Social Security divides medical sources into two categories: “acceptable medical sources” and other health care providers who are not “acceptable medical sources”. Nurse Practitioners are in the category of other health care providers who are not “acceptable medical sources”.

In Social Security Ruling 06-03, SSA explains that it makes the distinction for three  reasons: First, SSA needs evidence from “acceptable medical sources” to establish the existence of a medically determinable impairment. Second, only “acceptable medical sources” can give SSA medical opinions.  Third, only “acceptable medical sources” can be considered treating sources whose medical opinions may be entitled to controlling weight.

This means that the medical evidence from a Nurse Practitioner can not establish your medical impairment at Step 2 of the Sequential Evaluation. You must establish your medical impairment in order to win your benefits.

This means that if all of your treatment is by a Nurse Practitioner, then you have no one who can give SSA a medical opinion about how your medical impairments restrict what you can do.

In a card game, a King beats a Jack. Social Security does not even treat a Nurse Practitioner as a Jack–more like a low card. This is not good for your case!

Year                 Non-Blind                    Blind

2000                       $700                     $1,170

2001                       $740                     $1,240

2002                       $780                     $1,300

2003                       $800                     $1,330

2004                       $810                     $1,350

2005                       $830                     $1,380

2006                       $860                     $1,450

2007                       $900                     $1,500

2008                       $940                     $1,570

If you are self employed, the rules are much more complicated. These will be covered in a latter post.

If you are disabled and you have certain Impairment Related Work Expenses that cause you to be able to work,  you may be able to reduce the amount you earn each month by Impairment Related Work Expenses. In order for the expense to be an Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE), the  expense must not be reimbursed, and must be related to your disability(ies) and needed in order for you to work.You may deduct your out-of-pocket expenses for items such as medicine, medical supplies, medical devices, service animals, and disposable items such as bandages and syringes when figuring the amount of your earned income.

You  may also be able to deduct your out-of-pocket expenses for medical services such as doctors visits and some attendant care services charged for preparing you for work, attending to you while you are at work, or getting you to and from work. You may also deduct certain out-of-pocket expenses for transportation and modifications to your home, car, or van to allow you to work.

There are other rules governing Substantial Gainful Activity that will be covered in latter posts. As with all things regarding Social Security Disability, you need to know all the facts and all of the rules before you can decide if you are engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity.