What reporting and documentation should SSDI beneficiaries keep to avoid mistakenly using TWP months?
Executive summary
SSDI beneficiaries should retain clear, contemporaneous records of any earnings, work hours, employer communications, and work-related expenses so the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not count months toward the nine-month Trial Work Period (TWP) incorrectly; the SSA automatically counts a month as a TWP month when gross earnings exceed the annual threshold, but beneficiaries must report work activity and keep documentation to prove exceptions or deductions [1] [2]. The most effective defense against mistakenly “using” TWP months is a simple, auditable paper trail: pay stubs, a month-by-month earnings log tied to SSA thresholds, receipts for Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) and subsidies, employer statements, and copies of all communications with SSA and Ticket to Work counselors [3] [4] [2].
1. Know what triggers a TWP month and log monthly earnings immediately
A calendar month is counted as a TWP month when gross earnings exceed the yearly TWP threshold (for example, $1,160 in 2025 and $1,210 in 2026), and because thresholds change annually beneficiaries should keep a dated earnings record that explicitly notes monthly gross wages alongside the applicable threshold for that year [5] [6] [2]. SSA tracks TWP months automatically from reported wages or self-employment income, so an immediate, month-by-month log of gross pay and the specific source (employer, self-employment) creates the primary evidence needed to dispute an erroneous TWP count [6] [4].
2. Keep original pay stubs, 1099s, and employer statements as primary proof
Pay stubs and year-end tax forms (W-2, 1099) are the strongest proof of gross earnings for any contested month and should be preserved in hard copy and scanned digital form; when wages are ambiguous or hours vary, obtain a dated written statement from the employer confirming pay dates, gross amounts, and hours worked to match SSA’s monthly accounting [2] [1]. For self-employment, maintain business ledgers, bank deposits, and invoices showing gross receipts by month so that earnings can be reconstructed if SSA’s automatic records appear to overcount TWP months [6] [4].
3. Document IRWEs, subsidies, and other deductions that reduce countable earnings
If work-related medical expenses or employer accommodations reduce a beneficiary’s countable earnings—through Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) or Subsidy—the claimant must keep receipts, invoices, and written explanations linking each cost to the disability and the job to prove the deduction applies when SSA calculates countable income after the TWP [3] [2]. Retain contemporaneous receipts for transportation, medical equipment, attendant care, or other IRWEs and a simple memo explaining why each expense was necessary for work; those records are the only way for beneficiaries to avoid being treated as having engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) when SSA evaluates post-TWP earnings [3] [4].
4. Use the SSDI Trial Work Tracking Worksheet and save SSA correspondence
Beneficiaries should use the SSDI Trial Work Tracking Worksheet recommended by SSA partners to mark which months appear to be TWP months and to annotate supporting documents for each month, and they should save all SSA notices, online “my Social Security” confirmations, and any Ticket to Work communications because SSA’s determinations rely heavily on its records and prior notices [3] [1]. Reporting work to SSA promptly—via my Social Security or a local office—and keeping printed confirmation of those reports reduces the risk of later overpayment claims or miscounted TWP months [2] [1].
5. When in doubt, get written statements from wage-reporting sources and professional help
If employers, payroll services, or tax forms don’t clearly separate gross from countable earnings, secure a written payroll breakdown and consider consulting a benefits counselor or disability attorney to document Subsidy or IRWE claims before SSA reevaluates benefits, because failure to report or to substantiate deductions can produce overpayment notices that must be repaid [2] [3]. SSA’s automatic tracking can be corrected with solid documentation, but beneficiaries must produce pay records, receipts, employer letters, and SSA reporting confirmations to win corrections [6] [4].