The exam will not be conducted by the SSA itself but by an independent physician. Call us at (855) 806-4269 today. This means that you need to find new doctors and create a medical record that can be used to refute the consultative doctor’s report. Although the SSA will request records from the list of providers you have given them, it is your responsibility to ensure that the agency has received all of your pertinent medical records, and that your doctor has provided the information in a helpful way. Find out the attorney or advocate in your area who is responsible for the advertisement, click here. While the Social Security Administration will be paying for the exam, the doctor is not an employee of the agency. It’s best to come into the exam with an open and honest attitude. Copyright Disability-Benefits-Help.org 2021. Under Social Security law a report or records from a treating physician will be given more weight than a consultative evaluation report. These doctors are typically listed by specialization, so you can easily narrow your search. To qualify for Social Security disability, you must expect to be disabled for at least 12 months. These evaluations, referred to as consultative examinations by SSA, are paid for by SSA and are especially common in cases where a … Having a doctor assess your disability can very often become challenging. He or she will be an independent physician who is paid to assess the validity of your Social Security Disability claim. We’re the largest Social Security Disability law firm in Michigan. If you have filed for Social Security Disability (SSD), you could very easily be asked to attend a Social Security medical examination, also called a consultative exam (CE). If you meet the non-medical requirement criteria, monthly benefits are paid if you have a medical condition that’s expected to last at least one year or result in death. Above all else, make sure you show up to your Social Security Disability exam on time. If, for some reason, you are denied Social Security Disability benefits due to an unfair medical exam you can go on to appeal the decision and may have it overturned so that you can receive the Social Security Disability benefits you are entitled to. The Disability Determination Services (DDS) in your state is currently reviewing your disability claim. You can also get recommendations from your family and friends, or from people you know in the medical field. Neither this site nor any lawyer or advocate associated with it is affiliated in any way with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration. Although your Social Security Disability exam will be brief, you may encounter an unpleasant examiner. Completing an application with all the proper medical documentation needed to become approved can be … It is not uncommon for people to walk away from a Social Security Disability exam feeling frustrated, disheartened or even depressed. When filing a claim for Social Security Disability with the SSA, the SSA will request a written statement from your doctor. If you are late and the doctor decides not to see you or if you miss the exam altogether without good reason, your claim for Social Security Disability benefits may be denied. However, some tests, such as mental evaluations, may take as long as an hour or more. Does applicant have an attorney helping with this case? Some doctors note in their reports when they believe that an applicant is being dishonest about their condition. Jackson Social Security Disability Resources Levine Benjamin has helped more than 50,000 people —hardworking people and military veterans—win disability benefits since 1964. Disability Evaluations Independent Medical Examiner Listings. However, not every doctor gets their CE report in by this time. Review the eligibility criteria the Social Security Administration uses to determine if your psychological condition is disabling and qualifies you for SSI (see link in Resource section). Many people who apply for Social Security Disability benefits will be required to undergo a Disability medical exam ― otherwise known as a “ consultative examination ” or CE. Sit down and discuss your condition with your doctor. Office of Disability Adjudication and Review Campau Square Plaza Building, Suite 300 99 Monroe NW Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Telephone: (866) 613-2860 Fax: (616) 456-9061 Services the following Social Security Field Offices: This means basically two weeks. Is applicant currently receiving Social Security benefits? Most consultative exams (CEs), be they physical or mental, are scheduled because the disability examiner needs recent medical information about the status of your condition. There are situations, however, in which an independent physician may be used. More than one doctor has watched a disability applicant walk back to the car after the visit just to see if that person was still limping in the parking lot. by admin | Sep 6, 2018 | Disability Doctor Evaluation, Social Security Disability |. The Disability Evaluations Independent Medical Examiners found here provide independent medical exams (IMEs), medical evaluations, impartial examinations, independent medical assessments, vocational assessments, functional capacity evaluations, … Many forms must be completed only by a Social Security Representative. The person evaluating your claim will decide which tests need to be administered and ordered by the doctor you visit. One is by contacting your medical insurance provider for a list of doctors covered in your area. Make sure to check the credentials and history of each potential physician you are planning to contact. When applying for Social Security Disability, documentation is the second most important factor behind your actual disability when trying to become approved for benefits. You may have been seeing doctors and other medical professionals for your condition, but it’s often not enough to have them treat you. At the end of the CE, the doctor will submit a report to the SSA stating the results of the exam as well as his or her opinion on your disability. Very often, their Social Security representative (a disability lawyer or a non-attorney representative) will try to obtain a medical evaluation from known as a physical residual functional capacity form, or a mental residual functional capacity form, in order to present an individual s disability claim more favorably to an Administrative Law Judge at an SSA hearing office. In fact, the SSA’s first preference is for your own personal doctor to conduct your supplemental exam. You'll need your doctor to send your medical records to Social Security as well as a statement about any limitations you have that prevent you from doing work tasks. Write down even the effects of your medication and other treatment. Their professional opinion, in addition to your medical records, can help support your claim that you have limitations that keep you from working consistently. What to Expect During Your Social Security Disability Medical Exam. You may have been seeing doctors and other medical professionals for your condition, but it’s often not enough to have them treat you. There have been some reports of doctors noting that they feel an applicant is being dishonest. Social Security Disability Medical Exam: Six Things You Should Never Do. If you are ready to start the disability process and have contacted a Jackson Social Security Disability attorney, obtain the necessary forms and submit your application to the following address: Jackson Social Security Disability Suite 200 234 W. Louis Glick Hwy. List all the limitations that you experience due to your condition. For those cases, the SSA requests that applicants meet with a disability doctor to get more insight into the severity of a specific medical condition. The exception to this rule is if you are undergoing a comprehensive mental evaluation. The Social Security Administration makes it clear to the consulting doctors who conduct the medical exams for Social Security that the doctor's examination report should be sent to DDS within 10 business days from the date of the exam. Many disability applicants can count on their current personal doctor to provide supporting evidence on their disability. By requesting a free evaluation, the user will be provided with the name of an independent lawyer or advocate who will contact the user to do the evaluation. Consultative exams are typically short – most take 20 minutes or less, with some lasting only 10 minutes. Separate from the doctors and other professionals who will review your claim for disability benefits from Social Security without ever actually meeting you, some people are sent to be evaluated by a physician or psychologist on behalf of the Social Security Administration. While not all examining doctors are rude, there have been many reports of people being treated poorly at their Social Security Disability exam. While this can be nerve-wracking, it … Protect yourself by having a lawyer on your side. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. © 2021 Gillette Law Group. 1. If you applied with the SSA first before getting a doctor’s appointment, you run the risk of getting an unfavorable decision from the SSA before you even see your doctor. The Social Security Administration (SSA) obtains information regarding a person's disability during the application process as well as during periodic reviews conducted by the SSA. You also may call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, to request an appeal. These recommendations can be an advantage because they are from people you trust and they make it easy for you to build a connection with the doctor. In such cases, the consultative examination may prove sufficient. Privacy Policy. You are also allowed to bring in or request a free qualified interpreter if you are not confident with your English proficiency. Why a Physician is Necessary The Social Security disability application is famous for being tricky and rather lengthy. What should you expect from the disability doctor during the CE? As mentioned above, what you need from your physician is not just treatment but supporting information and opinions regarding your disability. Disability-Benefits-Help.org is not a lawyer or law firm. Previously, you could’ve asked your doctor to write a medical opinion letter detailing your disabling symptoms (both visible and invisible). It is important to understand that the disability exam is not intended to treat your disability. Remember to keep your chin up. Does the applicant plan to stop working soon and stay out of work for at least 12 months? A CE can be a mental exam or a physical exam. This does not mean you should be rude to the doctor, but you should explain that you feel they have not asked some important questions related to your disability claim. By submitting a free evaluation, I acknowledge that I understand and agree to the disclaimer and privacy policy. Does applicant expect to be out of work for at least 12 months? This is an Attorney Advertisement – Not an Attorney Referral Service If you do not plan to stop working, this site cannot assist you because you will not qualify for the program. It is never a good idea to become confrontational with your examining physician. The physician will only gather the needed medical information on your condition – the consultation is not intended to treat you. As a general rule, Social Security Disability exams are very brief. If you feel that the doctor has not gathered enough evidence during the visit, politely speak up about it. Non-medical reasons, you should contact your local Social Security Office to request the review. If you haven’t been to the doctor in a while, you’ll want to make a new visit to obtain an up-to-date assessment of your disabling condition. Social Security Disability examiners usually send you to a consultative examination (usually called a CE) if your own medical sources are inadequate to determine whether or not you are disabled under Social Security Disability guidelines. Its sole purpose is to determine the extent of your condition and to ensure that your claim meets the guidelines set forth for approval. Usually, these are scheduled to get some recent evidence into the file which will allow the disability examiner to make a decision. However, you can expect to undergo certain tests such as x-rays, blood work, psychological exams, and the like, if the doctor sees the need. Sometimes, even friendly physicians provide unfavorable opinions on disability claimants. It is not uncommon for SSA applicants to encounter doctors who are uncaring, impatient, or outright hostile, making their patients feel uncomfortable about speaking up for themselves. In these cases, it is not uncommon for the exam to last forty minutes or even an hour or more. If you want to increase your chances of receiving Social Security Disability benefits, you will want your doctor to be prepared for this request. If there isn't sufficient information about your mental state in your medical record, Social Security will send you to an independent doctor for a mental consultative exam (CE). The first thing you need to understand is that the doctor who performs your Social Security Disability medical exam does not “work” for the Social Security Administration. Without a doctor performing Social Security disability medical exam, it may be impossible to approve your claim for Social Security Disability benefits. Remember that Social Security doctors are evaluating you from the moment they see you, not just during their physical or mental examination. What do you need to do to make sure Social Security gets the documentation it needs to decide your case? Generally, Social Security prefers that your treating physician or psychiatrist complete the mental examination. Your medical exam will help your case examiner gather the evidence needed to either support or deny your Social Security Disability claim. Your medical exam will help your case examiner gather the evidence needed to either support or deny your Social Security Disability claim. If you have a Social Security Disability case, we’ll even help with your initial application. Disability Evaluation Under Social Security has been specially prepared to provide physicians and other health professionals with an understanding of the disability programs administered by … ... Is applicant receiving treatment from a doctor? The state agency makes the disability decisions for us. New Social Security rules went into effect in March 2017 that changed which evidence matters most in getting benefits approved. Please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. or contact your local Social Security office. The disability report asks you for updated information about your medical condition and any treatment, tests or doctor visits since we made our decision. If you're applying for Social Security disability based on a mental, psychological, or emotional condition, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will often schedule you for an independent evaluation with a psychologist or other mental health professional. If you do not have enough medical documentation to support this claim or if you have not had a recent evaluation, the Social Security Administration may require you to go for a consultative exam. Here are some tips on preparing for a Social Security Disability doctor evaluation, whether it’s with your own physician or a doctor at the consultative exam. Getting a Disability Determination after a Psychologist does a Mental Evaluation. In Virginia, you can consult for free with us at the Gillette Law Group. The form you are looking for is not available online. This exam is not a substitute for regular medical follow-up with your treating physician(s). If you believe you might qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you need your doctor to support your claim for disability. Make a copy of this list that your doctor can keep. During your psychological evaluation, explain to the evaluator how you meet the criteria. For example, your Social Security Disability claim may be rock solid but if you haven't had a “recent” doctor's visit (within the last 60 days) your examiner may schedule a Social Security Disability exam to meet this requirement. Ideally, you have already visited with your doctor for your disabling condition before you initiated your disability application. If Social Security would like you to go to a CE, they will write you a letter and tell you when and where to go. The CE is an assessment only; the examining doctor will not give treatment advice or an opinion as to whether you should receive disability benefits. The extent of the exam will depend on the nature of your claim and may entail a mental exam, x-rays, blood work and other medical evaluations. All rights reserved. But stay truthful in your exam. In some cases, your medical evaluation will provide a diagnosis that meets a Social Security Disability listing by itself. On time you feel that he or she will be brief, may... In fact, the Social Security disability exam will not be conducted by the Social Security doctors typically... 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