SSDI Claims: What If Your Doctor Believes You Are Not Disabled?

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When you file for Social Security disability benefits, your doctor plays a major role in whether or not your application is approved. Unfortunately, there is a possibility that your doctor might not agree that your medical condition warrants benefits. If this happens, there are steps you can take to improve your odds of getting benefits without your doctor's assistance. 

Ask for a Consultative Examination

A consultative examination is conducted by a doctor that is chosen by the Social Security Administration, or SSA. Examinations are not conducted in every case. However, having one if your doctor is not willing to help you, could be beneficial to your case. 

It is imperative that you prepare for the examination. Request a copy of your medical records from your health providers and thoroughly review them. You also need to write down specifically how your condition impacts your every day life. Do not leave out any symptoms you are experiencing, even if they seem minor to you. Those symptoms can help to build the case for why you should receive benefits. 

Get Witnesses

Written accounts from people who have witnessed how your condition impacts your life can possibly help your case. Who you select to write a statement is important. Try to choose people who have provided care giving services to you and former co-workers and employers. 

A caregiver can attest to how you need assistance to perform certain duties and also give a firsthand account of problems that he or she has noticed with your condition. Your co-workers and employers provide testimony on how your condition affected your work. Ask each witness to be as detailed as possible. 

Get a New Doctor

If your current doctor is unwilling to help you with your disability case, look for a new one. Although you might be familiar with the doctor, your disability case is more important. There are many perks to getting a new doctor, including the doctor might be more understanding of how your condition impacts your ability to work and be willing to help you with your claim. 

To increase your odds of getting approved, consider seeing a specialist, too. A specialist can provide a perspective about certain medical conditions that a general practitioner cannot. 

An attorney who is experienced in handling disability claims, such as from R.J. Marzella & Associates, P.C., can provide you with more methods of overcoming an issue with your treating physician. It is important that you involve an attorney early in the process so that you can take action as soon as possible. 

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