How to Complete Social Security Forms
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Your case may be denied because you, your spouse, friends, or relatives did not know how to complete many of the Social Security forms. Some judges use statements on these forms to prove that you are not disabled.
First, you need to know a little bit about how to prove you have a disabling impairment. Getting Social Security Disability is not at all like getting Workers’ Compensation benefits. On Workers’ Compensation cases, you only need to prove you cannot do your past work. However, on Social Security Disability cases you must prove you cannot do ANY WORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND NOT JUST WHERE YOU LIVE.
If you also have a Workers’ Compensation case, make sure any settlement papers include the following language: “This settlement is written off over my life time.” If this language is not included, this money may be deducted from your Social Security benefits.
How Does Social Security Decide That you Are Disabled if You Are Not Working?
Social Security will read the forms you filled out and it may look at what you do around the house from the time you get up until the time you go to sleep at night. If you cook three meals a day, maybe you can work as a cook. If you cut your grass or do gardening, maybe you can be a landscape worker or work in a garden shop. If you do laundry, maybe you can work for a laundry cleaner. If you take care of a sick relative, maybe you can
work as a health care aid.
Some judges think if you prepare very detailed forms or type them yourself, that is evidence you can concentrate and are not in pain. If you have difficulty preparing the forms, have a family member assist you.
If you drive a distance to your doctor’s office or drive your children to school, maybe you can work as a taxi cab driver. If your treating physician reports that you do these things and does not recommend that you stop doing these things, you may not be found disabled.
If you have pain from your medical conditions, and your doctor has not prescribed medication, whether or not you take it, that may be some evidence that you are not seriously disabled.
If you are not in treatment on a regular basis, that may also show that you are not seriously disabled. The fact that you cannot afford treatment does not matter because it is well known that there are both free medical clinics and clinics that charge on a sliding scale based on income.
Search online for a list of clinics in your area. If these clinics refuse to see you, call your attorney’s office so that your attorney can try to get you an appointment. The fact that nothing can be done about your condition is not an acceptable excuse for not getting treatment since some judges feel anyone not in treatment cannot have a serious medical condition. And, proof of disability can best be shown by use of medical records that describe your symptoms and ongoing pain.
Other Considerations for Filling Out Forms
EDUCATION
The more education you have, the more likely it is you can transfer skills to other jobs you have never performed before. When asked what grade you completed in school, do not say what grade you dropped out of but rather say what grade you completed. Even if you have a GED, still say what grade you completed before getting your GED. Never say you have a college education if you did not receive a degree.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Do not leave out any medical condition or any medical symptoms you have. The more you have, the easier it is to be found disabled. Do not say you do not have a mental impairment if you are taking medication for things like depression or anxiety. It is better if you get yourself into treatment for these conditions with a mental health specialist.
MEDICATION
If medication controls a medical condition, that condition will not be disabling. Describe all your symptoms in spite of taking medication.
FORMS FROM YOUR ATTORNEY
It is possible to speed up the decision on your case if you have your doctor complete Medical Source Statement forms and Mental RFC forms.
Please talk to your case manager about how to get these forms completed. They are only helpful if you obtain the doctor’s treatment notes to go with the forms. When completed, send the forms with the treatment notes to your attorney for submission.
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Please Submit as Much Documentation of Your Condition to Your attorney As Soon As You Can