exhausted and SSA evaluates whether your earnings rise above Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) — $1,550 per month in 2024 for non-blind individuals.

It is critical to understand that the nine-month clock is not reset if you stop working. Those months are counted permanently within any 60-month rolling period. Many Maryland beneficiaries are surprised to discover they have used TWP months from years prior when re-entering the workforce.

What Happens After the Trial Work Period Ends?

Once your nine Trial Work Period months are exhausted, SSA enters what is called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). This 36-month window begins the month after your TWP ends. During the EPE, SSA monitors your earnings each month against the SGA threshold.

• If your earnings fall below SGA, you continue receiving your full SSDI benefit for that month.
• If your earnings rise above SGA, SSA will suspend your benefit for that month.
• If you stop working or drop below SGA during the EPE, benefits can be reinstated quickly without filing a new application.

After the 36-month EPE concludes, any month in which you earn above SGA will result in termination of your SSDI benefits. At that point, if your condition worsens and you must stop working, you would need to apply under Expedited Reinstatement — a separate process with its own requirements and time limits.

Maryland-Specific Considerations for Working SSDI Recipients

Maryland does not administer SSDI — it is a federal program run through the SSA's Baltimore field offices and managed nationally. However, several state-level programs intersect meaningfully with the Trial Work Period for Maryland residents.

Maryland's Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) provides vocational rehabilitation services that can assist SSDI recipients in transitioning back to work. Participating in an approved DORS vocational rehabilitation plan may allow benefits to continue even if you exceed SGA, under an exception known as the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). Approved work expenses under a PASS plan are deducted from countable earnings, potentially keeping you below the SGA threshold.

Maryland also operates the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) program. MAWD allows individuals with disabilities who work to retain Medicaid coverage even after SSDI benefits end. This is particularly relevant because Medicare coverage tied to SSDI continues for 93 months after the Trial Work Period begins — a safety net that overlaps with both the TWP and EPE. Maryland residents should coordinate MAWD enrollment in advance of a potential benefits cessation to avoid gaps in healthcare coverage.

Reporting Requirements and Common Mistakes

Failing to properly report work activity to SSA is one of the most consequential mistakes SSDI recipients make during the Trial Work Period. SSA cross-references earnings with IRS and state wage data, and unreported income can result in overpayment demands — sometimes totaling thousands of dollars — even years after the fact.

Maryland SSDI recipients should follow these reporting steps:

• Report work activity immediately when you start a new job, even if you believe earnings will stay below the TWP threshold.
• Submit pay stubs or self-employment income records monthly to your local SSA field office or through your My Social Security online account.
• Report any Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) — costs for items like medications, transportation adaptations, or assistive technology required specifically for you to work. Maryland residents can deduct IRWEs from gross earnings when SSA calculates SGA.
• Keep copies of all correspondence with SSA and document every interaction with a date and representative name.

If SSA sends a notice of overpayment, do not ignore it. Maryland beneficiaries have the right to request a waiver of overpayment if the overpayment was not your fault and repayment would cause financial hardship. You must file Form SSA-632 within 30 days of the overpayment notice to preserve this right.

Protecting Your Benefits During the Trial Work Period

The Trial Work Period exists to encourage re-employment, but navigating it without a clear strategy carries significant financial risk. Several proactive steps help Maryland SSDI recipients protect their benefits throughout the process.

First, request a benefits planning consultation through Maryland's Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program before accepting employment. Certified Benefits Counselors can produce a written analysis of how your specific earnings will affect your SSDI, SSI (if applicable), Medicare, and Medicaid benefits — often revealing options that would have otherwise been overlooked.

Second, track your TWP months carefully. Because SSA's records are not always current, you should maintain your own log of months in which you earned above the TWP threshold going back five years. Discrepancies between your records and SSA's can be corrected through a written request with supporting documentation.

Third, understand that ticket assignment under the Ticket to Work program may pause the CDR (Continuing Disability Review) clock while you are in vocational rehabilitation or working with an Employment Network. Many Maryland SSDI recipients participate in Ticket to Work through DORS or a private Employment Network without realizing the CDR protection it affords.

Finally, if you are approaching the end of your Trial Work Period and are uncertain whether your earnings will exceed SGA, consult with a disability attorney before the Extended Period of Eligibility begins. Decisions made during the EPE have long-term consequences that are difficult to reverse.

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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