Will earning less than the sga trigger a twp ? Will it initiate a review of my benefits? Will earnings below sga be reported? If so, do I report them monthly?

Hi. Possibly. In 2022, the monthly substantial gainful activity (SGA) amount for non-blind individuals is $1350, and the monthly trial work period (TWP) amount is $970. Earning more than $970 in a month in 2022 would count as a TWP month assuming that the person hasn't yet completed their 9-month TWP.

Any work activity performed by a person who's receiving Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits needs to be reported to Social Security. Social Security needs to keep track of how many TWP months a person has used. Once the TWP is completed, Social Security needs to make a determination as to whether or not any subsequent work activity is SGA. Such work reviews can be ongoing for as long as a person on SSDI continues working. However, the work activity normally wouldn't trigger a medical review of a person's SSDI eligibility.

Social Security only receives calendar year earnings information from employers and the IRS. So, they need some type of monthly earnings documentation so that they can track a person's TWP and/or evaluate whether or not their work and earnings after the TWP is SGA. It's helpful if SSDI recipients keep copies of their pay slips so they can submit proof of their earnings to Social Security upon request, but you normally don't need to submit proof of your earnings to Social Security on a monthly basis unless you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Best, Jerry