This information may help claimants with representation, as well as claimants who are not represented by an attorney or non attorney representative. Understanding how the Social Security Disability system works can make the difference between winning or not winning the continuing disability benefits and backpay to which a person is entitled. To win a claim for ongoing and past due benefits, claimants should learn about the disability process to improve their chances of winning. |
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To what extent can a letter from a physician, or even your personal doctor, help you on your disability case?
Well, in most social security disability cases, the eventual outcome will be determined by a thorough review of a claimant's medical history, past and present, and statements from treating physicians will hold little weight. However...this is largely due to the fact that, in most cases, personal physicians either 1) do not submit such statements on behalf of their patients or 2) submit statements so short and lacking in detail that their value to a disability examiner or an administrative law judge is practically nil. The truth is: at a disability hearing before a federal judge, a good detailed statement from a doctor who is knowledgeable about a claimant's medical problems can make all the difference as to whether or not a claimant receives their monthly benefits and back pay. This is not the case at the initial claim and reconsideration levels because disability examiners are strongly influenced by a quality control system that substantially discourages claim approvals (and disability examiners whose decisions "buck the system" tend not to get promoted). But at the hearing level (where most claimants seeking to win their cases will eventually wind up), things are markedly different. This is because, in most instances, judges recognize the fact that they are not medical professionals. And, as a byproduct of this recognition, they give substantial weight to the opinions of medical professionals, particularly those who are directly involved in a claimant's medical treatment. Therefore, with regard to the questions, "Can a doctor 's letter win a disability case? and "Can it get you approved?", the answer is YES. But only so long as the statement submitted is:
The type of form that accomplishes this goal is known as an RFC form. To learn more about RFC forms, click the "Disability Definitions" tab in the menu below and on that page read the definition for "residual functional capacity form, or rfc". Disability Advocates Help with Claims Free Case Evaluation |
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SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY ATTORNEY, REPRESENTATIVE LAWYER LIST ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 1 ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 2 |
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If you suffer from a medical disability such as hip, neck, shoulder, ankle, wrist, back, or other joint problems, disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, rsi or repetetive stress injury, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, dysthymia, depression or other mood disorders, congestive or chronic heart failure, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, high blood pressure (hypertension), seizure disorder, stroke, copd, emphysema, hearing loss or poor hearing, statutory blindness, peripheral field problems or other vision loss, clinical obesity, attention deficit hyperactivity or, simply, adhd, bipolar disorder or manic depression, panic disorder, schizophrenia, autism, head trauma, memory loss, low iq, mental retardation, learning disability, epilepsy, cancer, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, lupus, anxiety, inner ear problems, meniere's, vertigo or dizziness, kidney failure requiring dialysis or other renal problems, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or other liver disease, pancreatitis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, rsd or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, crohn's disease, sarcoidosis, peripheral vascular disease, lyme disease, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, hiv, aids, anemia, sickle cell, thyroid problems including hypothyroidism, esrd or end stage renal disease, reflux, gerd (gastroesophageal reflux disease), cfids, muscular dystrophy, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, or tachycardia, bradycardia or other arrhythmia and have initiated or been denied on a social security disability, or ssi, claim for benefits, this site may assist you with your case. Social Security Disability benefits are often difficult to win; however many claims for social security disability are lost simply because a claimant did not know enough about the disability process to their social security or ssi claim. For information re: representation on a social security disability or ssi claim (attorney or non attorney representative), see the "questions" & "how" pages. |
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