There is no such thing as being "partially disabled" with Social Security. You are either totally disabled or not disabled at all. Why, then, do some people get partially favorable decisions?
The term "partially favorable" refers to the DECISION, not to the person. The person is fully disabled. The decision is not fully favorable. This means that the judge or decision maker did not approve every benefit applied for in the original application.
Usually, a partially favorable decision has to do with the onset date of disability. The judge found that the claimant is fully disabled -- but he became disabled at a date later than the date stated in the application. This would result in less back pay. That is why the decision is considered "partially favorable" instead of "fully favorable."
A fully favorable decision agrees with the allegations made in the claimant's application, including the alleged onset date.
For example, if a claimant alleges that he became disabled on February 15, 2009 and the judge agrees, he issues a fully favorable decision. However, if the judge believes that the claimant did not become disabled until November 20, 2010, he will issue a partially favorable decision (by moving the alleged onset date and reducing the amount of back pay).
The claimant is fully disabled. But the decision was not fully favorable.
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