When filing an SSDI claim, the main objective is to prove the inability to perform your job responsibilities because of a disability. In turn, you must validate this disability by submitting medical evidence to the SSA.
The SSA has created a reference guide that lists impairments as well as the medical criteria that are needed to prove a disability before it grants SSDI approval. This guide is called the SSA Blue Book. A panel of doctors will review your medical evidence and determine if it fits within the standards outlined in the SSA Blue Book during your claim assessment.
Given the complex and extensive nature of the medical evidence portion of your SSDI application, consider working with the House of Justice to get the disability benefits you’re entitled to receive. Contact Us now to discuss your future social security filing!
What Type of Medical Evidence is Needed to Support My Social Security Disability Claim?
You must include documentation sourced from a licensed medical professional in your SSDI claim. However, supplementary information gathered from nonmedical professionals such as teachers, caregivers, and employers are also considered by the SSA.
For best results, the SSA advises applicants to provide evidentiary support from “treating sources.” The SSA website considers medical professionals with past or current experience providing medical treatments and/or evaluations for you as treating sources. The SSA prefers treating sources because they have the most up-to-date information on your disability – which often negates the need for further records.
How Does the SSA Determine if a Claimant’s Medical Condition is Severe Enough to Qualify for SSDI Benefits?
Qualifying for social security is all about proving the severity of your illness or injury to the SSA.
To start, the SSA will check your impairment against the Blue Book’s list of disabilities. Here, a disability refers to an injury or illness that blocks your ability to perform the necessary actions for maintaining gainful employment.
Having a disability listed in the Blue Book does not immediately approve you for SSDI benefits. Aside from your diagnosis, you will need to illustrate your impairment’s range of severity. As the AARP website explains, “the Blue Book spells out in detail the symptoms, test results or other data that show your condition is acute enough to be genuinely disabling in the agency’s eyes and the records you must produce to prove it.”
The SSA relies upon official reports providing symptoms, test results, and other medical records to discover the extent your condition causes detriment. Already possessing this crucial paperwork will undoubtedly help fast-track your SSDI claim toward approval.
What Documents Will I Need to Support My Disability Benefits Claim?
While compiling documents for your SSDI application, bear in mind that quantity is key. The more concrete evidence to support your claim, the better your chances of securing disability benefits.
When you finally go to file your claim, be prepared to fill out different forms during different phases of your SSDI application. Moreover, you should let your doctor know you will likely need medical records to back up many parts of your social security claim.
Examples of medical evidence needed for SSDI claims include:
Medical Release Form
Form SSA-827 is a medical release form that lets the SSA directly contact your physician to discuss your condition and all related medical documents. Although not required, this form will likely expedite your filing while creating the transparency needed to bolster your claim.
Medical Test Results
Medical test results provide some of the strongest evidence you can give the SSA for your SSDI claim. For example, providing the results of diagnostic tests like CAT scans and biopsies shows undeniable proof of your illness or impairment.
Letters of Recommendation
It’s also a great idea to ask your physician to write a letter of recommendation to the SSA that clearly defines your disability and how it impacts your ability to work. This addition to your medical evidence can positively influence the SSA’s decision in your claim.
Adult Disability Report
Form SSA-3368 is also referred to as the “Adult Disability Report.” Form SSA-3368 is a document that details the correlation between your impairment and your employment history. It establishes your inability to work in the same capacity that your past jobs have demanded.
Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Assessment
Please note, you only provide an RFC assessment if your initial SSDI claim was rejected. The RFC assessment is a doctor’s evaluation indicating your functionality threshold given the scope of your condition. In essence, it spells out exactly what types of jobs you can and cannot perform due to your disability.
How Far Back Does Social Security Look at Medical Records?
There is no defined time frame for how far back the SSA will look at your medical records in assessing your eligibility for disability benefits.
The extent to which the SSA will delve into your medical history generally depends on your condition. For instance, verifying slow-growth progressive diseases like arthritis may require medical records dating back several years. Conversely, disabilities stemming from a sudden, singular injury may only require a few months’ worths of records.
Need Help Filing for Disability Benefits? Contact the House of Justice
Providing all the medical evidence to prove your SSDI claim can be a bit overwhelming. Working with the experienced attorneys at the House of Justice will ensure that you build the best possible case matching your disability to the SSA Blue Book.
Our bilingual team knows how to file the documents needed for disability benefits cases.
Contact Us today to get started!
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