SSA and/or judges don’t usually approve your case based on what you say on the forms. However, they often use what is said in the forms to support a denial of your claim. This is because if SSA or a judge is going to approve your claim, they will base it on more compelling objective evidence such as medical records and/or treating physicians’ opinions regarding your inability to work.

The inherent problem you have as a claimant is twofold. First, with all due respect, you don’t know what you need to prove in order to win your case. Second, you have spent the past several months or years consistently downplaying the severity of your medical problems to anyone you thought was listening (i.e. your employer, family, friends, doctors and SSA). Even though you are constantly in excruciating pain or exhausted; nobody wants to be viewed by others as a whiner.

Disability Forms Filling

Studies consistently show that Americans are more productive and annually work longer hours than workers in any other country; consequently, it isn’t fashionable to complain. Instead, Americans “grin and bear it” or we follow the British and keep the proverbial “stiff upper lip.”

All too often, your denial mechanism rears its ugly head when you complete SSA forms. The result is that you consistently overstate what you are capable of doing and understate the severity of your symptoms and limitations. Does this also sound familiar?

The problem is that the aforementioned disability strategy may likely kill your chances of winning your SSA case without you even knowing it.

By following these tips when completing SSA’s forms you should significantly reduce the likelihood of making a serious mistake that comes back to bite you in the you-know-what!

• Certainly you remember the advice your parents gave you as a teenager – the more you say, the more its gets you in trouble! This is not the time to become a novelist! This clearly applies to completing SSA forms. SSA does not give you a lot of room to answer the questions and that is good. Limit your answers to the space that has been provided in the question and do not write in the margins or attach additional sheets of paper.
• Always answer the question honestly, but keep your answers brief and to the point.
• Remember, a critical issue in a social security disability case is always what activity level are you capable of sustaining on a regular and continuing basis (i.e., a 5 day work week). The issue is never what you can do for only one day. Clearly, almost everyone is capable of performing some activities for one day such that it would make them appear to be capable of working. Never forget…the issue is always what level of activity you can sustain on a daily basis, week after week.
• Another critical issue in a social security disability case is your symptoms and limitations (e.g., pain, fatigue, concentration problems, inability to maintain any activity for a reasonable period). Always remember, you are unable to work due to the frequency, severity and duration of your symptoms and limitations, and not due to a diagnosis. You should mention all the diagnoses that have even a small impact on your inability to work, but you should use 5% of the allotted space to reference diagnoses and 95% to discuss The Big Three and how they limit not only your ability to work but also your ability to function on a daily basis.
• If psychological issues play even a small part in preventing you from working, you must allege them on the forms. Although the primary reason you are unable to work may be due to a physical diagnosis, don’t overlook the psychological issues that often arise after years of dealing with chronic pain and fatigue. You want to win your case anyway you can, whether it is due to physical or psychological problems, or quite frequently, a combination of both.

Judges like to have several medical conditions to choose from if they want to approve your claim. For example, if a judge believes your claim is not strong enough to be approved based only on your physical diagnosis, they want the option to approve your claim based on another diagnosis, perhaps psychological.

What prevents the judge from simply approving it based on a psychological diagnosis? The problem is you never told SSA on any of the forms you completed that you believed a psychological condition was at least in part responsible for why you can’t work!

Thus, a door that could have used to approve your claim does not exist; consequently, the judge has no choice but to deny your claim. This scenario is terribly unfortunate because your claim was denied when the judge was looking for a way to approve it!

The solution is to tell SSA early, often and consistently that you believe a psychological diagnosis plays a part in your inability to work. It is fine to state that it is “secondary to” or “as a result of” dealing with your chronic physical symptoms and limitations.

Remember, proper preparation as well as understanding what you need to prove and how you need to prove it are critical to winning your case. By following these tips, you should avoid making a mistake that you later regret.

Many people are not aware that there is a difference between Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Social Security Insurance (SSI). Social Security Insurance is just that –A federal system that one involuntarily pays into while working, in order to receive retirement benefits at the prescribed age. The average Social Security income ranges in the between $800-1000 per month, depending on the amount one earned while one worked. There are various persons who may receive SSI OR SSDI benefits. For example you can be the son or daughter or spouse of someone who is deceased that worked and paid into the system and received SSI or SSDI.

SSDI Primary recipients

There are basically two types of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The most common type is for individuals who are severely and permanently disabled from birth or before the age of 22. The second type is for those who become disabled after the age of 22. In both cases the disability has to be verified by medical professionals with documentation approximately every one-two years.  Temporary disabilities, such as injuries, usually don’t qualify one to receive SSDI benefits.

Who decides Social Security Disability Insurance eligibility?

The Social Security system is so overwhelmed, that most of the time one has to prove their case of disability beyond a shadow of a doubt. In essence one is considered an able bodied worker, capable of taking care of his or her basic needs, until there is an insurmountable amount of information and documentation that validates ones claim of disability.
Eligibility is usually determined by a state agency known as Disability Determination Service (DDS) not to be confused with the Department of Developmental Services who oversees services for persons with mental disabilities.

SSDI Eligibility requirements.

The four basic questions that Social Security asks and wants proof of are the following: First, is your medical condition so severe that it keeps you from working? If not is your medical condition on the List of Impairments or comparable to a condition on the list? Thirdly, are you able do the same type of work previously done? If not, are you able to do any type of work?

How  SSI& SSDI works

The Social Security Administration will go through many lengths to disqualify and prolong the process of eligibility. If you are as seriously as ill as social security requires you to be, in order to receive a disability check, answering the many questions and corresponding with doctors becomes a very difficult process to navigate. The Social Security Administration claims that they will gather the information for you but in reality they can use the absence of information as a way to delay making a decision about your case. At this point I strongly suggest getting an advocate to secure information on your behalf.
Can be degrading and illogical system

The most degrading part about the entire process is for hard working individuals, who have paid into the system to have their integrity and intentions questioned. Now think about this logically. If you could work and earn three times or even one and a half times that of social security would you rather do that or just sit at home and collect minimal check? Ok there are a few simple minded people without a work ethic who might make that decision. But for the most part, people who have a history of working 10-15 years would not make that decision intentionally. Let’s weigh the logic in that.  Should I give up my $20,000-30,000 a year income for a $12,000 a year income? Mmmm…tough decision.

The Social Security Disability Insurance Disability Trap

The bottom line is this. Social Security Disability Insurance is only for the most severe cases of disability. It is the Social Security Administration’s job to determine weather your situation qualifies you for a disability check. To make matters worse they are making these decisions in the most severe of economic times.  Before applying for social security disability ask yourself some tough reflective questions.  Am I injured or impaired to the point where I can not sit, stand or move my extremities enough to work or take care of myself? If I don’t receive the disability check will I be able to survive some other way? Are there simple remedies or actions that I can take that will improve my situation? Am I willing to do what it takes to get healthy?  If there is a remote possibility that you can do any of these things to help your situation it is far easier to pursue them than to get caught in the social security disabilities benefits trap?

Mind over matter example

The social security trap I refer to is a psychosomatic theory by which being involved with social security perpetuates your condition and leaves you dependent on the system. For example, let’s say you work as a cashier and are diagnosed with a condition that limits your ability to stand or sit for longer than 20 minutes at a time. You apply for SSDI and your condition is confirmed by a physician. After 15 years of working, you settle into a routine of not working. You become lethargic a little restless and maybe slightly depressed. After about 7 months, you begin a new water therapy and vitamin that relieves the pain and improves your condition.

Redetermination Social Security Disability Insurance trap

Shortly after that, your social security redetermination papers arrive. This is a process where you have to prove weather or not you’re still disabled. Ergo the beginnings of the disability trap.  Consciously or sub-consciously, you make a decision as to weather or not you’re well enough to return to work. The doctors are supposed to make this decision but you really make it by what and how you report to the doctors. That’s why SSA requires physical evidence and documentation.

Proving you’re still disabled trap

Even though you feel better and are recovering from you condition, you may decide not to take the risk of “saying” you feel better. Instead of taking the risk of being without income, you decide that you should try to convince DDS that you are still disabled. The trap begins in the thinking process where you convince or tell yourself that you are still very sick, and unable to work. As a result, your body may begin to manifest symptoms from before. When you revisit your doctor, you find that your symptoms and test show evidence of the diagnosis and no improvement.

Permanently disabled

You’ve just wiped away your actual progress psychologically. Even though you are actually doing better, you’ve just consciously or subconsciously convinced yourself and your body that you are not. And the cycle continues until you convince yourself and your body that you are permanently disabled and unable to work at all. The mind is powerful tool use it to your benefit not to your demise.
Use Opportunities

Social Security has realized that this is the case for many people who receive the benefits and have put incentives in place for people to return to work. For the most part, these systems do not have precedence and again are very difficult to navigate. As the current economic situation worsens and more people are without jobs these incentives seem bleak and at best. As bleak as they may appear they are still opportunities that can be taken advantage of and with the proper direction should be tested.

Be true to yourself
On the other hand, if you are truly severely disabled, beyond a shadow of a doubt, then make the claim. And prayerfully the doctors and evidence will validate the severity of your disability. If they don’t find you eligible there is an appeals process in place to help you make and present your case. I strongly suggest at this point getting a representative only after you have completed an honest self reflection and determined that you are in need of assistance.

Everyone has something to offer
It is my belief that every person no matter how disabled has something of value to contribute society. It is that participation that sometimes leads to employment, quality of life and economic independence. After all isn’t that why we work so that we can live.  Studies show that individuals who participate in purposeful and meaningful activities are healthier and lead more productive lives.

What is my purpose?
It is not the responsibility of the Social Security Administration or the government to provide funds for quality of life instead it is our society at large that should to reevaluate what is needful and necessary to live a life of quality and purpose.  We may find that it has nothing to do with money and everything to do with our how we spend our days and weather or not our greater purpose in life is being fulfilled.