If you live near the Baltimore, Maryland area and you’re no longer able to work due to a long-term or lifelong disability, then you may be considering applying for SSDI. SSDI is social security disability insurance, and you will have to have worked a certain number of years in order to quality for SSDI. Here is an overview of what you need to qualify for SSDI benefits as well as how a social security disability lawyer can help you.
Do you have enough past earnings?
SSDI benefits are funded by payroll taxes, which is why you must work for a certain amount of time to meet the first part of the criteria. The amount of time that you worked will determine if you meet the criteria, as well as how much you would receive each month should you ultimately be approved for SSDI. The average amount of SSDI monthly checks is just over $1100. In addition to having enough past earnings, you must have worked enough recently to qualify for benefits, as well. The Social Security Administration will make that determination.
Are you disabled enough?
Another qualifying factor in order to be approved for SSDI benefits is that you must be disabled or injured severely enough to prevent you from being able to work for a year or longer, or it’s expected to result in death. While it’s relatively easy for many people to meet the earnings portion of the SSDI qualification, it’s usually quite challenging to prove that you’re disabled enough to meet the second part of the qualification.
How is a determination made?
In order to apply for SSDI, you must complete a detailed application. Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Social Security Administration to determine if you meet the primary requirements. If you do, then your application will be sent to the DDS (Disability Determination Services) who will scrutinize your application. The DDS will thoroughly investigate every aspect of your medical history, including whether doctors’ diagnoses, tests and more are able to back up your claims of being disabled.
DDS will also investigate how well you’re able to complete tasks while sitting, standing, walking, etc. You may even be required to see doctors who work with DDS in order to help them make a determination. Once their thorough investigation is completed, they will notify you by mail if you’re approved for benefits. You will also be notified of the amount you will receive each month as well as an approximate start date. You will also be notified by mail if you’re not approved for benefits, and a reason will be provided. You have the right to file an appeal, and since over 60% of applicants are denied the first time they apply, if you’re denied you should definitely appeal.
How can a Baltimore SS disability lawyer help you?
Many people who are truly too disabled to work are wrongly denied benefits. Not only can this cause an immense amount of stress on an already severely ill person, but the stress itself can worsen the illness. Social security disability lawyers don’t take “No” for an answer, and the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason can significantly lessen your stress levels by assisting you with proving your disability so you can be approved for the benefits that you’re entitled to and worked so many years for.
Your social security disability attorney can assist you with the entire application process, whether it’s your initial application or your appeal. When you file an appeal, you must provide a substantial number of details that could easily be missed. This missed information can make the difference between your appeal resulting in an overturned decision and your application continuing to be denied. This is why you should have the assistance of social security disability attorneys, who can not only complete the necessary information for you, but they can also counsel you and provide you with useful advice on how to proceed next.
So, if you’re trying to get approved for SSDI, you should seriously consider having an experienced social security disability attorney by your side. These attorneys deal with cases like yours on a daily basis, and they know exactly how to dramatically increase your chances of being approved for the benefits that you deserve.
If you have been in a serious accident or developed a medical problem that prevents you from working, you may be eligible for payments under the Social Security Disability Insurance system. This system has been designed to provide income for individuals who can no longer work. As an experienced Baltimore SS disability lawyer, Terri D. Mason has provided representation for clients seeking to navigate the application process. Here a few important details you should know about the social security application process.
What Is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?
The U.S. Social Security Disability Insurance program is a safety net designed to provide income for individuals who have paid into the Social Security system, who have been permanently disabled. They amount of payment is determined by the number of work credits you have accumulated over the period that you worked in the past. The rules governing the system are quite complicated and difficult for most people to understand. Social security disability attorneys deal routinely with the unique application process that is required to successfully acquire compensation under the system.
Do I Qualify for SSDI?
SSDI covers individuals who have been diagnosed with a medical condition that constitutes a permanent disability that prevents you from working. Many different types of medical impairments are covered under the Social Security Administration’s definition of permanent disability, covering every system of the human body. These include medical conditions affecting musculoskeletal problems, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory conditions, digestive conditions, mental health conditions, immune system disorders and numerous others. Your physician must consider the condition to be both severe and permanent to qualify for SSD. The condition must prevent you from doing your previous type of work or any other type of work. Social security disability lawyers can help you to present all the required documentation you will need to provide as evidence for your case.
Understanding the SSD Application Process
The application process for SSDI is very detailed and may take a considerable amount of time. You must first file an “Intent to File” application at a Social Security office or online. Then, you must present evidence about your employment to determine whether you have enough work credits to qualify. Next, you must determine your disability as recognized in the Social Security “blue book list.” You must then present your medical records to support your claim of disability. Once these steps are completed, you must then wait for the processing of your claim and their decision. If your claim is denied, you may wish to appeal their decision. If this is also denied, you may request a hearing before an administrative judge.
How A Social Security Disability Lawyer Can Help Your SSDI Claim
The application process can be confusing and time-consuming. Applicants may have difficulty understanding what documentation is required or other requirements. Social Security disability attorneys routinely work within the Social Security system to help their clients get favorable decisions, and they can ensure you are providing all the necessary paperwork in a manner that helps your case.
Make the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason, P.C. Your Social Security Disability Attorney
With many years of experience and personal care for clients, the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason, P.C. can provide a successful presentation of your case. We offer representation in a number of areas of the law, including SSD cases, elder law, veterans’ benefits cases and mental health law. Contact the Law Offices of Terry Mason today at 443-948-7772 for an appointment to discuss your claim for SSD.
The process of filing for Social Security disability benefits is more entailed than many people realize. Not only is it a lot of work in the sense that there is plenty of paperwork that must be filled out, but it can also be rather burdensome in the sense that there is plenty of bureaucracy that may stand between you and the benefits that you are entitled to. This is why you might want to look at getting some social security disability lawyers on your side as quickly as possible. These lawyers are great for helping you get your presumptive benefits going as they work towards getting you the long-term benefits that you are due as well.
Presumptive Benefits Can Be Obtained First
Any good Social Security disability lawyer will tell you that presumptive benefits are ideal to obtain first in the sense that these benefits can be awarded to you long before you receive the long-term benefits that people are aiming for when they set out on this journey. You see, a ss disability lawyer will always want to make sure that you have access to benefits as rapidly as possible as they are well aware of the fact that access to your benefits is what can keep you from a backslide into a dire financial situation. People need their money right when they can get it and having to wait for those benefits to come through is too much to ask of many people.
A social security disability attorney will get to work filing the proper paperwork to enroll you in the program that gives you presumptive disability benefits right from the start. Those presumptive benefits are allowed by the Social Security Administration for up to six months while you wait on the rest of your benefits to come through. What this means is that you can use the power of your social security disability attorneys to have a bridge between where you are now, and where you want to be with your long-term benefits.
What Types of Things Might Qualify for Temporary SSI Benefits?
There are many things that could fall under the umbrella of coverage via presumptive SSI coverage. You should always ask your Baltimore SS disability lawyer and try to understand that there are plenty of things that may help you get the benefits that you deserve no matter what. Don’t assume that your situation doesn’t apply until you know for sure how these things are going to go. Here at the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason, P.C., we always try to ensure that people have the opportunity to get the presumptive coverage that they need no matter what. It is our mission to ensure that people get as much coverage as they deserve under the law at all times. If we can provide this to them, then we feel that we are doing our jobs.
A few of the things that definitely qualify for presumptive benefits based on the cases that we have fought before include:
- Amputation of a limb
- Deafness
- Spinal cord injury
These are just a few examples of things that have been good enough to win presumptive benefits for clients in the past. We know that each case is unique, and we don’t want anyone to be turned away by the idea that their case is not vital or important enough to bring to us. That is far from the truth, and we need people to understand that they deserve all of the same protections and coverage as anyone else. We feel that we can help them get there if they will bring their case to our doorstep. We have plenty of seasoned professionals on our staff who are more than happy to help out with these situations.
When certain injuries or medical conditions occur that cause you to be unable to work, it is very crucial to take advantage of SSD benefits. To take advantage of social security income (SSI) or social security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, you must first complete an application for such benefits.
The application process is lengthy, but it is worth it. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. And since this is about the financial well-being of you and your family, it is well-worth being tenacious in this process. All reputable social security disability lawyers will vouch for the complex process when applying for social security disability.
Please note that approximately 70% of initial social security disability applications are denied. The decision of these initial applications usually occurs in three to six months.
This statistic should be another reason why you should ensure to be as thorough and tenacious as possible. Thus, you must gather important documents and take your time to answer the application correctly the best you can. And since this process is so critical, it will behoove you to work with one of the top-notch social security disability attorneys.
Things to Include in Your SSD Application
In the application process, you must give information about your medical conditions, your medical treatments, your education, and your work history over the last 15 years. You will also include the following things in your SSD application:
- Your birth, citizenship, and residency
- Your proof of age and social security number
- Personal information, including marriage, divorce, children, etc.
- Details of physicians, hospitals, caseworkers, clinics, and dates of your visits
- All your medications’ names and dosages you’re taking and who prescribed them
- Test and lab results and who ordered them along with the dates of them taking
- Names, phone numbers, addresses, patient ID numbers, and dates of treatment for all hospitals, clinics, and doctors
- Information about any claims of the insurance or workers’ compensation claims you filed, including the insurance company’s phone number along with its name, address, phone number, claim number, and more.
- If applicable, discharge information of your military service, i.e., DD Form 214
How an Attorney Can Help
You must gather this information and possibly more information to ensure you are as thorough as possible when completing the application for these benefits. This information is for either the social security income (SSI) or social security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits,
However, if you have a hard time finding this information, you should get legal assistance from a reputable social security disability lawyer. This type of lawyer can fill out the SSDI or SSD application on your behalf and help gather medical records and other evidence for your claim. They can also review your application for mistakes or omissions that could hurt your chances of success and can join you for meetings or conferences with Social Security officials. The SSA will work directly with your representative and provide access to information from your Social Security file.
For More Information
For more information about properly applying for social security disability, contact the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason, P.C. today. For over 24 years, this superior Baltimore SS disability lawyer has been providing top-notch legal services for the social security disability process. She has also been a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives for decades.
Don’t put yourself and your loved ones’ future at stake by allowing any social security disability attorney to handle this legal process. Contact this proven, reliable SS disability lawyer now!
Social Security benefits provide for two major groups, retirees and those who have disabilities that make it impossible to earn a regular income. As a result, this 20th century government program has been instrumental in providing thousands of people a basic means of income in their senior years or when they are no longer able to take care of themselves because of a severe medical or psychological impairment (s).
There is no Guaranteed Approval
The disability process is not automatic. It requires a significant and cumbersome application process as well as scrutiny, much of which is designed to weed out fraudulent cases. Unfortunately, many well-deserving parties who don’t have the skill or ability to make it through the paperwork and tests also get eliminated as well.
An Attorney’s Help is Discretionary
There is no requirement that one must have an attorney help them through a Social Security disability benefits application, but it definitely makes a huge difference for those that do. The process has become so complex, the average person more often than not gets denied the first time because of simple but technical mistakes that trap the unfamiliar. When Social Security disability lawyers get involved, they become more than just the technical advice. The counsel works as a representative for the client with the Social Security offices as well as providing the official legal responses that much of the application depends on to be successful.
Finding the Pitfalls That are Hidden in Plain Site
A key starting benefit, regardless of where one is in the application process or if even rejected and trying again, is the technical review by a Social Security disability lawyer. In almost every instance, with an application originally prepared by a regular person, a disability attorney is going to find an avoidable critical mistake. It’s not that people are dumb, by any means. With the help of Social Security disability attorneys, the legalese and technical hoops one has to go through in the application process are simply obscure, hard, confusing and sometimes almost misleading if one doesn’t know how they are applied by the government. A trained disability attorney can see these issues immediately and help the response avoid the traps beforehand.
Familiarity With Government Criteria
Another big problem for applicants is reaching an application status where their package is actually complete. Many applications are denied on the frustrating basis that they are missing one document or another. Again, the attorney knows what to look for and makes sure has been addressed, avoiding a denial that doesn’t need to occur.
Baltimore Legal Help is Available for Applicants
The Law Offices of Terri D. Mason, P.C. regularly handles, prepares, counsels and supports Social Security disability applicants every year. As a Baltimore SS disability lawyer, Terri Mason’s team has been instrumental in turning around application cases that seemed hopeless for approval. Social Security disability attorneys are not a 100 percent perfect guarantee of a disability application, but the difference between their technical help and the average layperson’s application package is tremendous on a statistical basis of success. So, when approval of a related application really matters, it makes sense to go with the winning approach.
Remember, a good amount of a disability case has to be justified medically. But if an applicant is not a doctor, and a physician can’t be present during the meetings and fill all out the forms required, how does the applicant make sure the information provided is medically verified? An attorney’s help like that from the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason, P.C. can cut through these logistical problems easily. And it solves one of the key problems many applicants have proving their disability.
More than two million people apply for Social Security Disability benefits annually. Unfortunately, the bulk of these applications (approximately 70%) get turned down at the beginning of the process. Most denials are due to the disability applicant’s errors. If you want to improve your chances of receiving disability benefits, and your application approved, avoid the most common mistakes people make when applying for benefits from the Social Security Disability by contacting a Baltimore SS disability lawyer.
The following are the primary blunders that disability applicants make the most:
- Listing an incomplete job history
- Tax records do not match the income listed
- There are grammatical and typographical errors
- You’re not applying for all of the benefits to which you might be entitled
- Instead of filing an appeal, you reapply
- Not adhering to your doctor’s rehab or prescription instructions
- Before filing your appeal, you did not evaluate or update your documents
- Not verifying the status of your claim
- I’ve been putting off filing for far too long
- Not changing doctors when yours isn’t helpful
- Failure to disclose mental health issues on applications
- Missing essential deadlines for appeals
- You haven’t prepared for your hearing
- Not submitting all of your medical records to the Social Security Administration (SSA)
Below are six of the top SSD errors in detail, and before you end up on that list, consult with social security disability lawyers for assistance.
Failure to Show up for Your SSD Consultation Exam (CE)
Attending a CE exam is required if you wish to receive disability payments. If you fail to show up for a scheduled appointment without good reason, The Administration might decide without all the facts. If you do not show up for your consultation examination, your application will likely get denied, so contact a social security disability lawyer.
Working While Filing a Disability Claim
Although there is no regulation prohibiting you from filing a disability claim while working, your claim is likely to be denied if you do so. When you file for Social Security Disability payments, you’re saying that you need them because you’re unable to work in a significant way. When you apply for Social Security Disability payments, if you are working and making an income, you contradict your claim that you cannot work. It means your prospects of receiving disability compensation are incredibly minimal to none.
Applying Too Early for Disability Benefits
Your disabling condition must seem to endure at least twelve months to qualify for disability compensation. It may be more challenging to prove that you have a long-term or permanent handicap if you apply for benefits too soon. Before you qualify for the help you’re looking for; the Social Security examiner may believe that your condition will improve. As a result, you should only apply for benefits after determining that your handicap will continue for at least one year.
Thinking That the Consultative Exam Evidence is Sufficient
Some persons enter the Social Security Disability application procedure without having sufficient medical documentation to back up their claim. They do so with the assumption that the Social Security Administration’s consultative exam will provide adequate proof to prove their disability. The truth is that consultation tests rarely, if ever, give sufficient evidence to establish a handicap on their own. Instead, the SSA will evaluate the results of the consultation exam in conjunction with your supporting information to determine whether your application for disability payments should be denied or approved.
Not Adhering to Prescribed Treatments
In some situations, a Social Security Disability applicant will refuse to receive or follow medical treatment because they believe it will worsen their illness and prevent them from receiving the disability payments they require. The truth is that the Social Security examiner who is looking at your claim will also look into your treatment history. The examiner will look to see if you have had treatment for your ailment and how well you have responded to any medicines prescribed to you. Your disability application may get dismissed if you have not followed your doctor’s treatment recommendations.
Failure to Use Social Security Disability Attorneys for Your Appeal
If the SSA denies your initial disability claim, you should contact a disability social security disability attorney at the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason to defend you during your disability appeal. With skilled legal assistance, your chances of receiving rewards during the appeal procedure increases. Many people are hesitant to hire an attorney because they believe they cannot afford one. An SS disability lawyer, fortunately, works on a contingency basis, meaning payment only happens when you get paid.
In the United States, many people struggle with a debt problem. An estimated 1 in 3 adults with a credit history are so far behind on some of their debt payments that their account has been put “in collections,” according to recent research.
If you find yourself in this situation, and you are retired, you may be wondering how your debt problems will affect your Social Security. This is an important question for the more than 64 million people who collect Social Security benefits.
Our team at the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason can help you manage this problem. We are Baltimore-based Social Security Disability Attorneys who work with a wide range of clients who are being taken advantage of or facing unfair garnishment due to their debt problems.
Will Creditors Take My Social Security Disability Benefits Away?
The good news is your social security benefits are safe from creditors and debt collectors in most cases. They only reason your Social Security may be in question is if you become delinquent on your federal income taxes, federal student loans or child support or spousal support payments.
In fact, in all other cases, if a debt collector threatens to take away your social security benefits, they may be violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. If your feel like your rights have been violated under this act, you should seek out the services of social security disability lawyers.
This is true even if you are sued and lose that case. In addition to your social security benefits, the following benefits are protected from garnishment and bank levies under federal law:
- Social Security benefits
- Supplemental Social Security Income
- Veterans’ benefits
- Federal Employee Retirement System
- Civil Service Retirement System
- Federal Railroad Retirement, Unemployment, and Sickness Benefits
A SS disability lawyer will be able to help determine if your rights have been violated under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
How to Protect Your Social Security Income
While your Social Security Income should be safe from garnishment even after it has been deposited into your bank account, that may become difficult if the Court cannot clearly identify which funds are exempt and non-exempt funds. You need to be sure it is clear where each deposit into your bank account is coming from.
For you to be able to keep your Social Security, the Court must be able to determine from your bank records and statements which money is Social Security income. If they cannot, then they may ultimately decide that none of the money is exempt.
The good news is, if your Social Security is direct deposited each month in the same way from the Social Security Administration, it will show up the same way at the same time from the U.S. Treasury and that will be a clear delineation for the Court and any creditors which money is exempt from garnishment.
When to Contact an Attorney
You should contact a Social Security Disability lawyer if you feel like your Social Security is being improperly garnished. We can help if you feel like:
- You don’t owe the debt
- The legal fees will exceed the amount of the debt
- The creditor is taking too much
- You want to work out other payment arrangements
- Your employer is threatening to fire you because of the garnishment
- The creditor is trying to get around the wage exemption by garnishing a bank account.
Should You Declare Bankruptcy
When you work with a social security disability attorney to help you deal with your debt or creditors, he or she will also be able to advise you on whether or not bankruptcy can help you get back on your feet.
The good news is, if you are on Social Security, your benefits are exempt and therefore protected in bankruptcy.
Contact the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason
If you need help managing your debt or creditors or if you feel like your Social Security is being unfairly garnished or threatened, the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason — a Baltimore SS disability lawyer — can help you manage your case. We work with a wide range of clients to help ensure their rights and money are protected.
According to the US Census Bureau, more than 330 million people live in the country. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that just over 60 million of them live with a disability. Disabilities are wide-ranging. Therefore, it is essential to have a disability to protect your mind and finances if you get hurt and a physician deems you as disabled.
Here are 10 of the most common conditions that are considered disabilities.
1. Coronary Artery Disease
Heart disease and cardiac problems cause heart attacks, heart surgery, different cardiac treatments, and chronic conditions. Numerous disability cases leading to a denial involve heart disease and cardiac disorders. Employees with cardiac difficulties, on the other hand, are frequently expected to return to work after 60 days, even after heart surgery.
The surgery was successful, and the issue is manageable; nonetheless the patient must stay away from aggravating circumstances, according to a cardiologist. Stress can trigger more cardiac arrests, and heart disease (and its treatments) can induce significant weariness, all of which can impair a person’s ability to work effectively, requiring the help of a Baltimore SS disability lawyer.
2. Musculoskeletal Disorders/Lumbar Cervical Issues
Lumbar, cervical difficulties, and musculoskeletal illnesses are the most common medical conditions in disability insurance claims. Many claimants with lumbar, cervical problems have herniated disks and back problems, have had spine fusions, or find it challenging to sit for lengthy periods due to pain. When workers must sit at a desk to fulfill their job functions, this becomes a severe issue.
3. Problems with Mental Health
Mental illnesses can be just as incapacitating as physical ailments. Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, cognitive impairments, and other psychiatric illnesses are only a few examples. These conditions may have been present in a person’s medical history for a long time, but some triggers and stressors exacerbate them.
Furthermore, a person with a physical claim is more likely to have a secondary mental health condition like depression.
A social security disability lawyer from the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason will step in and ensure that the disability claim focuses on the physical restrictions that pay up to age 65 or retirement age.
4. Disorders of the Nervous System
Nervous system illnesses, which include conditions like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, are among the top five causes of disability claims. Because these are progressive conditions, obtaining disability benefits might be challenging.
The insurance company may agree that the worker has relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Still, the claimant hasn’t had a relapse in a long time, concluding that the claimant can work. That’s when a SS disability lawyer will collaborate with the neurologist to conduct additional tests and paperwork to the policyholder’s benefit.
According to our social security disability lawyers, if the disabled claimant’s condition has changed, it must be documented.
5. Cancer
No one can dispute a cancer diagnosis. However, cancer has seen far more cures in recent years, resulting in disability conflicts over whether patients can return to work.
Despite the existence of models for cancer patients to get back on the job, some employees face significant limits due to treatment processes. They’ve had chemotherapy and might be experiencing symptoms such as “chemo brain” or “chemo fog,” as well as cognitive challenges, functional restrictions, mental nerve troubles, weariness, and weakness. The effects of cancer and its therapies can have long-term consequences.
It will be more challenging to justify disability with the insurance company and employer after the initial surgery or chemo treatment. It is also possible to get fired from your job after a 90-day break; thus, showing an inability to resume previous work levels takes time.
6. Accidentally Sustained Injuries
Any one of us could get hurt at any time due to an accident at home, work, or anywhere. You have a disability when your injuries prevent you from doing your job.
7. Pregnancy
Employers frequently provide short-term disability benefits for pregnant employees, even though pregnancy isn’t a handicap in the traditional sense. If difficulties emerge, you may require more long-term benefits.
Why You Need a Social Security Disability Attorney
We recommend contacting the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason regardless of the sort of disability claim you have. Our social security disability attorneys help policyholders with the intricacies of disabilities claims so you can have peace of mind. Whatever your issue, we’ve dealt with similar cases. We offer a free initial consultation and eagerly await your call.
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), under both the title II and title XVI programs, medical evidence is the critical factor that determines disability.
Each person filing a disability claim must provide medical proof of their disability and the extent of the disability. However, with the claimant’s consent, the SSA will obtain medical evidence from medical providers who treated the claimant.
When necessary, SSA also obtains copies of medical evidence from health facilities.
Claimants who give the SSA correct information and documentation on time can have their claims processed more quickly, and a social security disability lawyer can help expedite the process.
Impairment Existence
To prove a claimant’s disability, the Social Security Administration (SSA) requires thorough medical documentation. SSA regulations demand “objective medical proof” from an “acceptable medical source,” defined in their rules.
Severity
The SSA weighs every piece of medical and non-medical evidence after establishing an impairment to determine its impact on the claimant’s ability to work. For children, it’s about the functionality of their peers with no impairments. Everyone from home to work, the community, and religious organizations can be non-medical sources.
Claimant Responsibilities
Claimants must inform SSA of all evidence relating to their disability or submit it to SSA. This obligation is ongoing, for further proof that comes to light during the administrative review procedure and should be complete and precise enough for the Social Security Administration to determine:
- The nature and extent of the claimant’s disability (s),
- How long has the claimant had the impairment(s)
- Can they continue to perform mental and physical activities at work while suffering from them
Exams for Consultation
If the claimant’s data is insufficient to decide whether they’re incapacitated, the SSA might arrange a consultation examination (CE) for clarification. In most cases, a claimant’s medical source(s) is recommended for performing the required exams, and SSA will cover the permitted charge for the CE. SSA sometimes utilize independent medical source if:
- The claimant’s physician declined
- The claimant’s medical source(s) lacks the equipment necessary to give the exact data required
- There are disputes or discrepancies in the file that cannot be resolved by returning to the claimant’s medical source
- The claimant prefers and has reasonable justification for using another source
- Because of previous experience, SSA understands that the claimant’s medical source(s) may not be a productive source
- The claimant’s medical source(s) is not qualified, as defined by regulation, which social security disability lawyers can help you to correct.
Content of the Consultative Examination Report
The CE report should include all the examinations in total, which should contain the following:
- Principal or primary grievance(s) of the claimant
- A thorough explanation of the history of the principal complaint(s) within the scope of the examination.
- A detailed description of lab, history, exam, complaints, and any other abnormalities or lack thereof reported or found during analysis or laboratory testing; results of laboratory and other tests (for example, X-rays) performed according to the requirements stated in the Impairments Listing
- The claimant’s impairment(s) diagnosis and prognosis.
A statement regarding what a claimant can perform and their limitations in the following abilities in adult claims:
- Handling physical tasks at work.
- Understanding; remembering; sustaining focus, tenacity, or pace; carrying out instructions; or responding effectively to supervisors, coworkers, or work pressures in a work situation.
- Ability to meet other job requirements, such as seeing, hearing, or using other senses; and
- Being able to adjust to changing conditions in the environment, such as temperature extremes or pollutants.
A statement about the child’s limitations and restrictions compared to peers without impairment:
- In acquiring and using information
- Attending to and completing tasks
- Interacting and relating with others
- Moving around and manipulating objects
The evidence presented by the consultant who signs the report will represent the history, examination, interpretation of laboratory test findings, and conclusions.
Symptoms-Related Evidence
SSA considers all options related to the complaints when creating proof of the consequences of symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, or weariness on a claimant’s capacity to function.
The evidence includes information on the claimant’s daily activities, ailments, accelerating and aggravating factors, medications; any measures the claimant uses or has used to relieve pain or other symptoms; and other factors. A social security disability attorney can help you get the correct information.
The SSA analyzes all these variables when evaluating the claimant’s pain or other symptoms. The medical source must mention these issues in their findings.
How an SS Disability Lawyer can Help
It can be challenging to ensure that the Social Security Administration gets all it requires, but a Baltimore SS disability lawyer from the Law Offices of Terri D. Mason can assist you. Social security disability attorneys can liaise between the SSA and your medical providers, resolving communications and medical evidence submission delays.