I'd be interested in seeing where you get your information, that it could jeopardize a claim. Do you have a link for that? And possibly, personal experience or anecdotes as well?

I know a person, who worked a part-time job, and is fighting to keep her benefits. The agency feels, her medical health problems are better since she worked. The meds and therapy must have done the trick.
When you volunteer you have to keep to a schedule. You should ask you psychartist and therapist about volunteer work.

This is information about mental disorders direct from the agency.
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.n...2!opendocument

When you have a physical problem the symptoms have to be severe enough to keep a person from doing sedendary work, or any job in the national economy.
http://www.andalman-flynn-law.com/li...UIDELINES2.pdf