SSDI Trial Work Period in New Jersey

Returning to work after a disabling condition can feel like a gamble with your Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. The Social Security Administration addresses this concern through the Trial Work Period (TWP) — a federally mandated protection that allows SSDI recipients to test their ability to work without immediately losing their monthly benefits. Understanding how this program works, and the specific realities of navigating it in New Jersey, 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 60-month window during which an SSDI recipient can work and earn wages without those earnings affecting their disability benefits. You continue to receive your full monthly SSDI payment regardless of how much you earn — as long as you report your work activity and remain medically disabled under SSA's definition.

Each month in which your gross earnings exceed a set threshold counts as one Trial Work Period month. For 2024, that threshold is $1,110 per month. You are entitled to nine Trial Work Period months within any rolling 60-month period. These nine months do not have to be consecutive. Once you have used all nine months, the Trial Work Period ends and your benefits enter a different phase.

It is critical to understand that the TWP does not evaluate whether your work is substantial — it only counts months where earnings exceed the trigger amount. Even if you work a few hours and exceed the threshold, that month counts toward your nine.

What Happens After the Trial Work Period Ends

When your nine Trial Work Period months are exhausted, SSA conducts a review to determine whether your earnings constitute Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). For 2024, SGA for non-blind individuals is $1,550 per month. If your earnings exceed SGA, SSA will find that your disability has ceased and will terminate your benefits — but not immediately.

Following the TWP, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During this window, your benefits are paid in any month your earnings fall below the SGA threshold. In months where you earn above SGA, benefits are suspended rather than terminated outright. This provides a meaningful safety net if your work attempt fails or your condition worsens.

New Jersey residents should be aware that state-level disability programs — such as New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) — operate separately from the federal TWP. Participation in a DVRS employment support program does not count against your TWP months and may actually help you document work accommodations that support your ongoing disability claim.

Reporting Work Activity in New Jersey

One of the most common mistakes SSDI recipients in New Jersey make is failing to promptly report work activity to SSA. The SSA field offices serving New Jersey — including offices in Newark, Trenton, Camden, and Hackensack — process thousands of disability cases, and unreported earnings are a leading cause of overpayments that claimants are later required to repay.

You are legally obligated to report the following to SSA:

• Starting a new job or self-employment
• Any changes in pay rate or hours worked
• Stopping work for any reason
• Receiving sick pay, vacation pay, or bonuses
• Any changes to work-related expenses related to your disability

Reports can be made by calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local New Jersey SSA office, or submitting documentation through your My Social Security online account. Keep copies of every pay stub, letter, and communication with SSA. In disputes over overpayments or benefit terminations, documentation is everything.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses and New Jersey Considerations

New Jersey workers returning to employment often incur disability-related costs that can reduce their countable earnings for SGA purposes. The SSA allows you to deduct Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) from your gross wages before determining whether you have crossed the SGA threshold.

IRWEs that SSA recognizes include:

• Prescription medications necessary for you to work
• Medical devices such as wheelchairs or prosthetics used on the job
• Transportation costs due to your disability (beyond standard commuting)
• Attendant care services needed at the workplace
• Modifications to a vehicle required because of your condition

New Jersey's high cost of living and medical expenses mean that IRWEs can be particularly significant. A claimant in Bergen or Morris County paying for specialized medical transport or home health aides may be able to deduct hundreds of dollars per month, keeping their countable earnings below the SGA threshold even while working meaningful hours.

Additionally, New Jersey's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services can fund assistive technology and workplace accommodations. Costs paid by DVRS on your behalf may not qualify as IRWEs since you did not incur the expense, but the supports themselves can make sustained employment more viable and help you preserve your benefits longer.

Protecting Your Rights If SSA Terminates Your Benefits

If SSA determines that your TWP is exhausted and your earnings exceed SGA, you will receive a Cessation Notice. You have the right to appeal this determination. Filing a timely appeal — generally within 60 days of receiving the notice — is essential. If you appeal within 10 days of the notice date and request continuation of benefits, SSA must generally continue paying you during the appeal process.

The appeals process for New Jersey claimants moves through four levels: Reconsideration, Administrative Law Judge hearing, Appeals Council review, and federal court. Many cessation cases are overturned at the ALJ level, particularly when a claimant can demonstrate that their work attempt failed due to the same disabling condition, that earnings were misclassified, or that valid IRWEs were not properly credited.

New Jersey claimants also have access to Ticket to Work program providers throughout the state. Assigning your Ticket to an Employment Network or DVRS pauses SSA's continuing disability reviews while you pursue employment, giving you additional protection during the work attempt process.

The intersection of federal SSDI rules and New Jersey's state employment landscape creates both opportunities and pitfalls. Acting quickly, reporting accurately, and documenting every step of your return-to-work effort gives you the strongest possible position to protect the benefits you have earned.

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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