One of the 5 hurdles you must meet to be paid Social Security Disability is what is called the Substantial Gainful Actvity (SGA) test.

If you can’t meet this hurdle, the evaluative process stops and the Social Security Administration (SSA) will find that you are not disabled.

What is Substantial Gainful Activity? If you are working and earning $900.00 gross per month, SSA will find that you are not disabled… no matter how impaired you are.

The work must be both substantial and gainful. Substantial work activity involves work that requires “signficant physical or mental activities” 20 C.F.R. 404.1572(a). If you can’t do ordinary or simple tasks without more supervision or assistance usually given to other people doing the same type of work or the work involves minimal duties that make little or no demand, the work won’t be considered substantial.

Gainful work is determined by looking at your earnings. If you make more than $900.00 gross per month you will not meet the earnings test.

The work is evaluated without regard to legality so that even illegal activity, such as selling stolen goods, may be substantial gainful activity.

SSA looks very closely at SGA when the person applying for disability is self-employed as they want to make sure the work the self-employed person is doing is not substantial and gainful.

When SSA raises the SGA hurdle, we always contact your employer to determine the true facts behind your employment.

If you would like more information or if you have any questions give us a call at 727-894-3188 or contact us at www.caveylaw.com.

If you would like more information about your rights regarding Social Security Disability Benefits, you can order our FREE book,"Your Rights to Social Security Disability Benefits" by submitting the form in the sidebar. We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Social Security Disability Benefits, visit our law firm web site at CaveyLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Social Security Disability Benefits attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (727) 897-9117 or simply submit our contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

Posted November 24th 2009 to Uncategorized | Comments (0)| Permalink | Trackback |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

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If you would like more information about your rights regarding Social Security Disability Benefits, you can order our FREE book,"Your Rights to Social Security Disability Benefits" by submitting the form in the sidebar. We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Social Security Disability Benefits, visit our law firm web site at CaveyLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Social Security Disability Benefits attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (727) 897-9117 or simply submit our contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

Posted September 11th 2009 to Getting a Lawyer,Uncategorized | Comments (0)| Permalink | Trackback |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

St. Petersburg, FL – June, 2009

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a disability program that is a needs-based program that takes into account your income and resources in determining your entitlement to Social Security Disability benefits.

While you must meet the disability requirements of any disability applicant, you must meet certain income and resource requirements.

Social Security will consider any wages, unemployment, short and long-term disability, land, checking accounts, vehicles, spouse’s income when determining whether you’re entitled to SSI. If you meet both the medical disability and income requirements, you will receive monthly disability benefits.

Individuals who are not insured for Social Security Disability benefits purposes because they do not have sufficient credits accrued become eligible for SSI. Unfortunately, many are not entitled to SSI because of their resources and income. For more information about the resource and income requirements for SSI, contact Sharon Barrett at Cavey & Barrett, your Tampa based Social Security Disability experts by clicking the link or give us a call 727-894-3188.

If you would like more information about your rights regarding Social Security Disability Benefits, you can order our FREE book,"Your Rights to Social Security Disability Benefits" by submitting the form in the sidebar. We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Social Security Disability Benefits, visit our law firm web site at CaveyLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Social Security Disability Benefits attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (727) 897-9117 or simply submit our contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

Posted June 03rd 2009 to Uncategorized | Comments (0)| Permalink | Trackback |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

Do you suffer from diabetes mellitus that interferes with your ability to work? The Social Security Disability Administration recognizes diabetes as the basis for a Social Security disability claim.

Section 9.08 Diabetes Mellitus of the Listing of Impairments requires that you submit medical documentation:

A. Neuropathy demonstrated by significant and persistent disorganization of motor function in two extremities, resulting in sustained disturbance of gross and dexterous movements, or gait and station;

B. Acidosis occurring at least on the average of once every two months, documented by appropriate blood chemical tests;

C. Retinitis proliferans

Winning a Social Security Disability claim based on diabetes requires extensive medical documentation.  If you need assistance with your Social Security claim, contact St. Petersburg Social Security disability lawyers, Sharon Barrett or Nancy Cavey. They have extensive experience in handling Social Security disability claims for diabetics and have written the go to book for Social Security Disability applicants, “Your Rights to Social Security Disability.”

Posted November 18th 2008 to Getting a Lawyer,Listing of Impairments,Social Security Benefits for Diabetes,Uncategorized | Comments (0)| Permalink | Trackback |  Print This Post |  Email This Post

Being disabled does not always constitute a physical problem one may have. Depression and other mental health conditions can be very disabling and Social Security recognizes this.

Mental conditions, and in combination with physical problems, are considered by Social Security as grounds for finding someone disabled.

If you are suffering from a disabling mental condition the first step, and the most important, is to see a psychiatrist. Even though a primary care doctor can take care of the essentials by prescribing anti-depressants and a legitimate diagnosis of depression/other mental health conditions, Social Security gives more weight to the opinions and records of a psychiatrist.

If you have any questions about your entitlement to Social Security Benefits for depression and other mental health conditions, contact Sharon Barrett or Nancy Cavey, your Social Security Disability benefits lawyers.

Posted October 16th 2008 to Uncategorized | Comments (0)| Permalink | Trackback |  Print This Post |  Email This Post