September 2013

How Substance Abuse Could Affect a Claim

pills and syringes

The Social Security Administration (SSA) can deny a claim for disability benefits if they believe that substance use is a contributing factor material to the applicant’s disability. SSA issued a Policy Interpretation Ruling on February 20, 2013 to help clarify SSA’s role in evaluating cases involving drug addiction and alcoholism (DAA).[i]  SSA will first determine whether the…

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