As the jobs picture in many parts of Louisiana continues to be depressed due to COVID-19 closures and stay-at-home orders, many of my clients are filing for disability but have also applied for unemployment benefits.

In many of my hearings, my SSDI clients are being asked by judges if they have filed for unemployment benefits.

The issue for your disability case is this: when you file for state unemployment, you are asserting that you are ready, willing and able to work, but when you apply for disability you are stating that your medical condition prevents you from being able to work.

Can you Collect Unemployment Benefits While Waiting for Disability? Is This a Conflict?

When I asked my clients about the apparent discrepancy, they would tell me that something like: "I want to work and am willing to try to work, and if I could get a job I would work hard to perform it. I don’t know if my medical condition would allow me to perform reliably, but I would certainly try."

Social Security’s stated policy is to encourage people with disabilities to return to work, and I personally do not see a huge inconsistency in a claimant who is applying for both unemployment and SSDI.

But Social Security tends to view things in an “either-or” fashion. You are disabled or you are not, and there seems to be no middle ground.

Some judges take the position that if you say you are “ready, willing and able to work,” then by definition, you are not disabled.

Apparently, if you accept unemployment compensation and sign your name to a statement that asserts that you can work, then you must not be disabled.

Of course, you don’t automatically receive disability benefits if you do not apply for unemployment and sign a statement that you are not able to work.

And there remains no answer to the question of how you can feed and house yourself and your family during the time that Social Security takes to decide whether you are disabled.

Can you apply for Social Security disability while collecting unemployment? The Key Is Consistency

Back in 2006, the Chief ALJ of Social Security issued a memorandum on this specific issue. He noted that the receipt of unemployment benefits does not preclude disability benefits.

He further noted that SSA’s position is that it should not force claimants to choose between disability benefits and unemployment benefits.

However, he cautioned that judges should be mindful of individuals who are seeking employment in positions that require more functional ability than the person is claiming to have.

A big take away from this memo is that while you can apply for unemployment and disability, your statements to both should be consistent.

That is, you should not claim to disability that you cannot do any work, but claim to unemployment that you can.

If you are applying for disability and also have claimed unemployment, it never hurts to talk to or retain an experienced Social Security attorney who can help you properly prepare your case. Call the law offices of Loyd J. Bourgeois at 985-240-9773 if you have questions about your claim.

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