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The Role of Your Doctor in Your Social Security Disability Claim
Robert Wilcox • June 8, 2023
The Crucial Role of Your Doctor in Your Social Security Disability Claim
Objective Medical Evidence
- What It Is: Lab tests, imaging studies, and direct observations proving your disability.
- Why It Matters: Detailed, accurate records strengthen your case. Include diagnosis, severity, duration, prognosis, and how the disability limits daily activities.
Ongoing Treatment
- Significance: Consistent treatment shows the severity and persistence of your condition.
- Benefit: Provides continuous, updated evidence.
Weighted Opinions
- Treating Doctors: Their opinions carry the most weight due to their ongoing relationship with you.
- Specialists: Opinions from specialists in your condition are highly valued.
- One-Time Examiners: Less weight as they lack a comprehensive view of your health.
- Review-Only Doctors: Least weight due to no direct interaction with you.
Conclusion
Your doctor’s comprehensive records and continuous treatment are vital. Their detailed reports help prove your disability, making their role in your claim essential.
At di Lorenzo and Wilcox Law Firm, we help navigate these complexities. If you need assistance with your disability claim, contact us today. We serve Southeast Georgia, including Savannah, Waycross, Brunswick, Kingsland/St. Marys, and surrounding areas.
Common Disabilities and Their Support Resources
Preparing for a Social Security Disability hearing takes time and effort, but it is essential to give yourself the best chance of success. The hearing is your chance to explain to an administrative law judge (ALJ) why you are unable to work due to your disability and why you should be granted benefits.
The extensive waiting period caused by the backlog can have profound effects on applicants. Financial hardships may arise as individuals wait for their applications to be processed, potentially impacting their ability to meet basic needs and access necessary medical treatments
Marriage can have implications for SSI disability claims, particularly regarding combined income and resources, spousal income deeming, resource limits, and changes in marital status. Understanding how marriage can affect an SSI claim is crucial to ensure accurate reporting, eligibility determination, and continuation of benefits.
The Social Security Disability process can be complex and challenging, often requiring multiple stages of review and potential denials before receiving approval. Understanding the process and knowing what steps to take at each stage can significantly improve your chances of success.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires that individuals continue to meet the eligibility criteria for disability benefits, which includes ongoing medical treatment. If you stop treatment, the SSA may review your case and determine that you are no longer eligible for benefits.
Past under-the-table work can impact your disability hearing, potentially raising doubts about the accuracy of your work history and the credibility of your claim. It is important to be honest and upfront about any past work.
An Unsuccessful Work Attempt is a period of time when you tried to work, but had to stop or reduce your work hours and earnings due to your disability. The SSA allows you to earn up to the SGA level for up to six months and still possibly qualify for disability benefits
Applying for Social Security Disability benefits can be a lengthy and challenging process, and many applicants may find themselves in a difficult situation if they have also filed for unemployment benefits at the same time. While receiving unemployment benefits may not automatically disqualify you from receiving disability benefits, it can potentially affect your credibility
Mental health disorders are a common reason why individuals seek Social Security Disability benefits. Unfortunately, these claims can be challenging to win due to the difficulty of obtaining objective medical evidence to support the diagnosis.
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