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ANSWERING "YES, BUT....."

In a Social Security disability hearing, the claimant will have to answer dozens of questions about his activities, his symptoms and his habits.  Some answers are "Yes," some are "No," and some are "Yes, but...."

 

The "Yes, but...." answer allows the claimant to explain his answer with a little detail.  It is not a deceitful or dishonest answer.  Quite the contrary, it is a full, complete and accurate answer to the question.

Here are few examples of where the "Yes, but...." answer might be appropriate.

Can you drive an automobile?  Yes, but I don't drive frequently or take long trips.  I only drive a few minutes at a time and there are days when I just don't feel like driving at all.

Can you walk around the block?  Yes, but I will need to stop and rest once or twice on the way.  Also, I probably will walk much slower than most people because of hip pain.  (I am making up these answers but assume they would represent truthful facts for an actual claimant).

 Do you cook your own meals?  Yes, I do, but I am no longer able to cook full course meals.  I use easy to prepare dishes such as microwavable meals or soup and sandwiches.  

 You can see where a simple "Yes" answer might lead to an erroneous conclusion.  If "Yes" tells the complete truth and gives an honest evaluation--that is fine.  If more information is called for, consider the "Yes, but..." answer as a good way to provide some accurate details.

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