My doctor tells me I am disabled, and still the Social Security Administration says I am not….what gives?
Disability by its very nature is a measure of degree. How much pain? How many limitations? How many breaks are required? How much rest? And so on. The fact that your doctor says you are disabled is not the end of the inquiry by Social Security.
Disability, as viewed by Social Security, is a term of art rather than an exact definition. When your doctor says you are disabled, the amount of limitation implied by this statement is not necessarily constant with a finding of disability under Social Security’s definition. The fact that the doctor says disability is present may indicate that they feel that there are some ongoing limitations, but without further elaboration, this statement can be of little consequence in the government’s determination.
In a situation like this, it is important to get a more specific opinion from your doctor regarding your limitations. This is most often done in the form of an opinion letter from your doctor, or having your doctor answer specific questions which are in line with Social Security’s definition of disability. Your attorney can be very valuable in obtaining this information.
