By Anne Fitzpatrick, Contributing Author | Updated by Diana Chaikin, Attorney
The Social Security Administration (SSA) wants to see that you've tried most, if not all, available remedies for your medical impairment before you file for disability benefits. The agency awards benefits to people with impairments that prevent them from working despite medical treatment, so having a condition that's stubborn enough that you can't fix it medically—despite following your doctor's recommendations—strengthens your claim that the condition is preventing you from working.
When your doctors recommend a course of treatment that could help you feel better, and you don't follow their advice, the SSA doesn't know whether the treatment would have worked well enough for you to return to work. If you don't have a good reason why you didn't follow "doctor's orders," Social Security will deny your claim based on failure to follow prescribed treatment.
If you don't comply with treatment, take prescribed medication, or undergo recommended surgery, Social Security can deny your application for disability benefits if the treatment, medication, or surgery would be expected to improve your symptoms to the point where you could work full-times.
Example
Elora applied for disability due to degenerative joint disease in her knee that caused her pain after walking longer than 15 minutes. Her doctor told Elora that the range of motion in her knee would significantly improve with physical therapy and prescribed anti-inflammatory medication to control her pain. Elora was discharged from physical therapy for poor attendance, and she didn't refill her prescription after it ran out. Without a good reason for not complying with her recommended treatment, Social Security will likely deny Elora's application.
Your doctor might ask you to make what the SSA refers to as "lifestyle changes" like dieting, exercise, and quitting smoking. Such recommendations aren't considered prescribed treatment, so you won't be denied benefits if your doctor tells you to stop eating meat and you don't. (Because lifestyle changes can be especially difficult to make, the agency won't penalize you if you aren't able to keep them up.)
Find out if you qualify for SSDI benefits. Pre-qualify in 60 se
If you don't comply with treatment, take prescribed medication, or undergo recommended surgery, Social Security can deny your application for disability benefits if the treatment, medication, or surgery would be expected to improve your symptoms to the point where you could work full-time.
Example
Elora applied for disability due to degenerative joint disease in her knee that caused her pain after walking longer than 15 minutes. Her doctor told Elora that the range of motion in her knee would significantly improve with physical therapy and prescribed anti-inflammatory medication to control her pain. Elora was discharged from physical therapy for poor attendance, and she didn't refill her prescription after it ran out. Without a good reason for not complying with her recommended treatment, Social Security will likely deny Elora's application.
Your doctor might ask you to make what the SSA refers to as "lifestyle changes" like dieting, exercise, and quitting smoking. Such recommendations aren't considered prescribed treatment, so you won't be denied benefits if your doctor tells you to stop eating meat and you don't. (Because lifestyle changes can be especially difficult to make, the agency won't penalize you if you aren't able to keep them up.)
Find out if you qualify for SSDI benefits. Pre-qualify in 60 se
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