This information may help claimants with representation, as well as those 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 ssd and ssi benefits and backpay to which a person is entitled. |
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A number of things guide decisions on social security disability and ssi benefit claims, but, ultimately, the approvals & denials made by SSA are based solely on medical evidence.
After an application for Social Security Disability or ssi benefits is taken at the social security office and sent to DDS (Disability Determination Services), the first thing the DDS examiner will do with a case is request the medical records. For this reason, then, it is very important to list every medical treatment source on the application, along with phone numbers and addresses. This is true even for doctor's offices and hospitals that have rendered minimal treatment for a patient. In essence, it is impossible for benefits to be awarded on a case without the presence of supporting medical records. For example, even if a personal physician supplies a statement supporting a case, this statement will hold no no weight whatsoever---without the medical records to substantiate the statement. Additionally, the records obtained by the disability examiner must also include recent treatment (at least within the last two months). Even for a case that represents itself as a "winner", recent evidence must exist to substantiate the claim for disability. If it does not exist, the decision rendered will be a denial. When a Claimant (or a claimant's representative or attorney) does not properly list every treatment source on an disability application or ssd or ssi appeal, the effect can be dramatic. A case can literally be slowed down for weeks or months as a result or, worse, be decided without crucial evidence being reviewed. Typically, this results in a denial. Cases that are properly represented, of course, stand a much better chance of avoiding such scenarios and eventually being won. Disability Advocates Help with Claims Free Case Evaluation |
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SOCIAL SECURITY LAWYER - SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY LAWYER REFERRAL ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 1 ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 2 |
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