SSDRC




What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI?

How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI?

If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits?

How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition?

What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits

Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits

How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing

If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare?

How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid?

Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process

How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability?

What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia

Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease

Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression?

Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability

What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability Status

Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on

Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts


What is SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity) and how does it affect Social Security Disability and SSI Eligibility?


How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

 
SGA is an acronym for the Social Security term substantial gainful activity. According to the Social Security Administration's definition of disability, in order to be considered disabled and eligible to receive disability benefits, a person must have functional limitations (mental, physical, or both) that are severe enough to restrict their ability to engage in work activity.

How Social Security determines disability

SSA (social security administration) determines if a claimant is disabled by evaluating their medical and work histories and then rating their condition; claimants are given physical residual functional capacity ratings and mental residual functional capacity ratings by disability examiners (or by judges at the disability hearing level). However, whether or not a claimant is disabled can also be determined by a claimant's work activity.

For this reason, Social Security must evaluate an individual’s earnings when they apply for disability, and also during future reviews of their claim--this is known as a continuing disability review, or CDR.

SGA, or substantial gainful activity, is tied to a specific monetary amount; in other words, a monthly earnings limit. To put it briefly, if a person who is filing for disability is earning more than the SGA amount, their claim will be given what is referred to as a technical denial. When a case is given a technical denial, the denial occurs at the social security office almost immediately, meaning that the case is never sent to disability determination services and assigned to a disability examiner for processing (translation: there is no point to filing a claim if you are currently working and earning at least the SGA amount...however, if your condition causes you to stop work or causes your earnings to drop below the SGA limit, consider filing a claim).

The SGA amount is subject to change as a result of inflation adjustments. Currently, for 2012, the SGA amount is $1010.00. Please keep in mind that this is gross monthly earned income (before taxes).

To reiterate

The Social Security administration’s definition of disability is based on an individual’s inability to engage in work activity that produces substantial and gainful income; in other words, the inability to work and earn at least that much--the current limit for SGA--per month.

At the time you file a disability application, if you are earning over the SGA amount, you will be denied for an initial disability claim, regardless of your medical condition. Remember, too, if you are receiving disability benefits the SGA monthly amount will also affect you. For this reason, you should call your local Social Security office about any work activity you engage in (including self employment).














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Individual Questions and Answers


  • What are social security disability denials based on, your medical or work history?

  • Potentially any individual may qualify for Social Security disability

  • Financial Help When You Are Filing For Disability

  • What kind of Mental Problems Qualify for Disability?

  • What If you intended an appeal of your Social Security Disability claim but missed the deadline?

  • Applying for disability benefits in Pennsylvania

  • Social Security Disability SSI Terms and Definitions

  • The Time Involved on a Social Security Disability Decision

  • Can you file for disability when you lose your job?

  • To get a Social Security Disability or SSI Award do you have to have a Permanent Disability?

  • Are you allowed to work at all if you get Social Security disability or SSI ?

  • Social Security Temporary Disability - Can I get temporary benefits?

  • Degenerative Disc Disease, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits

  • Social Security Hearing- How do I Request one, how long will it take?

  • If I Request A Hearing For SSDI, How Long Will I have to Wait?

  • How often will my disability claim be reviewed ?

  • Should you get a Statement from a Personal Physician for your SSD or SSI Disability Case?

  • Social Security Medical Exam - the purpose

  • Working and Disability - Are You Allowed to Work While Receiving Social Security Disability or SSI?

  • How does Social Security Disability Decide if you can Work or Not?

  • Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Virginia

  • Social Security Disability, SSI, and Whether or Not a Person can Still Work

  • How the Decision on a Disability Application or Appeal Under SSDI or SSI is Made

  • Social Security Disability Lawyers - Fees and Representation Information

  • What is the best way to check the status of a Social Security Disability Claim or SSI claim?

  • Are SSI and SSD disability claims denied by social security for lack of evidence?

  • SSI Benefits - what do they include and how long does it take

  • Can my Social Security Disability or SSI benefits be stopped or cutoff ?

  • What are Social Security Disability and SSI Concurrent Benefits?

  • What Is the Five Step Sequential Evaluation Process Social Security Uses In Every Disability Case?

  • Social Security Disability--Permanent Disability
























    SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

    The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

    Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

    Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

    Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

    Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials