Call it the chicken or the egg scenario about what comes first, but Social Security disability and working is along the same lines.
We receive calls all the time from people who say they are unable to work because of their disabilities, but they are contradicting themselves because they are currently working fulltime when they say this. Social Security is not going to take someone’s word that they are unable to work. A claim like that has to be backed-up by medical evidence. Social Security certainly is not going to find someone who is working at a fulltime level disabled because, despite the limitations you may have at your job, you are showing that you can work at a Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level, which means you are not entitled to Social Security disability.
This is a concept some people do not understand, but consider this – why would someone working fulltime claim they can’t? It doesn’t make any sense. In these instances, when someone applied for Social Security disability when they have not stopped working, Social Security quickly dismisses the case without making any medical determination on disability.
Discussing what came first, the chicken or the egg, has more merit than asking what comes first, stopping work or Social Security disability because the answer to this question is stopping work, at least at a fulltime level. But remember, it’s not just the act of stopping working, you must prove to Social Security that you are unable to work at a fulltime level because of your medical condition.
The act of stopping work and going through a disability claim is usually met with financial stress because the work checks stop and the Social Security process is a long and winding road.
To learn more about Social Security rules related to working while applying for Social Security disability click here.
