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  7. Why You Need To Be Honest On Your Social Security Disability Application

Why You Need To Be Honest On Your Social Security Disability Application

If you’re thinking about applying for Social Security Disability benefits, it’s critical that you are sincere throughout your application. Your medical records could potentially not provide enough information on your condition as you’d like to believe to prove to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that you should be awarded Social Security disability benefits. However, don’t attempt to make it look like your condition is more severe than it truly is, as the Social Security Administration will soon find out that you’re lying.

Your doctor’s notes could only show that you complained of lower back pain and you were given medication to help with the pain. This type of record will not give the SSA enough information on the tasks or activities your disability prevents you from completing. To add, notes from your medical professional can be handwritten and not particularly easy to read or understand. If this is your situation, your Social Security disability caseworker could send a form to your doctor or contact him or her by phone to obtain greater details on what your disability prevents you from doing. This form could reveal information that would prove that you were lying regarding the severity of your condition and may result in your entire application being disqualified if it does not align with the information you submitted.

If your Social Security disability caseworker doesn’t receive a response from your doctor, your claim will be undoubtedly delayed. If two or three weeks have past and your caseworker still has not received a response from your doctor, your disability caseworker will submit a Consultative Exam or utilize other methods to obtain the required information. A Consultative Exam is completed by a doctor working for the SSA. If you’re requested to undergo a Consultative Exam, do not lie to the doctor completing the exam, give true answers and information regarding your condition.

Do not make it appear as if your condition is more severe than it really is, and do not be dramatic with how your condition affects your everyday life while taking the Consultative Exam, as the doctor completing the exam is provided your health and medical records. Always be honest with your physician and the Social Security Administration. It’s important that you don’t allow anxious and worrying thoughts to cloud your judgment when speaking about the extent of your disability. Stick to the truth since if you’re dishonest, the SSA will most likely not approve you for Social Security disability benefits.

Before talking with the SSA you should take a moment and think about the severity of your disability; what exactly does it prevent you from doing and how is it affecting your ability to complete day to day tasks. The SSA hires highly experienced medical professionals to determine if you meet their definition of disabled. The SSA could refuse to approve you for Social Security disability benefits if they find that your condition does not meet their criteria. For example, if your disability prevents you from doing your old job, but doesn’t interfere with another type of work, the SSA won’t consider you disabled since you’re still able to work in another occupation.

Make a note that the doctor conducting your Consultative Exam is not going to give you any medication or treatment. He or she is also not a contributor to the outcome of your claim. They will just perform the exam and send their report to the SSA. Your disability caseworker will let you know if you will need to take a Consultative Exam.  You are not forced to take the exam. However, if you refuse your only option would be to have a decision be made on your disability claim using whatever information the SSA has on file. Doing so may potentially lead to having your Social Security disability claim quickly denied.

Comply with the physician when you go in to take the Consultative Exam. You could potentially be asked to complete a task that may be painful due to your disability, but you need to make an attempt regardless. Blatantly refusing or not giving it a shot may adversely affect the chances of success for your Social Security disability claim.

If your Social Security disability claim is denied by the SSA do not worry, hope is not lost. You can submit a disability appeal, but it’s highly recommended you work with a professional Social Security disability attorney to make sure you’re doing everything possible to increase the likelihood of receiving benefits. If you really are disabled, eventually you will be awarded Social Security disability benefits.