| When you apply for Social Security, you'll notice | | | | Factor #4: Evidence from non-medical sources |
| that medical information is mentioned often | | | | and other practitioners. This includes evidence |
| throughout the application and in other disability | | | | regarding your ability to work, obtained from |
| documents. This is because medical evidence is | | | | social workers, schools, family members, |
| often the core of the Social Security Disability and | | | | employers, and practitioners (considered |
| SSI process. Social Security cannot make a | | | | non-medical by Social Security) such as |
| decision on your claim without medical evidence. | | | | chiropractors, audiologists, and herbal doctors. |
| Here we will discuss five factors to consider while | | | | Evidence from these sources can be helpful, but |
| gathering medical evidence and what Social | | | | again, the medical records are the primary source |
| Security considers "credible evidence." | | | | of evidence and information that will be used to |
| Factor #1: Evidence must be from an "acceptable | | | | determine your disability claim. |
| medical source." Sources considered acceptable | | | | Factor #5: What information medical records |
| include licensed Medical Doctors, Optometrists, | | | | should include. Social Security especially looks |
| Podiatrists, Speech Pathologists, and Psychologists. | | | | for:medical history; clinical findings (i.e., results of |
| Some exceptions may apply according to situation | | | | physical or mental status exams); laboratory |
| or location, but generally, if the medical practitioner | | | | findings (blood pressure, x-rays, etc.); diagnosis; |
| is licensed, he or she is considered credible. | | | | treatment prescribed with response and |
| Factor #2: Evidence should be from a "treating" | | | | prognosis;and |
| source. This means that the medical practitioner | | | | *a statement providing an opinion about what the |
| who has been treating you consistently, over a | | | | claimant can still do despite his or her |
| period of time, probably knows you and your | | | | impairment(s), based on the medical source's |
| disability the best. Medical records from several | | | | findings on the above factors. |
| doctors who have seen you once or twice won't | | | | *This statement is often very helpful in your |
| be very helpful to your disability claim. In addition, | | | | disability claim. Make sure the doctor includes any |
| it may speed up the processing of your disability | | | | applicable information such as ability to perform |
| claim to have solid medical records from one (or | | | | work-related activities (such as sitting, standing, |
| two) source(s), and it means you probably won't | | | | walking, lifting, carrying, handling objects, hearing, |
| have to see a Social Security doctor. Simply put, | | | | speaking, and traveling). In cases involving mental |
| it is important to visit your doctor frequently and | | | | impairments, it should describe ability to |
| over a long period of time if possible. | | | | understand, to carry out and remember |
| Factor #3: Evidence from other health facilities if | | | | instructions, and to respond appropriately to |
| applicable. These health facilities include hospitals, | | | | supervision, coworkers, and work pressures in a |
| clinics, and other sources you may have visited in | | | | work setting. |
| regards to your disability. Social Security likes to | | | | If you have insufficient medical records, Social |
| have everything in your file before your case is | | | | Security will set up a Consultative Exam for you |
| considered, even if the records contain little | | | | with an outside source chosen by Social Security. |
| valuable information. If you withhold medical | | | | Remember that this exam is for Social Security's |
| records because they seem unimportant, Social | | | | purposes and is not intended to give you ongoing |
| Security may wonder if you are hiding something | | | | care and treatment. Also remember that these |
| that may hurt your claim. They also have you | | | | doctors are very careful about giving the opinion |
| complete medical authorizations for the purposes | | | | of an individual being "disabled." Thus it is more |
| of requesting your medical records, so even if | | | | beneficial to see your own doctor, often and over |
| you do not supply these records, Social Security | | | | a period of time, before applying or during the |
| will acquire them. Thus it is best to provide all the | | | | process to avoid this situation. Wherever you are |
| information you can, and to request it all yourself | | | | in the disability process, best of luck. |
| to save time if possible. | | | | |