SSDI Trial Work Period in South Carolina

The Social Security Administration (SSA) allows disability recipients to test their ability to return to work without immediately losing their benefits. This program, known as the Trial Work Period (TWP), is one of the most important—and most misunderstood—provisions in Social Security Disability Insurance law. For South Carolina residents receiving SSDI, understanding how the TWP works can mean the difference between a smooth return to employment and an unexpected loss of benefits.

What Is the SSDI Trial Work Period?

The Trial Work Period is a federal program that gives SSDI recipients the opportunity to test their capacity to work for at least nine months while still collecting full disability benefits, regardless of how much they earn during that time. The nine months do not need to be consecutive—they are counted within a rolling 60-month (five-year) window.

For 2026, the SSA defines a trial work month as any calendar month in which a beneficiary earns more than $1,110 in gross wages (or $590 if self-employed, based on hours worked). Once you accumulate nine trial work months, your TWP is complete, and a different set of rules governs what happens next.

Critically, during the Trial Work Period itself, the SSA does not apply the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) test to your earnings. You can earn any amount and still receive your full monthly SSDI check. This protection is designed to encourage beneficiaries to attempt a return to work without fear of financial catastrophe.

How the Trial Work Period Applies in South Carolina

South Carolina SSDI recipients follow the same federal TWP framework that applies nationwide, since SSDI is a federal program administered by the SSA. However, several South Carolina-specific factors can affect how your return-to-work attempt unfolds in practice.

South Carolina's average wage levels and prevalent industries—including manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and healthcare—often shape the kinds of jobs available to people returning to work with a disability. Part-time positions, seasonal employment, and sheltered workshop arrangements are all common in the state. Each of these work situations requires careful tracking against the monthly earnings threshold to determine whether a given month counts as a trial work month.

South Carolina residents should also be aware that Ticket to Work, a voluntary SSA program, is available through authorized Employment Networks and State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies, including SC Vocational Rehabilitation (SCVR), which has offices across the state. Assigning your Ticket to Work to an approved provider can offer additional protections during your employment attempt, including suspension of continuing disability reviews while you are making timely progress toward self-sufficiency.

What Happens After the Trial Work Period Ends

After you exhaust your nine trial work months, the SSA enters a phase called the Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), which lasts 36 consecutive months. During the EPE, your benefits are subject to the SGA test each month. In 2026, the SGA threshold is $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,700 per month for blind individuals.

During the EPE, the following rules apply:

• Any month you earn below the SGA threshold, you receive your full SSDI benefit.
• Any month you earn at or above SGA, your benefit is suspended for that month.
• If you stop working or fall below SGA during the EPE, benefits can be reinstated without filing a new application.
• Once the 36-month EPE ends, a single month of SGA-level earnings will terminate your benefits entirely.

This distinction between suspension and termination is crucial. Many South Carolina beneficiaries mistakenly believe their benefits are gone forever once they exceed SGA—when in reality, reinstatement may still be available during the EPE window.

Expedited Reinstatement: A Critical Safety Net

Even after the Extended Period of Eligibility ends and benefits are formally terminated, SSDI recipients have one more protection available: Expedited Reinstatement (EXR). Under EXR, if your disabling condition prevents you from continuing to work at SGA levels within five years of your benefit termination, you can request reinstatement without completing an entirely new disability application.

During the EXR request period, the SSA can provide up to six months of provisional benefits while it reviews your case—a critical lifeline for South Carolina residents who may face lengthy processing times at local field offices such as those in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, or Myrtle Beach.

To request EXR, file SSA Form SSA-4702. Working with an attorney familiar with South Carolina SSDI practice can significantly improve your chances of a successful reinstatement outcome, particularly if your medical condition has progressed or changed since your original award.

Practical Steps South Carolina Beneficiaries Should Take

Navigating the Trial Work Period successfully requires proactive recordkeeping and communication with the SSA. Consider the following actions:

• Report all work activity promptly. South Carolina SSDI recipients are legally required to report any work and earnings to the SSA. Failure to do so can result in overpayments that you will be required to repay—sometimes years later.
• Track every trial work month carefully. Keep pay stubs, direct deposit records, and employer documentation. Know exactly how many of your nine months you have used.
• Account for work-related deductions. Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) such as transportation to medical appointments, adaptive equipment, or medication costs incurred because of your disability can be deducted from your gross earnings when the SSA calculates whether you have reached SGA levels.
• Contact SC Vocational Rehabilitation. SCVR can provide job training, workplace accommodations guidance, and connections to employment supports that may ease your transition back to work.
• Consult an SSDI attorney before accepting a new job offer. Understanding exactly how a particular position's pay structure, hours, and benefits will interact with your TWP status can prevent costly surprises.

The Trial Work Period is one of the few genuinely generous provisions in federal disability law—a chance to test your limits without risking your financial security. Used correctly and with proper planning, it can serve as a bridge between full disability status and meaningful employment. Used without understanding, it can lead to benefit overpayments, unexpected terminations, and the need for lengthy appeals before the SSA's Office of Hearings Operations—including hearing offices in Columbia and North Charleston that already carry significant case backlogs.

South Carolina SSDI beneficiaries who are considering a return to work, who have already started working, or who have received an overpayment notice related to the Trial Work Period should seek qualified legal guidance before taking any further steps with the SSA.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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