During my practice with Gardberg and Kemmerly, P.C., I have had a number of clients ask whether attending classes at a local college in Mobile, AL, would affect their chances of being approved for benefits or if it would result in a cessation of benefits.
There is no prohibition by the Social Security Administration preventing a claimant from taking classes while applying for benefits or receiving benefits. However, a person’s ability to sit through classes, concentrate on school work, perform in a class setting among peers, etc., could affect a decision disability especially if the bases for disability included cognitive deficits, i.e., social anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or orthopedic problems allegedly affecting one’s ability to maintain concentration, persistence, and pace because of pain and/or medication side effects.
If the case were reviewed, a disability examiner might conclude that the claimant does not meet the definition of disabled or no longer is disabled.