Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Attorney Blog

We are often asked whether an individual is eligible for social security disability benefits ("SSDI") even though the invidual is still working. The answer typically depends on how much the individual is earning every month. In order to qualify for SSDI, you must establish that you are unable to perform "substantial gainful activity" ("SGA"), which is basically defined as gainful work activity performed for pay or profit, whether or not any profit is realized. The Social Security Administration ("SSA") considers an individual who is earning more than a certain monthly amount to be engaged in SGA and ineligible for SSDI. The SSA annually sets the SGA amounts for blind and non-blind individuals based on the national average wage index. The monthly SGA amount for 2010 is $1,000 for non-blind individuals and $1,640 for statutorily blind individuals. The SGA amounts change every year and the amounts for past years can be found here.

Social Security Disability Insurance ("SSD") and Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") are federal insurance programs that provide benefits to disabled persons who are unable to work for at least twelve months or more due to a severe physical or mental impairment. The SSD program is available to disabled wage earners based on their payroll taxes that are deducted from their paychecks. SSI, on the other hand, provides benefits to low income individuals who are unable to work due to a physical or mental impairment. Kunkel & Fink, LLP has extensive experience representing individuals applying for both SSD and SSI benefits throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. In fact, many our clients are injured workers who are unable to work due to their work injuries.

The social security disability claims process is complicated and time consuming. The Social Security Administration follows a complex set of regulations that govern the claims procedure and disability determinations. Most claims submitted to the Social Security Administration are initially denied and, therefore, it is necessary to present your case before at a hearing before and an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"). Our lawyers have successfully represented hundreds of individuals residing in Allegheny, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland, counties in their claims for social security disability benefits.

To learn more about the Kunkel & Fink, LLP social security practice, please visit our website. If you or a loved one has a question about social security disability benefits, please call our office for a free evaluation of your claim.

Hello and welcome to the new Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Attorney Blog. My name is Gregory Kunkel and I am a partner with the law firm of Kunkel & Fink, LLP. With offices located in Uniontown and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, our firm provides legal representation to individuals throughout southwestern Pennsylvania in workers' compensation, social security disability, personal injury, and employment rights matters.

We created this Blog because we believe that knowledge is indeed power and our goal is to level the playing field for injured workers in Pennsylvania who have questions about their rights to workers' compensation benefits. Despite the name of our blog, we plan to discuss a variety of topics that will be of interest to workers in Pennsylvania, including injured workers' rights to social security disability benefits and employment rights laws prohibiting discrimination in the workplace, mandating overtime pay, and family medical leave for eligible employees. So, welcome aboard, and stayed tuned for more information.