Applying for disability benefits can be confusing. The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims process is complex. As you struggle with daily activities, you need to receive timely medical care. In fact, seeking medical treatment is acutely related to securing benefits. A history of care can boost your chances of SSDI approval.
Speak with an experienced Social Security disability attorney for help. They can provide valuable guidance throughout the claims process. A skilled SSDI lawyer can answer your questions and help you navigate the complex legal requirements of Social Security.
The Importance of Getting Medical Care
It could be a serious physical injury. You may suffer from chronic pain. Or, perhaps, you struggle with a mental health condition. In all these cases, it’s vital that you make your health a priority. Not all conditions can be cured, but many can be treated to help relieve symptoms.
Seeking medical care can be expensive. Even with some health insurance plans, some people may avoid getting treatment due to the cost of co-pays. But, the SSA may deny your application due to a lack of documentation.
Regular appointments can help you form a better relationship with your doctor. A more supportive physician can help improve the chances your disability application will be approved too.
Why Seeking Medical Attention Helps Your SSDI Case
The SSA maintains a Blue Book of qualifying conditions. As part of your SSDI application, you must prove you are disabled. You may have an initial diagnosis from a doctor, but that may not be enough to qualify for benefits. If you seek treatment, you show the condition affects your daily life. Regular visits with your doctor can help as well. These can help build a stronger SSDI case.
A history of medical care serves as evidence in support of your disability claim. Doctors and other medical staff can assess your health. Part of their reports can support the claim that your condition is so severe you cannot work. These include specific details about what you can and cannot do. Keeping a disability journal is another way to support your claim.
Medical attention can take on several forms. All of these can help bolster your disability benefit application.
- Diagnostic tests, like X-rays and blood tests
- Treatment on a regular basis, like physical therapy
- Taking medication for the ailment
- Medical reports from specialists, like oncologists and psychiatrists
- Letters of support from a disability doctor
Getting consistent medical care is essential. It helps to show the disability continues to affect you daily and not just once in a while. Remember that the SSA needs proof of your disability. Paying for medical care can be challenging for some people. Even so, low-cost options may be possible. If and when your SSDI claim is approved, you may be able to afford treatment more easily.
A Social Security disability lawyer can provide more suggestions to support your claim. For example, a handicapped parking permit can also serve as evidence. Using assistive devices like canes and stair lifts can help too.
What Could Happen If You Don’t Seek Treatment
Just as seeking medical attention can boost your SSDI claim, avoiding treatment can hurt it. If you do not get medical care, the SSA may perceive that to mean you are not disabled. It can look like your condition is not that debilitating. It is not affecting your ability to go about your day. And thus, the SSA may believe that you are capable of working. You just choose not to work and this may lead to a denial of your disability claim.
Say you go to your doctor and receive your diagnosis. They prescribe medication or suggest physical therapy. If you choose not to fill your prescription, the SSA has reason to believe your condition isn’t as bad as you claim it is. This is also why social media posts can undermine your disability claim too. If it looks like your health condition isn’t that bad, the SSA will likely deny your application.
Maybe you didn’t get the medication because it doesn’t work for you or you cannot tolerate the side effects. The SSA doesn’t know that. Instead, speak with your doctor about other treatments. Continuous medical care is an invaluable factor in your SSDI application. You must prove you are suffering from a condition so severe that you cannot work. The SSA will ask medical sources for your records. These records must support your claim.
Discuss Options With Your Social Security Disability Lawyer
Filing for disability benefits can be stressful and complicated. You may believe you are unable to work, but you need to prove your disability to the SSA. This is why working with a Social Security disability attorney is so valuable. They can help you get approved for SSDI. By reviewing your case, they can suggest options for how to improve your claim.
There are many aspects to a successful application. A skilled disability lawyer can help explain the non-medical requirements for SSDI, for example. Failure to meet technical criteria can lead the SSA to deny your claim. Your attorney can ensure your application is accurate and complete, including medical records and other supporting evidence. They can explain your legal options for disability benefits and guide you through the appeal process if needed.
