How to Find Doctors Who Can Do Disability Evaluations

Having a doctor's support is critical if you're filing a claim for disability benefits, whether you're applying for short-term disability through your insurance provider or permanent benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Neither the SSA nor private insurers will pay disability benefits without evidence of a medical condition that keeps you from working, so you'll need to have some doctor's visits under your belt if you want to win your claim.

Getting approved for benefits isn't as simple as having a doctor write a note saying you're disabled, however. The letter must be supported by physical or mental evaluations and other records showing that you have significant functional limitations. That means you'll need to establish a treating relationship with a doctor who can perform these evaluations along with other tests necessary to prove that you're unable to work due to your medical impairment.

How Can I Find Disability Doctors Near Me Who Do Social Security Evaluations?

Before you start searching online for "doctors who do disability evaluations" or "short-term disability doctors" in your area, it's important to recognize that there really isn't such a thing as a "disability doctor." Even though the SSA gets advice from doctors to help decide disability claims, determining whether you're disabled is ultimately a legal matter rather than a medical one, and individual doctors don't (and shouldn't) specialize in "disability."

Likewise, an application for short-term disability benefits will typically ask your treating provider to supply the dates of your first, last, and next scheduled office visits. If the doctor has only seen you once or twice, or there's been a significant gap between visits, your claim for short-term disability is more likely to be denied.

Fortunately, you don't need to go to a special doctor to get approved for benefits. If you have a regular physician or psychologist, you can have them complete the "for doctors only" part of the short-term disability application form. And if you're applying for Social Security benefits, you can strengthen your claim with a well-crafted letter from your treating doctor.

If I Don't Have a Regular Doctor, Can I Get a Free Disability Evaluation?

In an ideal scenario, you'll have access to a medical provider who you've seen consistently for at least a year, is familiar with your medical condition, and is ready to write a statement about your limitations. But due to the high cost of insurance and medical treatment, many disability claimants (applicants) aren't able to see doctors on a regular basis. You may find yourself bouncing between providers or without the resources to establish an ongoing relationship with one doctor.

Claimants who apply for disability benefits without much in the way of regular doctors' visits are often sent to a consultative examination paid for by Social Security. (This exam is probably the closest thing available to a "free disability evaluation.") But because these exams only provide a snapshot of your health on that day, they're not always the most useful way to show that you're disabled. That's why it's almost always better to get medical attention on your own even if the up-front cost seems intimidating—it can pay off if you're later awarded disability benefits. If you aren't sure where to start building your medical records, check out free or sliding scale clinics in your area.

How Should I Choose a Doctor?

Finding a doctor can be a very personal decision—one that shouldn't be made solely with an eye toward getting disability benefits. That said, there are some factors involved in the development of a doctor-patient relationship that can sway a disability examiner or administrative law judge who's otherwise on the fence about your claim. Below are a few considerations to keep in mind when looking for doctors:

• What are their qualifications? Social Security prioritizes medical providers who've achieved the highest level of education in their area of practice. Clinical notes from a medical doctor (M.D.) or psychologist (Psy.D. or Ph.D.) are generally more useful to the SSA than those of a chiropractor or counselor.
• Do they have experience handling my health issues? You wouldn't see a dentist to place a stent in your heart or a cardiologist to perform a root canal. Try to find a doctor who is familiar with the area of medicine that focuses on your condition.
• Will I be able to see them regularly? The perfect doctor isn't the one you never see. A general practitioner with whom you establish a relationship may be more likely to help you than the top doctor specializing in your field whom you see only once or twice.
• How do they keep treatment notes? Busy doctors aren't always great at keeping up-to-date notes. Make sure that your doctor doesn't just cut and paste the notes from your last visits, which won't help document any decline or improvement in your health.
• Does your doctor support your disability claim? Your doctor shouldn't minimize your symptoms or dismiss your complaints. Avoid doctors who don't listen to you or think that your limitations aren't "that bad."

Getting a doctor who is a good fit for your condition and your claim might take some time. But avoid going through doctors too quickly ("doctor shopping") in an effort to find one who will write you a letter in favor of your disability application. Social Security may view your case with suspicion if it seems like you're looking for a doctor who will support an otherwise unconvincing claim.

Now That I've Found a Doctor, How Do I Schedule an Appointment for a Disability Letter?

Once you've found a doctor who you've visited regularly for treatment over the course of several months—preferably, at least one year—consider scheduling an appointment to talk specifically about your disability. The appointment can be part of your regular visits, or it can be on a separate date. Because doctors are frequently swamped with paperwork, having an in-person talk about your disability claim can increase the chances that your doctor will agree to write a letter.

How Statements From Your Regular Doctors Can Help Your Social Security Claim

The SSA awards disability benefits to claimants who can't work full-time for at least one year due to a "medically determinable impairment." Determining whether claimants are physically or mentally able to work requires claims examiners to review complex medical records and make an educated guess as to the extent of a claimant's limitations. Because examiners aren't doctors, they rely on medical consultants (doctors or psychologists who work for the SSA) for help interpreting these records.

However, consultants can only review the medical records they have in front of them. As such, they don't have as much insight into your health issues as your regular doctors do. So when the SSA receives a letter from a doctor whom you've seen for ongoing treatment, the agency can give that doctor's opinion special consideration ("more weight") when deciding whether you're disabled, provided the opinion isn't completely out of line with the rest of your medical evidence. (404 C.F.R §1520c.) 

How Do I Ask My Doctor for a Disability Letter?

During your conversation with your doctor, explain that you're not expecting them to write a note for you to "get out" of working or to testify in front of a judge. Talking with your doctor about your limitations can give you an idea whether their letter will be supportive or not, and your doctor might be more willing to help if they know that they aren't expected to get involved in lengthy legal proceedings.

If your doctor is on the fence about helping with your application for benefits, you might be able to convince them if you explain in clear terms what a good doctor's statement looks like and how important it is to the SSA. (You can read about how to overcome common doctors' concerns in our article on getting cooperation from your doctor for your disability case.)

Ultimately, your doctor is under no obligation to provide an opinion. If you've asked your doctor to write you a letter and they've said no—or gave you the run-around—it might be time to search for a new medical provider.

What Should My Doctor Put in the Disability Letter?

In order to help your claim for disability benefits, your doctors' statements must be detailed and must refer to the medical evidence in your records. That way claims examiners can see how and why your doctors came to their opinion.

Short, general statements (such as "My patient is 100% disabled and unable to work") are rarely helpful, because your doctor isn't likely to be familiar with the SSA's legal requirements for disability or the terms of your short-term disability policy. To be effective, a doctor's opinion should contain the following:

• how long your doctor has treated you and how frequently you visit the doctor
• your doctor's interpretation of any tests used to diagnose your condition
• any physical restrictions, such as how long you can sit, stand, or walk
• any mental restrictions, such as difficulty focusing or socializing
• how your condition causes your restrictions, and
• how long your condition and restrictions are expected to last (your prognosis).

You can help make the process easier for your doctor by giving them a downloadable form to fill out. It's important that the "medical source statement" reflects your doctor's opinion and only their opinion. Don't fill out the form yourself and bring it to your doctor to sign—letters that are seen as just a "rubber stamp" may be disregarded. Some doctors may charge a small fee for completing a medical source statement.

Should I Get a Letter From My Doctor for an SSI or SSDI Appeal?

Yes, it's a good idea to get a doctor's letter if you want to appeal a denial of Social Security benefits, whether you're applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Most SSDI and SSI applications aren't approved on the first try, so having your doctor address the specific reasons why you were denied can improve your chances of success on appeal.

Can a Lawyer Help Me Get Disability Benefits?

It's important to know what a lawyer can and can't do for your disability claim. Your attorney won't be able to go back in time to fix gaps in medical treatment, and they won't be able to make a doctor write you a favorable letter that's guaranteed to put you on "permanent disability," for either short-term insurance purposes or Social Security benefits.

That said, an experienced disability attorney can go over your records with you and give you an honest assessment of your claim's strengths and weaknesses. A lawyer will know what medical records you'll need to provide and the right legal arguments to make in order to increase your odds of winning. Having a representative by your side can make a big difference in the outcome of your case, and because disability lawyers work on contingency—meaning they don't get paid unless you win—there's little initial investment involved in hiring one.