SSDI Trial Work Period: Wisconsin Guide

Returning to work after receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits is a significant step—and a complicated one. The Trial Work Period (TWP) is a federal program that allows SSDI beneficiaries to test their ability to work without immediately losing benefits. For Wisconsin residents navigating this process, understanding exactly how the TWP works, what triggers it, and how to protect your benefits is essential before taking that first paycheck.

What Is the Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period gives SSDI recipients up to nine months to attempt substantial employment while continuing to receive full disability benefits—regardless of how much you earn during those months. These nine months do not need to be consecutive; they are counted within a rolling 60-month (5-year) window.

A month counts as a TWP month when your gross earnings exceed the monthly threshold set by the Social Security Administration (SSA). For 2024, that threshold is $1,110 per month. If you are self-employed, the SSA looks at either earnings over that amount or work in excess of 80 hours in a month.

During all nine TWP months, your SSDI payments continue in full. The SSA does not reduce or suspend benefits based on earnings during this window—even if you earn significantly more than the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit, which in 2024 is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals.

What Happens After the Trial Work Period Ends

Once you exhaust all nine TWP months, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During the EPE, the SSA evaluates 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 exceed SGA, your benefits are suspended—but not permanently terminated right away.
• If your earnings drop below SGA again within the EPE, benefits can be reinstated quickly without filing a new application.

After the EPE ends, if you are still working above SGA, your SSDI case is closed. Reinstatement becomes more difficult and may require reapplying entirely. Wisconsin claimants should carefully track their TWP months and EPE status, as errors in SSA record-keeping do occur and can result in wrongful overpayment notices.

Wisconsin-Specific Considerations

Wisconsin residents have access to state-level resources that can help during the TWP. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), operated through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, provides employment support services to people with disabilities—including job placement, training, and assistive technology. Using DVR services does not jeopardize your SSDI benefits during the TWP.

Wisconsin also participates in the Ticket to Work program, a free federal initiative that connects SSDI recipients with Employment Networks (ENs) and State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies. Assigning your Ticket to Work to an EN or DVR during the TWP suspends continuing disability reviews (CDRs), providing additional protection while you work toward self-sufficiency.

Additionally, Wisconsin's BadgerCare Plus Medicaid program offers continued health coverage options for SSDI recipients who return to work. Federal law under Section 1619(b) also allows individuals to retain Medicaid eligibility even after SSDI cash benefits stop, provided earnings remain below Wisconsin's individualized threshold—a critical safety net for beneficiaries with high medical costs.

Common Mistakes That Can Cost You Benefits

Many SSDI recipients in Wisconsin inadvertently trigger problems during or after the TWP by making avoidable errors. The most serious include:

• Failing to report work activity to the SSA. You are legally required to report any work, including part-time or self-employment, to your local SSA field office. Failure to report can result in overpayment demands—sometimes years later.
• Misunderstanding what counts as a TWP month. Gross earnings, not net, determine whether a month counts. Tips, bonuses, and commissions all count toward your monthly total.
• Not tracking months within the 60-month window. Because months need not be consecutive, it is easy to lose track. Request your earnings history from SSA annually to verify the record.
• Working above SGA immediately after the TWP without a plan. Without a clear understanding of the EPE, some beneficiaries are caught off guard when benefits suddenly suspend after month nine.
• Assuming the TWP applies to SSI. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) operates under completely different work incentive rules. If you receive both SSDI and SSI, they are tracked separately.

Practical Steps Before You Return to Work

Before accepting employment or increasing work hours, Wisconsin SSDI recipients should take deliberate steps to protect their benefits and plan strategically:

• Contact your local SSA field office in Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and other cities have offices—and inform them of your intent to work before your first paycheck.
• Request a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) from SSA. This document summarizes your current benefit status, TWP months used, and EPE timeline. It is free and essential for planning.
• Consult a Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) counselor. Wisconsin has WIPA providers who offer free benefits counseling specifically for SSDI recipients considering work.
• Keep detailed records of your monthly gross earnings, hours worked, and all communications with SSA. Should a dispute arise, documentation is your primary defense.
• Understand Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs). Costs directly related to your disability that allow you to work—such as specialized transportation, medications, or assistive devices—can be deducted from your gross earnings when SSA calculates whether you are performing SGA.

Returning to work is a positive step, and federal law was designed to encourage it. The TWP exists specifically so you are not forced to choose between employment and the security of your benefits. With proper planning and accurate reporting, Wisconsin SSDI recipients can test their work capacity without putting years of benefits at unnecessary risk.

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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