One question that we commonly ask our clients is if their doctors are supportive of the fact that they are unable to work fulltime and maintain that fulltime employment due to their disabilities.
Your doctor can play an important role in your disability claim. Having a doctor who understands your disabilities and who shares your concerns about your inability to work is important.
Although most doctors do not know the kind of information Social Security needs to approve someone for disability benefits, the person applying can help by learning what information your doctor needs to provide and making sure your doctor keeps detailed records of all of your symptoms over an extended period of time. Here are some more specific things your doctor can do to assist with your disability claim. Remember, this is not something your doctor is required to do. Your doctor’s assistance with the disability process is purely voluntary, that is why it is important to have this conversation with your physician.
Get your doctor to write a statement supporting your disability case.
Social Security examiners and judges are interested in specifics about your disability, not that you are disabled, but why are you disabled. Having your doctor touch on limitations to standing, sitting, bending, walking, balancing, crouching, stooping, reaching and the amount of weight you can lift will be helpful.
Ask your doctor to complete a residual functional capacity (RFC) evaluation.
These types of evaluations get to specifics of your limitations, either on the physical side of things, or the mental. This gives your doctor an opportunity to provide a detailed opinion on limitations, whether they be physical or mental health related. Social Security is supposed to give added weight to your doctor’s opinion in deciding disability claims. To learn more click here
