Tips for a Person Applying for Social Security Disability
- Apply as soon as you and your doctor consider you disabled.
- Keep a diary.
- Don't understate your condition, but don't exaggerate either.
- Fill out in detail every question on the forms . Add extra
pages if you need more space to be complete.
- Be descriptive about your condition and how it affects your
life . . . give specific examples.
- Keep a record of all medication changes, any reactions you may
have, how often you take the medications, etc.
- Follow medical advice.
- Keep a record of how much time you spend traveling to and
from the doctor or clinic, how many days a month you do this
and how long you wait in the office to be seen.
- When something is wrong, don't delay in seeking the doctor's
advice, or speaking to the nurse; this way it will be entered
into your medical record.
- Make sure that all medical evidence about your condition is
on file.
- Remember the Primary Treating Physician's opinion carries
the most weight! The Social Security examiners have never seen
you.
- Have your doctor do a complete examination and write a letter
explaining your condition in detail.
- If you're turned down on the initial application, you are
entitled to go into the SS office and copy both the medical and
non-medical file, but there probably will be a copying charge.
- If you are turned down, do not become discouraged, You will
probably do better if you appeal and have the appeal handled by
a lawyer specializing in appealing such cases. the fees of such
lawyers are determined by the Social Security Administration,
and are moderate.
Return to Depression Central