No. Any gainful employment means any paid employment, even, e.g., 25
cents per day. The law is not that strict. Instead, the law requires
the inability to perform any SUBSTANTIAL gainful employment, or, more
precisely, any substantial gainful activity, which includes
self-employment as well as regular hired employment.
Prior to 1991, widows had to be unable to do any gainful activity.
SSA interpreted this as meaning that their impairment had to meet or
equal the listing of impairments. So the widows had stricter criteria
than workers.
SSDI workers have always had to be unable to do any SUBSTANTIAL
gainful activity. This means that their claims can be allowed by
meeting/equalling the listings or on the basis of medical and
vocational factors. Widows now (since '91) have the same criteria as
workers.
Jack
That's a good clarification. Sounds like I might stand a chance (I hope).
The only problem is that I might not be quite as depressed and not qualify
any more.