Proving Disabled w/Handicap sticker

[AZ-Tax]

Prospect tells me prospect never pursued determining if the prospect was disabled due to not wanting to beleive prospect was disabled therefore prospect/taxpayer receives NO payment from SS or from any insurance company but has a "permanent handicap parking sticker". Its my understanding being issued a handicap sticker is not proof enough to the IRS that you are disabled. Anybody had any experience with this?

[taxea]

You are correct. He needs a doctors statement. You can find it at the bottom of Sch R I think.

[S T]

Yes a doctor's statement is needed to obtain a Handicap Parking Placard,

Just because a person can obtain a Doctor's statement for the Handicap Parking Placard, is not always stating that the person is disabled

The Doctor and the License Plate (huffingtonpost)

It is the physician or the optometrist who has the authority to sign the application forms that grant disabled placards or license plates. But, how many doctors know the law, read the forms and assure that only those truly eligible get the privilege? How often have we signed a form for a patient without really evaluating whether it was a necessity or a "convenience?" Every unnecessary form we sign decreases the number of available parking spots for those that are deserving. The law leaves a great deal of room for interpretation by the physician. It states that "A person is disabled who has mobility problems that substantially impair the person's ability to ambulate, or who is legally blind." Clearly a person paralyzed by a stroke or who has had a leg amputated qualifies. The judgment call is when someone has low back pain or arthritis in their knees and would prefer to park closer. We need to clearly evaluate whether they have disability. The person with a thinking problem, paralyzed arm or speech disorder would not qualify.

Same would hold true if you were trying to determine disability requirements, just based on the source of income - possibility marked disability - I have had clients that received SS disability for a year or two - but then returned to work in year 2 or 3, such as a double hip replacement - so the social security disability was "temporary" not permanent.

Sandy

[BP.]

clients that received SS disability for a year or two - but then returned to work in year 2 or 3 - so the social security disability was "temporary" not permanent.

IRS' Permanent and Total Disability Definition-Pub 17

"physician must certify
that the condition has lasted
or can be expected to last
continuously for 12 months or more,
or that the condition can be expected to result in death."

[Gary2]

To put it succinctly, a handicap placard indicates difficulty walking, not difficulty working.

[taxea]

Yes a doctor's statement is needed to obtain a Handicap Parking Placard,

Just because a person can obtain a Doctor's statement for the Handicap Parking Placard, is not always stating that the person is disabled



Same would hold true if you were trying to determine disability requirements, just based on the source of income - possibility marked disability - I have had clients that received SS disability for a year or two - but then returned to work in year 2 or 3, such as a double hip replacement - so the social security disability was "temporary" not permanent.

Sandy

Thats because some disabilities can be temporary. The doctor's statement requires that the disability will last for at least a year for the person to qualify for Sch R. Handicapped placards can be issued for just a few months, like in the case of being on crutches while a broken leg heals.

A placard, however, is not sufficient to prove a permanent disability. The IRS and or SSA require a doctor's statement at the very least. People steal placards all the time. How do you verify this placard belongs to him. If he is in denial about his medical status why would he get a placard....that's like advertising the problem for all to see.