Evidence in a Social Security disability case largely refers to medical proof that someone is limited by impairments and unable to maintain fulltime work. Evidence to prove such a claim comes from medical records and opinions from trained medical professionals. To understand how Social Security determines if someone is disabled and entitled to benefits you must first look at Social Security’s “evidentiary requirements.”
Medical Evidence
Medical evidence is the cornerstone of the disability determination under both the title II (Social Security Disability Insurance) and title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) programs.
Each person who files a disability claim is responsible for providing medical evidence showing he or she has an impairment(s) and the severity of the impairment(s). However, the Social Security Administration (SSA), with the claimant’s permission, will help the claimant get medical evidence from his or her own medical sources who have evaluated, examined, or treated the claimant for his or her impairment(s). SSA also requests copies of medical evidence from hospitals, clinics, or other health facilities when appropriate.
Claimants who provide SSA with timely, accurate, and complete information and evidence can help accelerate the processing of their claims.
Existence Of An Impairment
By law, SSA needs specific medical evidence to establish that a claimant has an impairment. SSA regulations require “objective medical evidence” from an “acceptable medical source” to establish that a claimant has a medically determinable impairment. The regulations define these terms.
Severity
Once the existence of an impairment is established, SSA considers all evidence from all medical and non-medical sources to assess the extent to which a claimant’s impairment(s) affects his or her ability to function in a work setting; or in the case of a child, the ability to function compared to that of children the same age who do not have impairments. Non-medical sources include, but are not limited to: the claimant, educational personnel, public and private social welfare agency personnel, family members, caregivers, friends, neighbors, employers, and clergy.
