Which Doctors’ Records Do I Need For My Disability Claim
You need to provide medical records only from the doctors who have treated you for your disabling condition. If you have multiple disabilities, you will need to provide the SSA with medical records from all of the different doctors who have treated you.
Make sure that you don’t provide the SSA with irrelevant medical records. For example, if your claim is based solely on mental illness, you do not need to provide records from your allergist, eye doctor, or any other physicians who are unfamiliar with your mental condition.
Answer A Few Questions To Check Your Eligibility
The Social Security Administration relies on doctor’s records and medical evidence to determine whether you are disabled. Although the SSA will request records from the list of doctors you have given them, it is your responsibility to ensure that the agency has received all of your relevant medical records, and that your disability doctor has provided the information in a helpful way.
Submitting accurate and complete information from the doctor who treats you for your impairment is vital to winning your claim.
What Medical Conditions Qualify For Disability
The Blue Book contains a list of numerous medical conditions, both physical and mental, that qualify for SSDI or SSI. Some of the most common medical conditions that qualify for disability in Arkansas include:
- Musculoskeletal problems
- Heart failure or Coronary artery disease
- Vision or hearing loss
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Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits
The Canada Pension Plan provides monthly payments to people who contribute to the plan during their working years.
You may be eligible for CPP disability benefits if:
- you contributed to the CPP for a certain number of years
- you’re under 65 years old
- you have a severe and prolonged mental or physical disability
- your disability prevents you from working on a regular basis
The benefits include payments to children of a person with a disability.
Apply as early as possible if you think you’re eligible for CPP disability benefits. Quebec residents may be eligible for a similar program called the Quebec Pension Plan . It may take several months to process your application.
If you applied for CPP or QPP disability benefits and were told that you’re not eligible, you can ask to have your application reviewed or considered again.
Once you reach age 65, your CPP disability benefit will automatically change to regular CPP payments. Your regular CPP payments may be less than the CPP disability payments you got before.
If so, consider:
What Conditions Are Covered By These Benefits
You may be able to get VA disability benefits for conditions such as:
- Chronic back pain resulting in a current diagnosed back disability
- Breathing problems resulting from a current lung condition or lung disease
- Severe hearing loss
- Loss of range of motion
- Cancers caused by contact with toxic chemicals or other dangers
You may also be able to get VA disability benefits for:
- Traumatic brain injury
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If you have signs of an illness that started within a year after you were discharged from active service, find out if you can get disability benefits.
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Listed And Unlisted Conditions Must Be Severe
Whether the SSA has or hasnt listed your impairment, you will need more than a diagnosis to qualify for disability benefits. For listed conditions, your diagnosis and medical records must match the SSAs requirements for that specific condition. The medical evidence you present must align with the symptoms, signs, and other criteria for that impairment. If you dont meet all the requirements of a listed condition, you can still present your medical evidence. The SSA can review it and determine if its severity is equal to an impairment it considers severe.
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How Do I Know If I Qualify For Social Security Disability In Georgia
Home » FAQs » Social Security Disability » How Do I Know if I Qualify for Social Security Disability in Georgia?
Social Security Disability benefits were created as insurance for people who cant work because of a medical condition. However, the process is more complicated than it sounds. If you submit an application for Social Security Disability , youll need to understand what those who review your application are looking for to confirm that you qualify for benefits.
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How Much Work Do You Need
In addition to meeting our definition of disability, you must have worked long enough and recently enough under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits.
Social Security work credits are based on your total yearly wages or self-employment income. You can earn up to four credits each year.
The amount needed for a work credit changes from year to year. In 2022, for example, you earn one credit for each $1,510 in wages or self-employment income. When you’ve earned $6,040 you’ve earned your four credits for the year.
The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when your disability begins. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year your disability begins. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.
For more information on whether you qualify, refer to How You Earn Credits.
Consider Legal Help As You Seek Social Security Disability Benefits
Disabilities can have adverse effects on your quality of life, as well as the quality of life of those who depend on you. Health conditions do not take your character into account, and you could be in a difficult position through no fault of your own. You may be able to ease your financial burden with assistance from various benefits programs. You can reach out to our Social Security Disability attorney, who can guide you through the benefits process.
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How Your Doctor Can Help Prove You Meet A Disability Listing
The Social Security Administration outlines a number of conditions that, if all the criteria are met, are eligible for automatic approval. These conditions are known as “listings.” If your doctor thinks that your condition qualifies for automatic approval under a listing, the doctor should complete a listing form that explains his or her opinion and provide the appropriate medical documentation. Here is an example.
A claimant was diagnosed with skin cancer, specifically sarcoma. Sarcoma of the skin is eligible for automatic approval for benefits under the disability listing for skin cancer, if the cancer has spread to, or beyond, the regional lymph nodes. A biopsy revealed that the claimant’s cancer had spread. To prove she met the listing requirements for sarcoma of the skin, the claimant made sure that the SSA had the following information from her doctor:
- the pathology report that initially diagnosed the claimant with sarcoma of the skin, and
- a surgical and pathology report that established that the sarcoma cells had spread to her lymph nodes.
To find out if your condition might meet a listing, and what your doctor needs to provide to prove you meet the criteria of the listing, visit our section on disability listings for more information.
If You Take Medication Or Have Treatment For Your Disability
The legal test is that you should look at the impact of your impairment without any medication or treatment. Treatment includes things like counselling as well as medication. For example if you have arthritis and use a walking stick, think about how hard it would be for you to walk without it.
If you have a sight impairment which can be cured by wearing glasses or contact lenses, youll need to think about how your day-to-day activities are affected when youre wearing them.
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Quiz: Do I Qualify For Disability
Home » Frequently Asked Questions » Quiz: Do I Qualify for Disability?
If you are a disabled worker or have a demonstrated financial need, you could be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. These benefits will help you support yourself and get the medical care you need. For men and women who meet the required criteria, you may receive medical care and monthly financial benefits.
This quiz will pose a few simple questions to help you understand if you may qualify for disability benefits. The answers you provide will determine whether you meet the basic qualifications. They will also help you understand which SSD benefits program to apply for.
Your Impairment Does Not Have To Be On The Ssas List
If you want to apply for Social Security Disability benefits, it is important to note that your impairment does not have to appear on the SSAs list. Examples of such conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome and celiac disease, among others.
However, you must present a formal diagnosis of your condition to the SSA that shows it is a medically determinable impairment that prevents you from functioning in full capacity. This means your condition must be severe enough to prevent you from working or performing your daily activities. This reduction in capacity is known as the residual functional capacity.
If your disability meets the SSAs requirements, it might consider it to be equivalent to a listed condition. You must obtain this diagnosis from your doctor to prove your condition, but it is only the start of the process. It does not mean you will automatically receive approval for benefits.
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What Your Doctor Should Put In A Mental Rfc
Here are some things that a mental RFC should discuss:
- your ability to understand, remember, and carry out simple instructions
- your ability to interact with co-workers
- your ability to react to criticism or authority figures
- your ability to interact with the general public
- whether your condition is likely to cause a disruption in the workplace
- whether you can maintain appropriate dress and hygiene
- whether you are reliable, and
- how your condition affects your ability to concentrate, focus, and complete tasks in a normal amount of time.
Statement about reliability and attendance. RFCs from your doctor should also contain a statement about how your illness is likely to affect your reliability and ability to attend work regularly, due to issues such as fatigue, pain, ongoing treatments, or frequent hospitalizations.
Special physician’s statement about drug and alcohol abuse. Your mental RFC should also contain answers to the following questions.
- Does the claimant use illicit drugs or abuse prescription drugs or alcohol?
- If the claimant does use illicit drugs or abuse prescription drugs or alcohol, would the claimant’s impairment still exist in the absence of the abuse?
The reason your doctor must answer these questions is because, if you abuse drugs or alcohol and your condition would go away if you quit using, the SSA will most likely deny your claim.
What Information Do I Need To Get From My Doctor
The exact information you need to get from your doctor depends on the basis of your disability claim. Here are some examples.
Back pain. A claimant who files for disability based on lumbar and thoracic spinal stenosis and who has received treatment from an orthopedic doctor, a neurosurgeon, a physical therapist, and a pain management doctor needs the following types of information:
- copies of CT scans, x-rays, and MRIs that show the extent of the spinal stenosis
- radiologists’ reports that describe the findings from imaging studies
- records from any surgical treatments or injections to relieve the symptoms
- detailed records of pain management visits, including medication list, dosages, and reported side effects
- detailed physical therapy plan and the claimant’s response to treatment
- statements from doctors about the claimant’s ability to work , and
- physical residual functional capacity assessments .
Mental illness. A claimant who files for disability based on bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder and who has attended an in-treatment program at a local psychiatric facility needs the following type of information:
Combination of impairments. A claimant who files for disability based on type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , and depression needs to provide the following types of information in support of her claim:
Remember that many of these pieces of evidence are in addition to the relevant medical records that your doctors should submit to the SSA.
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More Specific Conditions That Could Entitle You To Benefits
It is important to note that every applicant presents individual circumstances that could qualify or disqualify them for benefits. With this in mind, some of the specific conditions the SSA lists under its broader medical categories include:
- Depressive disorder
- Bipolar disorder
These are just some of the many conditions the SSA lists as potential prerequisites for receiving disability benefits through one or more federal programs. Additional context may be required to determine your eligibility and the number of benefits you could receive if you are eligible. As such, these conditions do not automatically qualify you for disability benefits.
Do I Qualify For Disability In Denver
Claims reviewers at Disability Determination Services, a state agency in Colorado, review applications for disability benefits in Denver and throughout the state and decide whether each applicant qualifies for benefits. The average time to process initial applications is approximately 73 days in Colorado. Unfortunately, most applicants seeking disability benefits are initially turned down. Many do not have adequate medical documentation or a complete work history. Some applications get rejected for technical reasons.
If your application is denied, you have 60 days to request a reconsideration of the decision. If the reconsideration also is denied, a second appeal can be presented to an administrative law judge. The Denver disability attorneys at The Sawaya Law Firm can identify the reason your application was turned down and help you appeal the decision. Our committed attorneys have handled thousands of disability cases. We understand the regulations related to applying for disability and filing appeals are complicated. The process can be confusing if you are unfamiliar with it. It helps to have the guidance of a knowledgeable disability attorney. A Denver SSD lawyer can go with you to hearings and conferences with the claims reviewers and help you make clear that your disabling condition prevents you from working.
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Am I Eligible For Disability Insurance Benefits
Disability Insurance provides short-term wage replacement benefits to eligible California workers.
You may be eligible for DI if you are unable to work and are losing wages because of your own non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy.
In order to be eligible for DI benefits, you must:
- Be unable to do your regular or customary work for at least eight days.
- Have lost wages because of your disability.
- Be employed or actively looking for work at the time your disability begins.
- Have earned at least $300 from which State Disability Insurance deductions were withheld during your base period. Learn more with Calculating Benefit Payment Amounts.
- Be under the care and treatment of a licensed physician/practitioner or accredited religious practitioner within the first eight days of your disability. The date your claim begins can be adjusted if it does not meet this requirement. You must remain under care and treatment to continue receiving benefits.
- Complete and submit your Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits no earlier than nine days after your first day of disability begins but no later than 49 days, or you may lose benefits.
- Have your physician/practitioner complete the medical certification portion of your disability claim.
- A nurse practitioner may certify to a disability within their scope of practice.
- A licensed midwife, nurse-midwife, or nurse practitioner may complete the medical certification for disabilities related to normal pregnancy or childbirth.
Applying For Disability Benefits Can Be A Challenging Process
According to the SSA, many applicants for disability benefits have had their initial application denied for various reasons, including:
- Technical problems with an application
- Disqualification based on medical information
Between 2001 and 2010, the SSA approved only about 45 percent of disability claims. This suggests that applying for disability benefits is not a straightforward process for many applicants. SSDI or SSI application errors are possible, if not likely.
You have the right to seek help from a third party to help you with applying for Social Security Disability benefits. Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, can review your application, saving you time and helping you avoid errors that could delay your claim.
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Do You Qualify For Disability Quiz
If you apply for disability benefits, the Social Security Administration will ask you certain questions to determine your eligibility. This quiz features an overview of these questions, shedding some insights into the factors that the SSA considers relevant and giving you a better idea of how likely you are to be approved for benefits.
What Type Of Work Can You Perform
SSA officials will ask questions about your employment history to determine whether you can still do the same or a different type of work. To be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must be unable to perform any type of substantial gainful activity .
For example, suppose you suffered a spinal injury that left you paralyzed from the waist down, so you can no longer perform your job duties as a firefighter. However, a doctor determines you could still perform a desk job. In this case, you would likely not qualify for SSD benefits, even though you cannot do your former job.
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