A successful Social Security disability interview is a necessary step in the benefits approval process. Knowing what questions they’ll ask, how to answer them, and practicing what you’ll say is also crucial for getting benefits. And sometimes, knowing what not to say when applying for disability is just as important as the answers you give.
This article will explain what you need to know about disability interview questions before the big day comes. We’ll tell you how to confidently prepare and what to say in a disability interview. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll understand why it’s important to tell the truth but to also pay attention to the exact questions asked, so you will know what to say and what not to say when applying for disability.
Disability Interview Dos and Don’ts: Key Takeaways
- A Social Security disability interview doesn’t have to be intimidating if you know what to expect and prepare in advance.
- Remember to always answer questions honestly and concisely without adding extra information. Instead, focus on how your condition keeps you from working.
- Understanding some of the most common mistakes people make when applying for Social Security disability can help you avoid them yourself.
- Explaining why you’re applying for disability and how your conditions affect your daily life to your doctor can benefit your case.
- Knowing what to say and what to avoid when answering questions during your disability benefits interview can help improve your chances of approval.
- Legal assistance can triple your chances for a successful claim and help with appeals if necessary.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During the Social Security Disability Application Process
Unfortunately, the odds are against you when you first file for Social Security disability. Statistics show that 81% of disability applicants are denied benefits on their initial application. Why? Most of the time it’s because they’ve made a paperwork error. No matter the reason, you’ll receive information from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that explains your claim denial.
Working with an attorney right from the beginning can greatly increase your approval odds the first time you apply. So can being smart about your application and avoiding the following five common mistakes.
Mistake #1: Applying while you’re still working.
It doesn’t matter if you work full-time or part-time. If you file for disability while you can still work, then you won’t get benefits. Why? Because disability payments are reserved for those whose illness or injury is so severe they cannot work.
However, if you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you must have recent work history. That means if you’re unemployed for more than 5 years before you file, you cannot qualify for SSDI.
If you apply for disability from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, then your work history doesn’t matter.
Mistake #2: Applying before your doctor confirms you’re unable to work for at least 12 months.
The Social Security Administration won’t award you benefits unless you’re unable to work for at least 12 consecutive months. If you apply for something short-term, like pregnancy or major surgery, the SSA will reject your application. Why? Because they might assume – or hope – you’ll be back to work sooner, and therefore aren’t truly disabled.
Mistake #3: Relying on the consultative exam doctor to declare you disabled after only one visit.
While your own doctor can say you’re unable to work for at least 12 months, the SSA must confirm it. To do this, the agency hires an independent medical professional through your state’s Disability Determination Services office. This helps reduce or eliminate potential disability fraud cases.
Mistake #4: Missing doctor’s appointments or not following through with prescriptions and medical treatments.
Why does this matter? Because your credibility is one of the factors the Social Security Administration uses in determining your eligibility for disability benefits. If you don’t follow the rules (such as missing your consultative exam) or see a doctor regularly, the Social Security Administration will think you’re not disabled.
Mistake #5: Not getting help filing your application or prepping for your disability interview questions.
You might think that filling out some paperwork and sharing doctor’s records is a relatively easy thing to do. However, the disability application process is much more complicated than most people realize. Think of it as a medical procedure. You wouldn’t perform surgery on yourself, would you? This is just as complicated and as important.
What To Say When Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits
How to Talk to Your Doctor About Social Security Disability Benefits
Your doctor can be your most powerful advocate when you apply for Social Security disability benefits. Having a plan and knowing how much work this might require of your doctor can help smooth out this process.
Once you’re ready to explain what to say to get disability benefits with your doctor’s help, make sure you’re prepared:
- Make an appointment specifically to talk about your disability application. It’s unlikely your doctor will have time during a normal visit to both treat you and fill out disability paperwork.
- Be ready to tell your story. You might think that because your doctor knows your medical history, they know why you deserve disability benefits. That’s not always the case. Your doctor doesn’t see all the ways your medical condition affects your daily life. Instead, be as detailed as possible when preparing your statement to share with your doctor. Tell them in specific ways how:
- Your health problems negatively impact your ability to work a full-time job.
- Whether you can or can’t leave your home without help.
- If the medications you’re on affect your ability to interact normally with your family, friends, and coworkers.
- Whether your mental health also plays a role (it often does, as physical disabilities can lead to anxiety or depression).
- Have all the necessary paperwork on hand. Know which forms the doctor must fill out before you can submit them and have those ready. Asking a doctor to go find the forms you need isn’t as efficient, unfortunately.
- Ask for complete copies of your medical records to submit when you apply for disability benefits. These can cost money, so be prepared to pay a reasonable fee.
Pro Tip: Not sure what forms you’ll need a doctor’s help to fill out? A Social Security attorney can provide them to you free of charge.
What to Expect at Your DDS Consultative Exam
The SSA requires a consultative exam unless you very obviously qualify for disability benefits. Unfortunately, that only happens in extreme cases, like Lou Gehrig’s disease or stage four cancer.
During your consultative exam, expect the staff to start observing you even before the appointment begins. So, you should be on your best behavior in the waiting room and even in the parking lot. They are looking for any behavior or clues that might disprove you’re truly disabled.
Once the appointment begins, expect it to be relatively short (exams usually last around 15 minutes for physical conditions). However, if your claim is for a mental issue, your appointment might last for up to four hours. The doctor will examine you to verify your disability claim, so this won’t be a full physical or check-up.
Wondering what to say to get disability during your consultative exam? Keep your answers short, direct, and truthful. Don’t exaggerate or minimize your symptoms and avoid talking about anything but your health. In other words, leave out things like your personal details, finances, etc.
Answering Social Security Disability Interview Questions
Three of the most important things to remember when wondering what not to say in a disability interview are:
- Always be honest.
- Never exaggerate.
- Don’t give any unnecessary information – just stick to the facts.
Why do we insist on not giving any extra information? Nobody tells you this in advance, but having a college degree can hurt your chances for disability approval.
It’s understandable that you might be nervous when thinking about how you should answer these questions. It might even feel impossible to know exactly what to say and what not to say in a disability interview. This is especially true if you keep up with the statistics: Only 30% of applications are successful.
And that percentage is even smaller than that if we’re looking at first-time applications: 20%, on average.
The good news is that if your first try fails, you can always appeal. This gives you the chance to present a better case.
What Not to Say When Applying for Disability Benefits
Navigating Disability Judge Trick Questions
An administrative law judge will ask you questions during your Social Security disability hearing if you must appeal. So, it’s important to know how to answer those questions. Remember that the judge will look for anything you say contradicting your previous statements, including your consultative exam.
That’s why we keep repeating that one of the most important things to remember is to be truthful and consistent.
There might be a few tricky questions that sound like they need more than just a “yes or no” answer. Those questions might not be obvious, so we’re listing some here.
Here’s one example: What if the judge asks, “Where do you like to go on vacation?” They’re really asking if you have expendable income to travel and can participate in physical activities, like skiing, hiking, etc. The wrong answer here immediately puts your disability claim in jeopardy.
By asking who cooks and cleans or if you have kids, the judge wonders: “What is your typical day like?” If you’re well enough to cook each meal and clean your home while also chasing kids around, you’re not disabled.
Another tricky question the judge might ask is “How do you manage your pain?” What they’re really asking is are you taking your prescriptions as directed and going to physical therapy? Or do you overmedicate – and do these medications prevent you from working at all? In many cases, medication side effects can play a role in limiting your ability to work.
Watch What You Post on Social Media
Can posting on social media make it harder to qualify for disability benefits? Sadly, yes.
Why? Because it’s not uncommon for the people evaluating your application to look at your social media profiles during the investigation. If you post photos or status updates that show something different than what you said in your disability interview questions, you won’t get benefits.
The safest thing to do if they’re still reviewing your disability claim is to avoid using social media at all. If you don’t want to go to that extreme, though, you can take some steps that might help protect you:
- Don’t post pictures of you doing anything physical, including going on vacation or even just dancing with your spouse. Posting too much about the ways you move in the world can cast doubt on your disability claims and be used against you during your hearing.
- Take down your LinkedIn profile, even if you have other social media profiles that are public. Unlike Facebook and Instagram, LinkedIn is a platform where people go specifically to network and find new jobs. Even having an old profile that’s visible there can give the impression you are still looking for work.
- Pay attention to your privacy settings everywhere that you share anything online. Lock down your profile as much as possible so only friends can see your posts. Make sure that Google and other search engines don’t have permission to include your social media accounts in search results.
Keep All Disability Interview Answers Honest, Consistent, and Relevant
- Avoid discussing personal details, finances, or other irrelevant information that is not related to your disability.
- Focus on providing information about your medical condition, symptoms, and work limitations.
- Avoid mentioning a history of drug use, criminal activity, or incarceration unless a judge directly asks you those questions.
- Never exaggerate, minimize, or offer more information than is absolutely necessary.
How a Social Security Disability Lawyer Can Help You Get Benefits
By now you might realize that applying for disability benefits is a complex and overwhelming process. And an attorney can help you understand the claims process and knows exactly what to say to get disability. An attorney can also help you prepare ahead of time for your disability interview questions. Knowing what not to say when applying for disability is one thing – but rehearsing it can make you more confident.
Another thing nobody tells you about filing for disability benefits is how long the claim review and approval process takes. Most people wait 2-3 years for benefit approval, but an attorney can often speed things up to months, not years. Having the right medical records and proof to support your claim the first time makes a huge difference.
Working with an attorney is also more affordable than you might think. This is because all disability attorneys work on contingency. That means you pay $0 if you cannot get disability benefits with a lawyer helping you. And if you’re successful, then you only pay one small fee after your award goes through.
Ready to get the help you need? Click the button below to start your free online benefits quiz now and see if you may qualify:
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Lisa Allen is a writer and editor who lives in suburban Kansas City. She holds MFAs in Creative Nonfiction and Poetry, both from the Solstice Low-Residency Program in Creative Writing at Pine Manor College. Prior to becoming a writer, Lisa worked as a paralegal, where she specialized in real estate in and around Chicago.
