When determining SGA, you may disregard work if the claimant or beneficiary:
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•
discontinued or reduced work to the non-SGA level after a short time because of the
impairment; or
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•
discontinued or reduced work to the non-SGA level or because of the removal of special
conditions related to the impairment that were essential to their performance of work.
When evaluating disability, we are generally concerned with the ability to work over
an extended period rather than in short, isolated periods. When a claimant or beneficiary,
after working for a time in employment or self-employment despite severe impairment,
discontinues or markedly reduces such work below the SGA level, there are two questions
to be resolved:
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1.
Was the work substantial enough to warrant a finding that the individual was engaged
in SGA during the time they actually worked?
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2.
Regardless of the substantiality and duration of the work, does the medical and vocational
evidence warrant finding of ability to engage in SGA during or after the period of
actual work?
Work determined to be a UWA does not preclude a finding of disability.