Sticking to what the doctor told you can soon get boring if you feel they were being overly cautious. Yet, if you have claimed Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, that is precisely what you must do.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses the opinions of the doctors who examined you to decide whether or not you qualify for benefits. If you go against your doctor’s orders, you effectively tell the SSA that the doctor was wrong. If the SSA becomes aware that you are doing this, it may reconsider your claim and take away the benefits you fought so hard to get.
It only takes one moment of madness to lose your entitlements
The SSA understands that most claimants are genuine, but it has a duty to watch out for those who are not. So, it sometimes keeps a watchful eye on those whom it suspects may be dishonest. That could involve checking social media posts for signs someone is more active than you were supposed to be or even having a private detective follow them to check what they get up to.
Remember, one of the key qualifying factors to receive SSD is that the disabling condition will prevent you from working for at least 12 months. If you reach month nine or 10 and start to feel much better, you may be tempted to rush ahead too soon, but you must respect what the doctor said.
It can be a fine balance, as sometimes people recover quicker than expected. Or they get carried away in the moment and overexert, only to pay for it later. It’s best to get legal help if you are unsure what you can and cannot do without jeopardizing your claim.