Prepared by Employment Options, Inc.

In 2010, you can make up to $720 a month without it counting against your trial work period.

No 8 hours x 10 dollars = 80 dollars weekly 80 dollars x 4.3 weeks = 344 dollars LESS THAN 720 DOLLARS A MONTH DOES NOT COUNT DURING YOUR TRIAL WORK PERIOD

Yes 12 hours x 25 dollars = 300 dollars weekly 300 dollars x 4.3 weeks = 1290 dollars MORE THAN 720 DOLLARS A MONTH COUNTS DURING YOUR TRIAL WORK PERIOD

If I earn twelve dollars an hour and work ten hours a week, will this count against my trial work period? YesNo

12 hours x 10 dollars = 120 dollars weekly 120 dollars x 4.3 weeks = 516 dollars LESS THAN 720 DOLLARS A MONTH DOES NOT COUNT DURING YOUR TRIAL WORK PERIOD No

If I earn ten dollars an hour and work eighteen hours a week, will this count against my trial work period? YesNo

18 hours x 10 dollars = 180 dollars weekly 180 dollars x 4.3 weeks = 774 dollars YES, MORE THAN 720 DOLLARS A MONTH COUNTS DURING YOUR TRIAL WORK PERIOD Yes

The amount that you can earn during your Trial Work Period changes every year. Trial Work Period Maximum Trial Work Period Earnings $590$620$640$670$700$720 Maximum earning limit when SSDI Cash Earnings go into suspension after Trial Work Period $830$860$900$940$980$1000

Joes Monthly Earnings Trial month used? Jan$480No Feb$1000Yes Mar$540No Apr$380No May$970Yes June$1011Yes July$1200Yes Aug$950Yes Sept$1020Yes Oct$620No Nov$720Yes Dec$740Yes Yearly Earnings $ Trial Work Period Months Used. Test your Knowledge – How Many Months of Joes Trial Work Period (TWP) did he use up in 2009?

Months of the year Joes SSDI income Jan$712 Feb$712 Mar$712 Apr$712 May$712 June$712 July$712 Aug$712 Sept$712 Oct$712 Nov$712 Dec$712 Yearly Earnings $8,544 Total income when not working

Joes Monthly EarningsSSDI CheckTrial month used? Jan$950$727Yes Feb$950$727Yes Mar$950$727Yes Apr$1250$727Yes May$1250$727Yes June$1400$727Yes July$1400$727Yes Aug$1400$727Yes Sept$1450$727Yes Oct$1700$727Yes Nov$1700$727Yes Dec$1700$727Yes Yearly Earnings $16,100 At $1700 a month- new income = 20,400 per year $8,724 SSDI Yearly income =$24,824 Total income during trial work year Nine Trial Months Used – cash benefits stop if earnings are $1000 or more a month FY 2010 If you make as much money as you possibly can during the Trial Work Period, your earnings might look like this

$727 a month x 12 months = $8,724 SSDI Yearly Income $1700 a month x12 months = $20,400 Current Yearly income WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER EARN?

Lindas Monthly Earnings SSDI CheckTrial month used? August 09$480$810No September 09$980$810Yes October 09$540$810No November 09$380$810No December 09$970$810Yes Jan 2010$1011$810Yes Feb 2010$1200$10Yes March 2010$930$810Yes April 2010$980$810Yes Total earning YTD $7,471 $7,290 Total income $14, Trial Months used Test your Knowledge now– How Many Months of Lindas Trial Work Period (TWP) has she used up?

Prepared by Employment Options, Inc.

After your trial work period is up you will continue to receive SSDI cash benefits as long as your earnings are under $1000 (2010)

The most that you can earn without losing your SSDI cash benefits is different from the amount that counts towards your Trial Work period.

Once you have completed your Trial Work period, you can earn under $ a month as long as you want without losing your SSDI cash benefits FY 2010 It is a little confusing

DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO WORK AFTER YOUR TRIAL WORK PERIOD IS OVER? If you are able to work and continue working you will earn more money and be happier. There is absolutely no risk of losing your disability status if you continue working AND keep your ticket assigned to an employment network.

After you have completed your nine month trial work period, you will have a three year period of extended eligibility which means that if you stop working or earn less than Social Security earning limits aka Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) during those 36 months, for any reason, all you have to do is contact your Social Security Representative and your cash benefits will start right back up.

If you are unable to work for any reason during your extended period of eligibility, let your Social Security representative and My Employment Options counselor know and your payments will start right back up. Your SSDI cash benefits will be reinstated if you are unable to work or even if you just prefer not to work as long as you are in your three year period of extended eligibility.

Melody Monthly Earnings Eligible for cash benefits? Jan$480Yes Feb$720Yes Mar$690Yes Apr$880Yes May$960Yes June$930Yes July$1000No Aug$1050No Sept$800Yes Oct$1250No Nov$1300No Dec$1340No Test your Knowledge –Melody has used up her trial work period. Will Melody still be eligible for SSDI cash benefits? (2010)

WILL I RECEIVE CASH BENEFITS FOR THE MONTHS THAT I EARNED OVER $1000 IN 2010? YES, if you have not used up your 9 month trial work program and NO, if you have used up your trial work program. You are not penalized for working if you worked and earned under $1000 in 2010 and any year prior.

What if Social Security makes a mistake and stops my benefits? As long as you stay in touch with Employment Options and we know about your current and previous work activity, we will be able to track your trial work period, advise you and advocate on your behalf. We do understand this Social Security benefits program and know how to help you.

It can be very confusing understanding your trial work status and cash benefits. We are here to help. Call Teresa at or her at or call Daniel Kelsey ext. 793.

Prepared by Employment Options, Inc