SSI and SSDI Work Incentives Explained
Will working cost you your benefits? Here's how Social Security work incentives — TWP, EPE, expedited reinstatement, and more — protect SSI and SSDI recipients.
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
The most common worry
The question we hear most often is, 'If I go back to work, will I lose my benefits?' Social Security has built-in rules called work incentives that let you test employment, earn more, and keep your health coverage while you figure out what works. Here is a plain-language overview of the main ones.
Trial Work Period (SSDI)
If you receive SSDI, you get a Trial Work Period that lets you test working for nine months within a rolling 60-month window. During those months, you still receive your full SSDI benefit no matter how much you earn. The months do not have to be consecutive.
Extended Period of Eligibility
After the Trial Work Period ends, you enter a 36-month Extended Period of Eligibility. During this time, your benefit can restart in any month your earnings fall below the substantial gainful activity level. You do not have to reapply.
Expedited Reinstatement
If your disability forces you to stop working within five years, Expedited Reinstatement lets you restart your SSDI or SSI benefits without filing a brand-new application. This safety net is one of the biggest reasons people feel comfortable trying work through Ticket to Work.
Continued Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare Part A can continue for at least 93 months after your Trial Work Period ends. For SSI recipients in Wisconsin, Medicaid may continue under Section 1619(b) while you are working, as long as you remain eligible and would not otherwise be able to afford equivalent medical coverage.
Paused medical reviews
While you are making timely progress in your Individual Work Plan with ACO, Social Security will not start a scheduled medical continuing disability review. That means you can focus on your job search without the stress of a benefits review hanging over you.
SSI earned income exclusions
SSI does not count every dollar you earn. General and earned income exclusions mean your SSI payment drops far more slowly than your paycheck rises. ACO's benefits analysts help you run the numbers for your specific situation before you accept a job offer.
Get personalized guidance
Work incentive rules and dollar thresholds are set by the Social Security Administration and change from year to year. ACO helps you apply them to your own situation. For official program rules, visit choosework.ssa.gov.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Want to see how these incentives fit into the full Ticket to Work process? Visit our Ticket to Work page or call ACO at 414-239-6465.
Learn about Ticket to Work