Automatic Determinations Substantial gainful activity Wage-indexed amounts |
Earnings trigger a trial work period
During a trial work period, a beneficiary receiving Social Security disability benefits on the basis of his or her own earnings history may test his or her ability to work and still be considered disabled. We do not consider services performed during the trial work period as showing that the disability has ended until services have been performed in at least 9 months (not necessarily consecutive) in a rolling 60-month period. In 2023, any month in which earnings exceed $1,050 is considered a month of services for an individual's trial work period. In 2024, this monthly amount increases to $1,110. The trial work period does not apply to SSI benefits.
Monthly earnings that trigger a trial work period
Year |
Monthly earnings |
1978 & prior |
$50 |
1979-1989 |
75 |
1990-2000 |
200 |
2001 |
530 |
2002 |
560 |
2003 |
570 |
2004 |
580 |
2005 |
590 |
2006 |
620 |
2007 |
640 |
2008 |
670 |
2009 |
700 |
2010 |
720 |
2011 |
720 |
2012 |
720 |
2013 |
750 |
2014 |
770 |
2015 |
780 |
2016 |
810 |
2017 |
840 |
2018 |
850 |
2019 |
880 |
2020 |
910 |
2021 |
940 |
2022 |
970 |
2023 |
1,050 |
2024 |
1,110 |
For more information, please see section 404.1592 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Method used to determine earnings that trigger a trial work period
Monthly earnings in 2024, used to determine whether a month is part of a trial work period, is such amount for 2001 multiplied by the ratio of the national average wage index for 2022 to that for 1999, or, if larger, such amount for 2023 ($1,050). If the amount so calculated is not a multiple of $10, we round it to the nearest multiple of $10. Below are details on how we determined the latest amount.
Calculation details
Amounts in
formula |
2001 monthly earnings |
$530 |
1999 average wage index |
30,469.84 |
2022 average wage index |
63,795.13 |
Computation |
$530 times 63,795.13 divided by 30,469.84 equals $1,109.67, which rounds to $1,110 |
Higher amount |
$1,110 exceeds the amount for 2023, so the amount for 2024 is $1,110 |
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