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 Consultative Medical Exams and How they affect Disability Claims


How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

 
Because a great many consultative exams are scheduled simply so that the social security administration can obtain recent medical evidence (in the form of the report from the doctor or psychologist conducting the exam), claimants who receive an appointment letter for a consultative exam should not do the following:

1. They should not assume it is a positive or negative sign regarding their case. It is simply a procedural aspect of the processing of their disability claim.

2. They should not assume that their case is close to being finished. Truthfully, in many cases, a consultative examination appointment does mean that a disability examiner is trying to get a case concluded. However, very often, it has little relation to how much longer a case will need to be worked on before a final decision will be made.

Is the final decision on a social security disability or SSI claim based on the information contained in the report from the consultative examination? In a percentage of cases, the CE will provide information that can aid in the determination of a case. That is, the CE can sometimes push a case toward an approval or denial.

However, in most cases the results of a CE exam are just a formality--basically just a way for a disability claim decision-maker to obtain some recent medical evidence that will allow them to close the claim. It should be said, though, that the results of consultatives exams that are mental in nature (a psychiatric exam or psychological testing) are often much more useful in deciding the outcome of a disability case, whereas a physical CE is usually equivalent to a short office visit to a doctor.

This is particularly true since doctors who conduct physical consultative exams will ordinarily conduct a short review of a claimant's strength, coordination, reflexes, senses, and vitals (blood pressure, breathing, etc). In fact, most physical consultative exams are shorter than ten minutes.














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Topics and Questions


  • How long does it take to hear an answer after filing for disability?

  • How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability?

  • Can you File for Disability for more than one Condition?

  • Should you Look at the Disability File that Social Security has on You?

  • How Long Does it Take To Get An Answer On A Social Security Application For Disability?

  • Applying for disability benefits in Illinois

  • What Determines If You Are Covered for SSDI - Social Security disability Insurance

  • Can You Get Disability Benefits If You Were Self-Employed and had Self-employment Earnings?

  • What does the Severity of your impairment have to do with Your Disability Claim?

  • What Forms will I need to Complete when I apply for disability?

  • Is there ever a review to see if you are still disabled (If so when does it happen?)

  • What types of information is Social Security Disability looking for?

  • Getting a Social Security Disability Representative for your case

  • How do you get an SSI disability application started?

  • How does Social Security Disability Representation work?

  • Is there a way to check the Credentials of a Disability Lawyer?

  • What are the SSI disability qualifications for Adults and Children?

  • Why does it take so long for social security to get medical records?

  • What is the Social Security Disability List of Impairments?

  • Do people need Lawyers for Disability Claims?

  • Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Texas

  • What is the Purpose of the Social Security Disability SSI Medical Exam, or CE?

  • How long does a social security disability hearing last?

  • Social Security Consultative Medical Exams and How they affect Disability Claims

  • Social Security Disability SSI and Activities of Daily Living

  • Disability Claims Through Social Security — How Long is the Process?

  • The Medical Vocational Allowance for Social Security Disability and SSI cases

  • What are the earnings limits for those on disability benefits?






















    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