Assessing Income: Trial Work Period, Extended Period of Eligibility, and Expedited Reinstatement – NOSSCR 2026 Fall National Conference – Track I (Presented by National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives)

One Income Question, Four Different Answers — Depending on the Period

An income assessment is not a single determination — it depends on where the client sits. Part 1 examined SGA determinations for self-employed individuals under the general evaluation criteria: three tests, plus the countable income test when applicable. Part 2 recaps that framework, then applies it across the periods that follow.

The sequence matters. The trial work period comes first, with its own treatment of a client's work. After an SGA cessation, the extended period of eligibility and the re-entitlement period take over, and the same income question yields different consequences. When entitlement ends altogether, expedited reinstatement — and the initial reinstatement period within it — governs how benefits come back.

You walk out able to assess income at every stage: the SGA evaluation criteria refreshed, the TWP, EPE, and re-entitlement period placed in sequence, and a working command of EXR and the IRP.

Key topics to be discussed:

• SGA Evaluation Recap
  The general evaluation criteria for self-employed individuals — three tests plus the countable income test, recapped from Part 1.
• Trial Work Period
  How the TWP operates and what it means for a working client's income assessment.
• Extended Period of Eligibility
  How the EPE functions and what it preserves for your client.
• Re-entitlement After Cessation
  The re-entitlement period that follows an SGA cessation, and how to put it to work.
• Expedited Reinstatement
  When EXR is available and how to pursue it for a client whose benefits ended.
• Initial Reinstatement Period
  How the IRP operates within an expedited reinstatement.

Eligible for up to 1 CLE Credit Hour

This session was originally submitted for CLE as a live, in-person presentation and a live webcast for the 2026 Fall National Conference and may be eligible for self-study credit. Each state handles self-study credit differently; for questions, please consult your State Bar Association.

Recorded Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

This course is co-sponsored with myLawCLE.

Date / Time: October 13, 2026

• 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm Eastern
• 11:15 am – 12:15 pm Central
• 10:15 am – 11:15 am Mountain
• 9:15 am – 10:15 am Pacific

Closed-captioning available