People can be very quick to judge whether their relative or neighbor acts like they deserve to receive disability.
“I know someone getting disability for a bad back, but I see him carrying furniture and mowing his grass. His back must be fine.”
“My neighbor gets disability for bipolar disorder, but they are always out doing things.”
“Our cousin has MS, but they volunteer all over town. If they can volunteer, you think they would be able to work.”
There are several reasons why you shouldn’t jump to conclusions about someone who receives disability benefits.
1) People Don’t Always Tell You the Real Reason
Many people are understandably private about their health. They may tell friends, neighbors, coworkers, or even family members that they receive disability because of a bad back or arthritis when the real basis for the approval is something much more personal, such as a mental health condition, a neurological disorder, or another illness they simply don’t want to discuss.
They have every right to keep that information private.
So when someone says, “He’s getting disability for his back,” that may not even be true. It may simply be the explanation they chose to share.
2) People Don’t Always Know the Real Reason Themselves
As someone who used to work as a Social Security disability adjudicator, I can tell you something that most people never realize, even if they have been approved for disability benefits.
When Social Security approves a disability claim at the initial or reconsideration level, they do not explain to the person why they were approved, what factors were involved, or whether any parts of their claim were dismissed.
Many people assume they were approved because of the condition(s) they listed on their application. In reality, Social Security evaluates all of the medical conditions shown in the medical evidence, not just the ones they put on the application.
For example, someone might apply because of back pain. During the review, Social Security may discover medical evidence of severe heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, depression, or another condition that contributes to the person’s inability to work. The approval could also be based on the combined effects of several impairments rather than the back problem alone.
I know this because I used to make these decisions. As a Social Security disability adjudicator, I was required to consider every medical problem documented in the evidence, whether the person listed it on the application or not. And, the approval letters that I sent never mentioned why a person was approved, they simply said that they were approved.
3) Disability Isn’t About Being Disabled Every Minute of Every Day
Another common misconception about disability benefits is that a person must be severely affected every moment of every day to qualify. That’s simply not true.
The effects that any medical condition has on a person will fluctuate. Anyone who has kept a child home from school because of the flu will know that their symptoms will vary throughout the day. Feeling worse or sick at certain times and better at other times is a normal part of how a child’s body fights off the virus. (Even if that means you doubt they needed to stay home later that afternoon when they get a burst of energy.)
People with autoimmune diseases, migraines, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, mental health disorders, and many other conditions will have good days and bad days. A person may be able to mow the lawn one Saturday, then spend the next two days recovering.
They may have a few good weeks followed by a flare-up that leaves them unable to function for several days.
To qualify for disability benefits, a person must be unable to perform full-time competitive work on a regular and continuing basis.
If a person’s medical condition causes significant flare-ups, unpredictable absences, or prevents them from consistently performing a full-time job, they may qualify for disability benefits, even if they have some good days.
Medical Evidence Is What Matters
Another misconception is that people receive disability simply because they say they have back pain, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or another medical condition. That’s not how the system works.
Social Security requires objective medical evidence to support a person’s claims. Medical records, physical examinations, imaging studies, laboratory tests, treatment history, and medical opinions all play an important role in determining whether someone qualifies.
A diagnosis alone is not enough. Likewise, simply saying, “My back hurts,” isn’t enough.
Medical evidence must show that the person’s impairments are severe enough to prevent them from working full-time.
Every Case Is Different
No two disability cases are exactly alike. Social Security considers many factors, including:
- Medical evidence
- The combined effects of all medically documented conditions
- Age
- Education
- Past work
- Functional limitations
- Whether the person can perform other work
Two people can have the same diagnosis and receive completely different decisions because their overall medical evidence and vocational factors are different.
The Bottom Line
Social Security looks at the entire medical picture, not just one diagnosis or one symptom. Many approvals are based on the combined effects of multiple impairments. Sometimes the condition that ultimately leads to approval isn’t even the one the person thought was most important. And some people simply choose not to share the real reason for their approval.
There is almost always more to the story than anyone on the outside can see.
If your health keeps you from working, you deserve a fair shot at disability benefits. Contact the experts at Disability Advocates today to get the help and guidance you need.