Social Security Disability and Unemployment Benefits
Many Social Security Disability claimants file for Unemployment Benefits. This generally occurs when an individual is laid off from a job for poor performance. The poor performance is usually due to an underlying disability which interferes with job attendance or productivity.
Applications for unemployment benefits complicate Social Security Disability claims. That is because in applying for unemployment benefits, an individual states that he/she is ready willing and able to work. This is inconsistent with a Social Security Disability Application which states that the claimant is unable to work. Generally, a disabled person cannot make both statements at the same time. (There are exceptions to this rule for persons over 50 and a disabled individual should contact a competent Social Security Disability lawyer for advice.)
Fortunately there are solutions to this problem;
-
Withdraw the application for unemployment and apply for State Disability, with the help of your doctor.
- State that your disability started when your unemployment ended
There may be other solutions depending on you age, past work and disability.
Dealing with an unemployment claim in a Social Security Disability context requires expertise. A disabled person should hire an experienced Social Security Disability attorney for Social Security Disability help.