Will Cigarette Smoking Hurt my Claim?
Posted June 17, 2016 by Premier Disability Services, LLC®
Tobacco is one of the most difficult habits to quit. It is also one of the most common causes of severe pulmonary impairments. Claimants filing for Social Security Disability benefits due to a severe pulmonary impairment must be mindful of the impact continued smoking can have on their claim. The fact is that continued smoking will negatively impact a claim for disability benefits and may even be the primary reason for denial. From SSA’s perspective, engaging in activities that exacerbate a condition undermines a claim that the condition is disabling. Rather, SSA will often take the view that if the smoking ceased then the condition would improve. In addition, it can be difficult to prove a claimant is credible when they continue to smoke despite a severe impairment. Essentially, SSA will view this behavior as evidence that the claimant is non-compliant with treatment recommendations and simply does not want to get better.
