An application for Social Security Disability benefits is an affirmation of your belief that you are entitled to benefits under the above definitions – in other words, that you are not able to work. In signing your application, you affirm, under penalty of law, that you are making no false statements on your application.
Persons who apply for unemployment insurance must also affirm, under penalty of law, that they are making no false statements on their application. Persons who collect unemployment insurance affirm having looked for work each week, and that, if work was found, they would be ready, willing and able to accept it.
Furthermore, there is another fundamental difference between the two programs. State unemployment agencies expect you to look for work only in your field. They do not expect, for example, an accountant to accept work as a truck driver. But Social Security asks whether you can perform any work that is within your ability, regardless of the fact that you have never done it before. Collecting unemployment insurance may be an indication that you are only looking for work in your own field.
On the other hand, SSA recognizes unsuccessful work attempts. This is when a person tries to go back to work but their disability precludes a successful transition. So, for example, if the accountant, rather than collecting unemployment insurance, tried to take work as a cashier but found after a month or so that he just wasn’t able to do it because of his physical or mental limitations, it demonstrates a willingness to try to work at other jobs. Such unsuccessful work attempts tend to strengthen credibility and show you are not just trying to work the system.
In conclusion, an unemployment claim is tantamount to saying “I am able to work,” while an SSA disability claim is stating “I am not able to work.” Both statements are made under penalty of perjury, but both cannot be true, and it may affect your credibility in one or both forums.
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