BEST TOOL FOR WINNING SSDI BENEFITS

Besides complete medical records, what is the best tool to help win a Social Security disability claim?

Here at the Forsythe Firm, we like to use a Medical Source Statement or Residual Capacity Form completed by the treating physician.  These are forms which explain how the claimant's illness, injury or conditions will affect his or her ability to work.  The form will give the doctor's opinion on such things as:  how much can the person lift?  How long can the individual stand and sit?  Can the claimant climb stairs or ramps?

 The challenge is to convince your doctor to complete this form for you.  Doctors often refuse to complete the form.  It takes some of the doctor's time.  Some doctors will tell you they are "not qualified," to complete the form; however, any treating doctor may do so.  Some doctors take the attitude, "They have my medical records and that is enough."  Of course, if that were true we wouldn't be asking for the form.

 This is a good place to say that a letter from the doctor stating something like, "Jake Public is my patient and I believe that he is unable to work and should be placed on full-time disability," is almost worthless.  It doesn't give any specific vocational limitations and gives no objective medical data for the conclusion.  A doctor's "opinion" as to whether a patient is disabled or not is not the same as a Medical Source Statement form or Residual Function Capacity evaluation.

 

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