I was approved for state welfare benefits. Why is Social Security denying me?

A: Programs like Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC) in Massachusetts or Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled (APTD) in New Hampshire are state welfare programs.

State disability programs use different criteria to evaluate disability than Social Security does, and often this standard is easier to meet. Social Security's definition of disability involves multiple steps and the claimant must meet the criteria at each step along the way.  This means that qualifying for state disability programs doesn't always mean the claimant will qualify for Social Security disability.

That said, records from your state disability approval can be helpful in your Social Security claim. If you were approved for state disability benefits, let your attorney know so that these records can be requested and submitted to Social Security.