Will Social Security SSDI benefits stop after completing Trial Work Period and Extended Period of Eligibility?

Good news - your SSDI benefits will NOT stop after the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE) as long as you continue earning below the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold. The EPE is just the 36-month safety net where you can go above SGA in some months and still have your benefits reinstated automatically in months you go below SGA. After the EPE ends, your benefits continue if you're below SGA, but if you ever go above SGA after EPE, your benefits would terminate and you'd need to reapply completely. Just keep documenting your earnings carefully and reporting to SSA.

THEY WILL CUT U OFF!!!! I went through this EXACT thing and lost EVERYTHING after my 36 month EPE ended even though I was under SGA the whole time!!!! The system is BROKEN and they DO NOT CARE about disabled ppl who try to work part time!!!!! Been fighting this for 8 months and still waiting on my appeal hearing. Now im 62 and had to apply for early retirement ss which is WAY LESS than my SSDI was!!!!

my cousin was on ssdi kept working under the limit for like 7 years after his trial period and extended period and still gets his check every month. the key is staying under the sga limit. thats what matters. dont let the other comment scare u.

The work incentives for SSDI can be confusing but I'll explain it clearly: 1. Trial Work Period (TWP): 9 months where you can earn any amount and still receive full benefits 2. Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE): The next 36 months where benefits are suspended in months you earn over SGA but automatically reinstated in months you earn under SGA 3. Post-EPE: After those 36 months, you continue receiving SSDI as long as you stay under SGA ($1,530 in 2025) The key difference in post-EPE is that if you ever earn over SGA even for one month, your benefits terminate completely instead of being suspended. You'd need to file a new application rather than having benefits automatically reinstated. Your Medicare continues for at least 93 months after your TWP regardless of your earnings, and after that you can purchase Medicare coverage even if your SSDI ends.

@user6 - That's incorrect information. I've worked as a benefits counselor for 15 years, and the official SSA rule is exactly as I described. Here's the direct quote from SSA's Red Book: "If your benefits are stopped because your earnings go above the SGA level after your EPE, we can start your benefits again without a new application if you are earning below the SGA level and you are still disabled." You can find this on page 23 of the 2023 Red Book. The only scenario where working under SGA would cause termination is if someone medically improved and no longer met disability criteria.

Try getting thru to someone at SSA directly to confirm before ur 36 mths end... good luck tho!! I tried calling them 37 TIMES last month about my backpay and couldnt get a human!! Kept getting disconnected or 2+ hour wait times. So annoying.

One more important thing to note - make sure you're documenting any Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) you have. These are costs related to your disability that allow you to work. They can be deducted from your earnings when calculating if you're over SGA. For example, if the SGA is $1,530, but you have $200 in IRWEs each month, you could actually earn up to $1,730 before reaching SGA. This gives you more flexibility and can help ensure you stay below SGA limits even if you occasionally earn a bit more.

Yes, those would definitely count as IRWEs! Specialized footwear prescribed for your condition and transportation costs because you can't drive due to your medical condition are classic examples of IRWEs. You should document these expenses carefully, keep receipts, and report them to SSA. They'll adjust your countable earnings accordingly. This could allow you to work more hours or earn a bit more while still staying under the SGA threshold for SSDI purposes.

ya my sister gets disability too and says its rly important to keep ur pay stubs and report ur earnings each month even when ur under the limit that way they cant come back later and say u never told them u were working