SSDRC




What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI?

How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI?

If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits?

How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition?

What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits

Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits

How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing

If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare?

How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid?

Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process

How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability?

What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia

Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease

Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression?

Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability

What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability Status

Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on

Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts


Social Security Disability, Medical Records, and a Person's Limitations


How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

 
How do medical records show limitations? That is the problem for most individuals who receive a disability claim denial since most medical records do not indicate the limitations that are suffered by patients. Medical records will usually refer to a patient's diagnosed conditions, the type of treatment they have received, or are receiving, and their complaints and symptoms. But doctors are simply not in the habit of indicating in their notes if a patient is having difficulty sitting for longer than a certain period, or difficulty standing or walking for more than a certain amount of time. Yet, this is the information that social security needs in order to make an approval on a disability claim.

Notations in the medical records as to a person's limitations can allow a disability examiner or judge to get an overall idea of an individual's degree of limitations. It can also allow the decison-maker on a disability claim to determine if the claimant can return to their past work. If it is obvious that the claimant cannot return to their past work, the decision-maker can make a determination as to whether or not the claimant could do some type of other work.

If that is not possible, of course, and the claimant's condition will effectively rule out the ability to work for at least one full year, then they will have met the social security administation definition of disability and will be eligible to receive disability benefits.

When the medical records that have been received by the disability examiner working on the case contain very little reference to how limited a person is as a result of their condition, it is often helpful to have a detailed statement from the claimant's treating physician.

These statements are usually called medical source statements and they allow the claimant's doctor to provide the necessary that the doctor's treatment notes did not. Medical source statements, if they are detailed, objective, and supported by the rest of the claimant's medical record, can assist in winning a claim. But they are usually of little benefit unless a case is at the hearing level.

Unfortunately, most claims are initially denied (denied at the application level) and result in a claimant receiving a boilerplate notice of denial. What should be done once a notice of denial is received?

Continued at: Social Security Denial - What should be done if your disability is denied?














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Topics and Questions


  • How to Apply for Disability - Where do I go to apply for disability ?

  • Does Social Security Disability prefer Current Medical Records for SSDI and SSI claims?

  • What medical conditions can you apply for disability for ?

  • Can a mental illness qualify you for disability?

  • The Social Security Disability and SSI Process for Mental Claims based on Mental Disorders

  • How does Social Security Disability Decide if you can Work or Not?

  • What Happens After You File For Disability?

  • Social Security Disability SSI and Filing based on Fibromyalgia

  • The SSD, Social Security Disability Date of Application

  • Does social security contact your former work employers when you file for disability?

  • How to Prepare For a Social Security Disability Hearing

  • Why do social security disability and ssi overpayments happen ?

  • How often does someone get disability approved in just a few months ?

  • Receiving a Social Security Disability Award Letter

  • Applying for disability benefits in Tennessee

  • Can I Get SSDI Disability If I have Not Worked Before?

  • What does a Disability Denial Letter from Social Security say?

  • What makes a person eligible to receive disability benefits?

  • Letters from doctors for Social Security Disability

  • Application Requirements For Disability - What Do I Need To Start The Claim?

  • How long does it take to get a social security disability hearing decision?

  • Does Social Security Disability Always Have To Look At Your Job History?

  • Dire Need and Getting a Social Security Disability or SSI Case Speeded Up

  • How do you Apply for SSI?

  • What are the Requirements for Social Security Disability and SSI?

  • When Should You File for SSD or SSI Disability?

  • After you file for SSD, the Disability Examiner may contact you for additional information

  • Medical Requirements for both Social Security Disability and SSI

  • Social Security Disability SSI Criteria

  • Are SSI and Social Security Disability Requirements Tougher For Mental Claims?

  • What are the Application Requirements For SSI Disability?

  • SSI Disability for Children and Age Appropriate Activities

  • Social Security Disability SSI - Mental and Physical Residual Functional Capacity

  • How to Apply for Disability - Where do I go to apply for disability ?

  • How To Get SSDI Approved

  • Does Your Last Job Determine If You Receive A Social Security or SSI Award?

  • Filing for Social Security Disability — A few steps to take

  • Insured Status is What Makes SSDI and SSI Different From Each Other

  • Social Security Denied Me For SSD But Didn’t Have All My Medical Records, What Do I Do?

  • Should I List My Past Depression Medications on My Social Security Disability Application?

  • Filing for Social Security disability- what to bring when you apply

  • How Do I Find Out How My Disability Appeal Is Going?

  • Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease

  • How do you find out if a Social Security disability claim has been approved or denied ?

  • Filing for SSD Disability - When Should You put in a Claim?

  • Administrative Law Judge At A Disability Hearing

  • What does a Disability Denial Letter from Social Security say?

  • How long can you receive SSI or Social Security disability benefits ?

  • Filing for Disability - Can you speed up the Social Security Disability process?

  • Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Texas

  • Denied For Social Security Disability Because I Can Work -- What are my Options?

  • If Am Medically Disabled, Can Social Security Still Turn Me Down For Some Reason?

  • What does a Social Security Disability Examiner do?

  • Applying for Disability - How long does it take to get Social Security benefits?

  • Is qualifying for SSI different than SSD (social security disability?

  • How Does Social Security Decide If You Are Disabled Or Not?
























    SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

    The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

    Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

    Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

    Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

    Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials