I have a severe disability. How can I increase my chances of having my claim approved?

If your disability “meets or equals” one of the Social Security Administration’s medical listings, then you very likely are unable to work, and therefore, your claim should have a better chance of being approved. Initial decisions are based, in part, on your medical records. In addition, sometimes the disability determination service or the Social Security Administration may ask you to attend a “consultative examination,” where a doctor examines you specifically for the purpose of determining whether you are disabled.

To maximize your chances of a favorable decision from the disability determination service:

• If you are severely disabled and your doctor thinks you “meet or equal” a listing, then ask your doctor to provide a copy of your medical records to the Social Security Administration or to the disability determination service.
  • To find the address to send the records to, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TDD 1-800-325-0778).
  • If you are a Bill Gordon client, you can send the medical records to us, and we will send them to the appropriate agency on your behalf.
• If you are terminally ill and your records clearly indicate the severity of your condition, then ask your doctor to provide a copy of the medical records to you directly, and you can include them with your application.
  • if you apply in person or if the Social Security Administration asks you to come in for a face-to-face interview, you can bring a copy of your medical records with you.
  • If you apply over the phone, you can mention to the representative that you already have copies of medical records, and offer to send the copies in.
  • If you are a Bill Gordon client, please call us at 1-800-819-8123 to find out the address where you should send the records.
• See your doctor as often as is necessary for the proper treatment of your condition. Some people suffer for long periods of time without seeking medical assistance, but the Social Security Administration thinks that anybody who is really disabled will be seeking treatment for their condition.
• If you receive a notice asking you to undergo a consultative examination:
  • Keep the notice, so you will know the date, time and place; however, if you are a Bill Gordon client, you can also find out the time and place of the exam by calling us.
  • If you can’t attend, then follow the instructions on the notice to request that the exam be rescheduled. If you have trouble arranging for an agreeable time and place, then call us.
  • During the examination, be cooperative; if there is a problem between the doctor and you, or if the exam is not thorough, then call us at 1-800-819-8123 for assistance.
  • Sometimes it is possible to get your own doctor to do the consultative examination; call us for more information.
• Be honest always.

Disabilities that are less severe are harder to prove. Your disability must prevent you from working in order for you to be awarded benefits.