Under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, employees who are "unable to do [their] previous work and cannot.... engage in any other kind of substantial gainful work" are entitled to benefits. Under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) disabled employees who, with reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of their jobs cannot be terminated from employment because of their disabilities. These two laws collide when an employee who has been granted SSDI benefits because he/she is totally disabled, nevertheless, asserts that, with accommodation, he/she is able to do the essential functions of a job. The issue is complicated by the fact that in the application for SSDI benefits the employee certifies that he/she is "unable to work."
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