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Doctors can help you in your SSI case

by: Lala Balattan

A good measure of competence and reputation is needed upon anything which concerns legality and authenticity of records. In case you are a claimant for a Social Security Disability or SSI benefits, your claim will be evaluated using your medical records. Thus, having a competent and respected doctor is most advisable in order to provide the necessary authenticity and substance to your claim!

First and foremost, having a doctor to conduct a regular and updated medical treatment on your person is very important in order that your claim gain sufficient attention and consideration. Evaluating a disability claim takes quite a lengthy procedure, and each record presented by the claimant is severely inspected. It is but proper for your physician to be advised never to be limited and too lenient on facts concerning your disability. Your physician must also be aware that even if past medical records indicate your disability, an examiner or judge will never approve your recent claim without current medical records to support your claim and your past medical records.

Take your time winning the interest of your doctor about your claim. Once your doctor diagnosed your treatment and believes that your condition is disabled, you must have him as an ally in order to support your case in writing. Primarily, it is your doctor who knows the extent of your disability. Request for a detailed statement regarding your conditions.

Getting a competent and objective supporting statement from your doctor, or even having him complete a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) form on your behalf could give you a good chance of reducing the processing period of your disability claim. RFC forms, particulary, which are used by the DDS examiners, could carry great weight at hearings held by the Administrative Law Judges.

More possible than not, you might lose your medical coverage before your claims are approved. There is still a solution! Try to be seen at a free clinic, county health department, or emergency room. These treatment sources may not be as reputable as having a personal doctor, but these are better than having none at all. Or give it a go at your state's Vocational Rehab department. Very often, VR can assist claimants in getting certain testing and examinations paid for. Though this is always for the purpose of developing a VR claim, VR counselors are usually willing to supply these records to a claimant's representative as well.

Medical statements need to be detailed and substantial. Without the support of objective medical findings, little or no consideration, at all, will be given to a physician�s medical opinion by an Administrative Law Judge. While writing out his diagnosis of your condition, gently remind your physician to explain all the details, especially, the diagnosis which supports your claim of disability, even your body�s limitations(e.g. level of inability too sit, stand, walk, stoop, crouch, grasp, reach or otherwise move) and your prognosis.

Remember! Generally, the rule is that you cannot be approved for social security disability or SSI based on disability if you are not examined by a medical provider at least once every two months. It is best to abide by your prescribed medications, too. In the end, whether you took your prescribed medicine or not may affect how your impairments are viewed. In fact, judges will often deny claims in which claimants did not take what was prescribed. The fact that the claimant had no means by which to obtain their needed meds is generally irrelevant to an ALJ at a disability hearing.

Professional medical opinion is very important in the presentation of an SSI case. The doctor/physician is the only one qualified not only to state that a person is disabled but, rather, explain in detail, why a person is disabled. As such, these statements from qualified medical practitioners can greatly improve a claimant�s chances of being awarded continuing and past due benefits.

About the author:
Lala B. is a 26 year-old Communication Arts graduate, with a major in Journalism. Right after graduating last 1999, she worked for one year as a clerk then became a Research, Publication and Documentation Program Director at a non-government organization, which focuses on the rights, interests and welfare of workers for about four years.

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