The monthly earnings level SSA uses to decide whether your work is significant enough to indicate you are no longer disabled. If your adjusted earnings exceed the SGA threshold for a given month, SSA considers that a month of substantial work. The threshold is adjusted annually and is higher for people with statutory blindness.

A separate, lower monthly earnings amount used exclusively to identify Trial Work Period months. Any month in which your adjusted earnings meet or exceed this amount counts as a TWP month, regardless of whether your earnings also exceed SGA.

The cost of disability-related items or services you need in order to work — such as a wheelchair, medication, attendant care, or specially equipped transportation. IRWE amounts are subtracted from your gross earnings before the SGA and TWP tests are applied, effectively lowering your countable earnings.

A 9-month safety net during which you can test your ability to work without risking your benefits, no matter how much you earn. TWP months do not need to be consecutive — they are counted within a rolling 60-month window. Once 9 TWP months have accumulated, the TWP is exhausted.

The 60-month (5-year) lookback period used to count Trial Work Period months. Only TWP months that fall within this window count toward the 9-month limit. TWP months older than 60 months "age out" and are no longer counted, which can reopen TWP capacity.

A 36-month window that begins the month after your Trial Work Period is exhausted. During the EPE, your benefits are automatically reinstated in any month your earnings fall below SGA — without filing a new application. In any month you earn above SGA, your cash benefit is suspended.

Your SSDI cash benefit is in payment. Your earnings are below the SGA threshold and no special work incentive period is currently in effect.

You are currently working and accumulating Trial Work Period months, but your cash benefit continues unaffected regardless of your earnings. You have not yet used all 9 TWP months.

You have used all 9 Trial Work Period months within the rolling 60-month window. SSA will now apply the SGA test each month. If you earn above SGA, your benefits may be at risk.

You are within the 36-month EPE window. Your cash benefit is reinstated in below-SGA months and suspended in above-SGA months. No new application is required for reinstatement during this period.

You earned above SGA during the Extended Period of Eligibility. Your cash benefit has been suspended for this month. If you drop below SGA before the EPE expires, your benefit will be reinstated.

Your earnings dropped below SGA during the Extended Period of Eligibility. Your cash benefit has been automatically reinstated for this month without a new application.

Your cash benefits have ended, but your Medicare coverage continues. After the Trial Work Period is exhausted, Medicare continues for at least 93 months (approximately 7.5 years) regardless of your earnings or cash benefit status.