If a disabling medical condition has stopped you from working, you need to find a way to support yourself. Fortunately, you could be eligible to collect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits to cover some of your expenses. However, obtaining those insurance benefits is notoriously challenging due to procedural errors as well as disputes over the validity and severity of an applicant’s medical condition. Many applicants need to appeal an initial denial to get their rightful benefits.
Schaffer & Associates‘ seasoned local attorneys can skillfully guide you through the application and appeals process. We know how to help you complete your application correctly, and we understand the importance of the role of medical exams in Findlay Social Security disability claims.
To qualify for SSDI benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA), you must prove that your medical impairment is so severe that you are incapable of working. Unfortunately, even if your local primary care doctor diagnoses you with a disabling condition, it may not be sufficient to qualify for SSDI benefits. The SSA’s disability examiners review the medical report in your application and need to find clear, objective medical proof describing the validity and severity of your condition. You need to convince the disability examiners that you have a medically determinable impairment by using evidence from acceptable medical sources (AMSs).
The medical report in your application must include the medical history relating to your disabling condition. You must also provide any results of physical and mental examinations, laboratory tests, and the medical treatment plan from your Bureau of Workers’ Compensation physician. This treatment plan describes your prognosis, specific limitations, and what you are still able to do. Note that your primary care doctor may not have the proper credentials to provide the medical report. Only AMSs, such as licensed medical or osteopathic doctors or licensed or certified psychologists, can provide the medical information for this purpose.
Our experienced Findlay attorneys understand what the SSA is looking for in a medical exam and can help you gather the appropriate evidence to prove your disability claim and qualify you for SSDI benefits. We can help you obtain a medical examination from a doctor who qualifies as an AMS.
After reviewing the medical information in your SSDI application, the SSA might require additional information about your disability. Sometimes, the SSA requires you to undergo an additional, independent, consultative medical examination to prove your disability in a Findlay SSDI case. The doctor performing the exam must comply with the requirements in the SSA’s Consultative Examination Guide, which is known as the Green Book. Unlike a traditional medical exam with your own doctor, this doctor will not provide you with treatment but will only assess and evaluate your condition. They will produce and sign a report that helps the SSA determine if you are sufficiently disabled to qualify for SSDI benefits.
If you are disabled and you cannot work, you might be eligible to collect Social Security disability benefits. To qualify for those benefits, you will need to undergo medical evaluations.
Our local attorneys at Schaffer & Associates are familiar with the role of medical exams in Findlay Social Security disability claims. We can help you understand what you need to do for the medical examination and ensure you complete your application correctly. Call us today to speak with an attorney.