What is “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) and how does it relate to Social Security Disability?

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is an important concept in Social Security Disability Law in West Virginia. It is used to determine if a claimant is substantially disabled and eligible for benefits. SGA refers to a particular level of work activity that is considered to be gainful employment. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will consider a claimant disabled if they are not able to engage in SGA. In order to determine if an individual is disabled, the SSA will consider both the claimant’s income and the type of work they are doing. The current SSA standard for SGA is monthly earnings of $1,310 if a claimant is blind and/or not working and $2,190 if the claimant is working. The SSA also considers the type of work the claimant is doing to determine if it is classified as SGA. The types of work that are usually considered to be SGA include full-time employment, part-time employment, and self-employment. If a claimant is found to be engaging in SGA, they are usually not considered disabled and therefore are not eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule that may allow for a claimant to receive benefits even if they are engaging in SGA. Overall, substantial gainful activity is an important concept under Social Security Disability Law in West Virginia. The SSA uses SGA to determine if an individual is disabled and can receive benefits. Although engaging in SGA usually disqualifies a claimant from receiving benefits, there are some exceptions.

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