Social Security Disability Insurance and prescription meds

On Behalf of | Jun 2, 2020 | Social Security Disability

When applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, in New Jersey, there are many factors that the Social Security Administration will consider. Because a person must be disabled and unable to work to get the benefits, there are certain questions that will be asked during the application process. Medication that is used to treat the disability issue could be assessed in this context.

It will not impact the case if a person was or was not prescribed medication. Still, if a person received a prescription to treat the disabling condition and is not taking it, the disability examiner can ask whether the person really suffers from the disability if the medication would help. Examples of conditions that are generally perceived to improve with medication include epilepsy, asthma and depression.

The applicant may have problems proving an honest attempt to get back to the workforce when refusing to take available medication. If the physician has not prescribed a medication that is known to treat it, that can complicate the case even further. The disability examiner or administrative law judge will not say it is necessary for the applicant to be prescribed medication or to take it to be approved, but it calls the entire case into question if the person is not taking medication to reach functional capacity and hold some type of employment.

There could be reasons why the person is not taking medication such as not being insured and the medication being too costly. Exploring alternatives for this situation may benefit the applicant and help the case. When seeking benefits through Social Security Disability Insurance, legal advice may be beneficial to understanding how prescriptions and medication can be assessed as part of the case. Contacting a law firm experienced in SSDI claims might help.

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