Ruth had been receiving SSDI monthly cash benefits for 3 years when she met recently with a local benefits planner. She had taken a part time job at a retail store allowing her to work flexible schedules. When she started working, her SSDI benefit was $850 per month.

After taking the job, Ruth found herself earning $740 in some months, an amount exceeding the $720 which triggers an SSDI Trial Work month. [The SSDI Trial Work Period (TWP) consists of nine Trial Work months within a sixty month period, during which time beneficiaries continue to receive their full SSDI benefit. The nine Trial Work months can occur one right after the other or intermittently.]

After nine months of earnings at or above $720, Ruth had completed her Trial Work Period. She learned, however, that the following 36 months is called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE). During this period, she could continue to receive an SSDI cash benefit in every month that her earnings were less than $1,000 (the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level for beneficiaries who are not blind).

Ruth was happy and comfortable in her job, and increased her work hours, raising her monthly earnings to $1,400 per month. A quick check of her budget indicated that she could live on that. The first three months that she earned more than $1,000 (SGA) were considered her 3-month Grace Period. Her SSDI benefit would continue during this time but would stop as soon as the three months were up, assuming she continued to earn more than $1,000/month.

Ruth earned $1,400/month for ten months, the last seven without SSDI cash benefits. When Ruth decided to lower her work hours because of her disabling condition, she discovered she was able to keep her job. She reduced her hours and earned $740/month for the next four months. Because her earnings were below SGA, her SSDI cash benefits were paid again without a new application. She was still in her Extended Period of Eligibility.

After the four months of adjusting her treatment for her disability, she returned to her previous work schedule earning $1,400 per month. At that point, her SSDI monthly benefit was suspended again due to earnings over SGA ($1,000).