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What Can I Do to Help Win My Social Security Disability Case?

by | Apr 3, 2017 | Social Security Disability |

What Can I Do to Help Win My

Social Security Disability Case?

Upon our first meeting, clients will ask me what they can do to help win their disability case. I advise them that the most important thing they can do is continue to receive regular treatment from their doctors. In order to meet the definition of disability, an individual must not be able to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a medically-determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to result in death, or that has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months. Because we have to prove a “medically-determinable” impairment, clients must receive regular, continuous treatment from a physician. Although I know it can be difficult to receive treatment due to the high costs of medical care, it essential and a case cannot be won without it. In order to easily facilitate our ability to order your medical records and submit them to the Social Security Administration, clients should keep track of their doctors’ appointments and hospital visits.

Clients should also develop relationships with their doctors. We try to get the opinions of a client’s doctor as to the individual’s ability to work or any limitations that he or she may have with working. Many doctors who have developed relationships with their patients are willing to help by completing various forms or writing a letter describing the patient’s limitations. However, the opposite is true as well. Some doctors are not willing to assist patients if they have not seen them long enough to know the extent of the condition or if the patient is unwilling to do the prescribed treatment. Claimants for Social Security disability should also take their medication as prescribed. Administrative Law Judges will be looking to see if the claimant routinely takes his or her medication and if the medication is effective in treating that condition.

Clients should also advise their attorney if they start working while waiting for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Claimants for Social Security disability are limited in the amount of money that they can earn and still be found eligible for disability. If a client has started working during the interim, we ask that they keep all of their paystubs and provide us with their tax return at the end of the year. Clients should also tell their attorney if they plan on filing self-employment income.

For more information on what you can do to help win your Social Security disability case, contact an experienced Social Security disability attorney at Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. today at 251-343-1111 for a free case evaluation. Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. represents Social Security disability claimants in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana at all levels of the disability process from initial application to appeals to Federal Court.

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