If You Get Denied For a Social Security Disability Claim

DO NOT GIVE UP!

There are other ways to be considered disabled under Social Security Administration guidelines. For example, if you are subject to excessive absences due to chronic pain, the side effects of medications, frequent visits to the doctor, nausea, weakness, lack of stamina, or some other reason related to your DIAGNOSED AND TREATED MEDICAL CONDITION, you may be determined disabled. Many people who have chronic pain or illness can perform work on a good day, but not on a bad day when symptoms are severe.

Another way that you may be considered disabled is if you are required by your DIAGNOSED AND TREATED MEDICAL CONDITION to take breaks more frequently or for longer periods of time than an employer would allow under normal circumstances. Your condition may require you to do things such as lie down, elevate your feet, apply ice to your back, take medications and wait a few minutes before returning to task, take frequent restroom breaks, sit or stand or walk around for a while, or other corrective action other than at scheduled times. If your DIAGNOSED AND TREATED MEDICAL CONDITION causes you to do any of these things, you may be determined to be disabled.

You may find yourself with more than one diagnosed illness or condition, which have the COMBINED EFFECT of keeping you from being able to maintain employment. For example, you may have chronic back pain, inflammatory arthritis in your fingers, poor eyesight, and diabetes all at the same time. Any one of these illnesses may not prevent you from working, but all of them together may cause you to be unable to work on a regular basis.

Seeking disability is a last resort to be taken only after medical treatment has failed to restore your health. But you should not feel embarrassed to make an application if you are unable to support yourself due to physical or mental illness.