--- kind: "range" citation: "20 C.F.R. §§ 404.2110–404.2111" title: "20" from: "404.2110" to: "404.2111" count: 2 url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/20/404.2110..404.2111" --- # §404.2110. What we mean by “SGA” and by “a continuous period of 9 months”. - (a) **What we mean by “SGA”.** In determining whether an individual's work is SGA, we will follow the rules in [§§ 404.1572 through 404.1575](/cfr/20/404.1572..404.1575.md). We will follow these same rules for individuals who are statutorily blind, but we will evaluate the earnings in accordance with the rules in [§ 404.1584(d)](/cfr/20/404.1584.md?p=d). - (b) **What we mean by “a continuous period of 9 months”.** A continuous period of 9 months ordinarily means a period of 9 consecutive calendar months. Exception: When an individual does not perform SGA in 9 consecutive calendar months, he or she will be considered to have done so if— - (1) The individual performs 9 months of SGA within 10 consecutive months and has monthly earnings that meet or exceed the guidelines in [§ 404.1574(b)(2)](/cfr/20/404.1574.md?p=b-2), or [§ 404.1584(d)](/cfr/20/404.1584.md?p=d) if the individual is statutorily blind; or - (2) The individual performs at least 9 months of SGA within 12 consecutive months, and the reason for not performing SGA in 2 or 3 of those months was due to circumstances beyond his or her control and unrelated to the impairment (e.g., the employer closed down for 3 months). - (c) **What work we consider.** In determining if a continuous period of SGA has been completed, all of an individual's work activity may be evaluated for purposes of this section, including work performed before October 1981, during the waiting period, during the trial work period and after entitlement to disability benefits terminated. We will ordinarily consider only the first 9 months of SGA that occur. The exception will be if an individual who completed 9 months of SGA later stops performing SGA, receives VR services and then performs SGA for a 9-month period. See [§ 404.2115](/cfr/20/404.2115.md) for the use of the continuous period in determining payment for VR services. # §404.2111. Criteria for determining when VR services will be considered to have contributed to a continuous period of 9 months. The State VR agency may be paid for VR services if such services contribute to the individual's performance of a continuous 9-month period of SGA. The following criteria apply to individuals who received more than just evaluation services. If a State VR agency claims payment for services to an individual who received only evaluation services, it must establish that the individual's continuous period or medical recovery (if medical recovery occurred before completion of a continuous period) would not have occurred without the services provided. In applying the criteria below, we will consider services described in [§ 404.2114](/cfr/20/404.2114.md) that were initiated, coordinated or provided, including services before October 1, 1981. - (a) **Continuous period without medical recovery.** If an individual who has completed a “continuous period” of SGA has not medically recovered as of the date of completion of the period, the determination as to whether VR services contributed will depend on whether the continuous period began one year or less after VR services ended or more than one year after VR services ended. - (1) **One year or less.** Any VR services which significantly motivated or assisted the individual in returning to, or continuing in, SGA will be considered to have contributed to the continuous period. - (2) **More than one year.** - (i) If the continuous period was preceded by transitional work activity (employment or self-employment which gradually evolved, with or without periodic interruption, into SGA), and that work activity began less than a year after VR services ended, any VR services which significantly motivated or assisted the individual in returning to, or continuing in, SGA will be considered to have contributed to the continuous period. - (ii) If the continuous period was not preceded by transitional work activity that began less than a year after VR services ended, VR services will be considered to have contributed to the continuous period only if it is reasonable to conclude that the work activity which constitutes a continuous period could not have occurred without the VR services (e.g., training). - (b) **Continuous period with medical recovery occurring before completion.** - (1) If an individual medically recovers before a continuous period has been completed, VR services under [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section will not be payable unless some VR services contributed to the medical recovery. VR services will be considered to have contributed to the medical recovery if— - (i) The individualized written rehabilitation program (IWRP) included medical services; and - (ii) **The medical recovery occurred, at least in part, because of these medical services.** (For example, the individual's medical recovery was based on improvement in a back condition which, at least in part, stemmed from surgery initiated, coordinated or provided under an IWRP). - (2) In some instances, the State VR agency will not have provided, initiated, or coordinated medical services. If this happens, payment for VR services may still be possible under [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section if: - (i) The medical recovery was not expected by us; and - (ii) The individual's impairment is determined by us to be of such a nature that any medical services provided would not ordinarily have resulted in, or contributed to, the medical cessation.