How to Talk to Your Doctor About Social Security Disability
When you apply for Social Security disability benefits, one of the most important players for your claim is your treating physician. While the Social Security Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), who will decide your claim isn’t strictly required by law to go along with your doctors’ opinions, they must consider it when deciding your case. If an ALJ does not give your doctor’s opinions considerable weight, they must provide specific and legitimate reasons for rejecting it. Obviously, one of the first individuals you should speak with after deciding to apply for disability is your doctor.
To win your case, you must start with a diagnosis through a doctor’s exam to prove that the symptoms of your impairment prevent you from maintaining full-time employment. But a diagnosis alone is usually not enough to qualify you for benefits. Your doctor should also explain in writing how the symptoms of your medical conditions limit your ability to work. When you talk to your doctor about Social Security Disability (SSDI or SSI), be direct, honest, and specific about how your condition limits your capacity for work, emphasizing the impact on your ability to stand, sit, or lift. Provide detailed examples. Don’t just say “it hurts”; explain how it stops you from working—for example “I can’t sit more than 15 minutes,” “I cannot lift anything that weighs more than 10 pounds.”
Even if you haven’t applied for benefits and you’re still working, tell your doctor about the problems you are having in performing your job. For example, if you often miss work, leave early, or arrive late due to your health problems, make sure your doctor is documenting these issues. Keep a disability journal and bring it to your doctor’s appointment. This is a helpful way to let your doctor know the symptoms that you are experiencing on a regular basis. Don’t downplay or exaggerate your symptoms; be truthful about your condition, how it has responded to treatment, and any treatment side effects. Include all related and unrelated impairments, as SSA is required to consider all health conditions which could affect your ability to work.
Ask your doctor to complete a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) form. The RFC form is separate from your medical records and helps your doctor explain your limitations.
Simply stated, an RFC is an evaluation of what you can still do despite your impairment(s). If, considering your age, education, and work experience, your condition causes limitations that prevent you from performing any work activity, you may qualify for benefits. Your own treating doctor’s opinion about your RFC is one of the most important pieces of evidence in a Social Security Disability case. It’s best to ask your doctor to complete the form directly at an appointment and not call the office or submit the request online.
If you have more than one doctor, it is important to tell each doctor that you are filing for disability so that your doctors have the right level of knowledge and documentation. After all, your primary doctor may know you best, but your neurologist may be the best person to document certain symptoms and help you explain its impact on your ability to work and function.
The path to winning Social Security disability benefits is complex and difficult to navigate. If you are unable to work due to a physical or mental impairment and are considering applying for disability benefits or if you have been unfairly turned down for benefits, you can get a free evaluation of your case from the disability professionals at Nash Disability Law. It is easy to get started, so take that first step and contact us today. When you hire us to fight for your rights, we only get paid when you win your case.
