SGA stands for substantial gainful employment.  If a claimant is capable of performing substantial gainful employment, they will not be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. Special rules apply to statutorily blind individuals.  However, all other disability, excluding blindness, for the year 2011 defines SGA as $1,000.00 per month.  This means that if someone’s average […]

In a large number of Social Security matters, treatment for drug or alcohol addiction is needed and medical records filed with Social Security need to reflect such treatment. The general rule is that where drug addiction or alcoholism is a contributing factor material to the determination of disability, a claimant will be found not disabled. […]

One of the factors which determine whether or not a person is disabled under the Social Security Laws involves what is known as transferrable skills. Transferrable skills allow someone who is disabled from their usual line of work to learn and adjust to a different type of work, usually lighter work.  At age 50, the […]

A common misconception is that Workers’ Compensation claimants who will never be able to go back to the type of work they were doing when they were injured are permanently totally disabled.  This is usually not the case. In order to be classified with a permanent total disability most Law Judges require that the claimant […]

In order to collect unemployment benefits the applicant must certify that they are ready, willing, and able to do some type of work.  Nonetheless, we often recommend that our clients who are partially, but not 100% disabled, apply for unemployment benefits.  The reason that they will be allowed to collect unemployment is because they are, […]

Medicare Part A provides coverage for inpatient hospital stays and some nursing facilities. It can also cover payments to Hospice or home health care services. If you have paid the requisite amount of Medicare taxes while you were working, Part A is free. However, if you have not paid enough in the way of Medicare […]

If you have been denied Social Security Disability benefits in the Albany, NY/Capital Region Area of New York State and filed an appeal requesting that a hearing be scheduled, it can take quite a long time before the hearing date is actually set. Generally, it will take between one or two years before your hearing […]

A listed impairment is a physical or mental condition that automatically qualifies for a disability under the Social Security Administration’s rules. If your condition meets or equals a listed impairment, it still must last or be expected to last 12 months.  Once it is found that a claimant’s medical condition equals or meets a listed […]