If you are engaging in substantial gainful you may not be eligible. It is possible for brief work periods not to be considered SGA.
Event That Must Precede a UWA:
1)There must be a significant break in the continuity of your work before you can be considered to have begun a work attempt that later proved unsuccessful.
A) The significant break is at least 30 consecutive days or
B) You were forced to change to another type of work or another employer.
Event That Must Follow a UWA:
Another significant break occurs after a work attempt.
Duration and Conditions of Work
Work Effort of 3 Months or Less: Yes, this is UWA if it ends within 3 months of significant break
Work Effort of Between 3 and 6 Months: Yes, this is UWA if it ends between 3 and 6 months
a) You must have had frequent absences from your work due to your impairment; or
b) Your work must have been unsatisfactory due to your impairment; or
c) Your work must have been done during a period of temporary remission of your impairment; or
d) Your work must have been done under special conditions.
Work Effort of Over 6 Months: Your SGA-level work lasting more than 6 months cannot be an UWA regardless of why it ended or was reduced to the non-SGA level.
Performance of Work Under Special Conditions: You SGA level work may also end if there is a removal of a special condition that is essential for work performance
a) Special assistance from other employees in performing the job; or
b) Irregular hours or take frequent rest periods; or
c) Special equipment or were assigned work especially suited to your impairment; or
d) Other persons helped you prepare for or get to and from work; or
e) Were permitted to perform at a lower standard of productivity than other employees; or
f) Were granted the opportunity to work, because of family relationship, past association with the firm, or other altruistic reason.
Development of Reasons for Work Discontinuance or Reduction:
SSA will seek confirmation from your employer.
These are questions you should ask yourself:
- When and why was the SGA-level work interrupted, reduced or stopped?
- If special working conditions (as described in the preceding section) were removed, what were those conditions or concessions? When, how and why were they changed?
- Were there frequent absences from work? Were days and hours of work irregular and, if so, why?
- Was job performance unsatisfactory because of the impairment?
- Did the employer reduce your duties, responsibilities or earnings because of your impairment?
- When your work effort ended, was the continuity of employment broken? Did the employer grant sick leave or hold the position open for your return?
- If you were self-employed, what has happened to the business since the discontinuance or reduction of your work? If the business continued in operation, who managed and worked in it and what income will you receive from it?
Benefits of UWA:
If a working period is declared a UWA, then the claimant may get an earlier on set date. This means you may be able to receive benefits from a date in the past.