It helps to have a supportive doctor when you file for disability

If you are applying for disability benefits it is important to have an understanding and responsive physician on your side.

Author: Attorney Lonnie Roach

About twenty percent of Americans live with some form of disability. Roughly ten percent of Americans collect benefits for their disability. Disability is very common, and while most people feel like it will never happen to them, living with a serious medical condition is a reality for 56 million Americans. Getting benefits for your disability can be difficult.

A supportive doctor is one of the most important things in a Social Security or Long Term Disability claim. Medical records may be needed to prove you are disabled. If you have been denied call a Long Term Disability Lawyer at 512-454-4000 today.

There is an unfortunate stigma surrounding disability benefits in America.

Even though SSDI is an insurance program that workers pay into their entire lives, many incorrectly view it as welfare. There is a perception that people who receive benefits are taking advantage of the system and costing taxpayers. The truth is that disability benefits are meager and provide a standard of living and level of income that averages around the same as a minimum-wage job. While there are a few cases of Social Security fraud, the overwhelming majority of people receiving Social Security benefits desperately need them and have no other way of supporting themselves.

Unfortunately, due to the negative stigma surrounding government aid programs, many people are reluctant to talk to their one of their greatest allies in their fight to win disability benefits- their doctor.

Having a supportive doctor is one of the most important things in a Social Security Disability or Long Term Disability claim. Disability claims can generate a lot of paperwork for an applicant’s doctor to fill out. It is likely that Social Security, your private insurer, and your attorney will all request medical records and have affidavits and questionnaires they need completed.

A good, supportive doctor will take his time with these forms and complete them in a way that accurately reflects their patient’s abilities and limitations.

However, given the amount of paperwork doctors are required to complete, and the fact that spending time with patients is a higher priority, many doctors fill forms out quickly, leaving vague, generic answers that are open to interpretation. If the applicant has a doctor who is indifferent towards their patient’s disability claim, then they are less likely to win benefits. In cases where the doctor does not believe their patient is disabled, it is nearly impossible to win the claim.

If you have been denied disability you may still qualify for benefits. Contact an experienced Long Term disability attorney at 512-454-4000 Don’t give up! Call Today.

Has your physician told you that you should no longer work?

If so, you are in a far better position to obtain Social Security Disability benefits than claimants who do not have a supportive doctor. The Social Security Administration will generally give greater weight to the opinion of a treating physician than to the opinion of a non-treating physician.

Originally developed by the courts, the Social Security Administration (SSA) codified the “treating physician” rule in the Code of Federal Regulations. In general, all medical opinions must be analyzed with the factors listed in 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527

The treating-physician rule determines how the ALJ must weigh the opinion of the treating source.

If the opinion of the treating physician is supported by acceptable medical evidence and is not inconsistent with other substantial evidence in the record, it must be given controlling weight. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(d)(2)
Schmidt v. Astrue, 496 F.3d 833, 842 (7th Cir.2007)

Sometimes a treating physician will say that his patient is “disabled.”

The Social Security Administration will not accept a doctor’s conclusory statement regarding disability. The strongest opinions contain an explanation of the patient’s physical/mental limitations. For example, the physician may say, “The patient is unable to work because he can sit for no more than 30 minutes due to pain. He requires 15 minutes lying down between sessions of sitting.” As long as your doctor’s favorable opinion on your disability is supported by medical evidence (office notes, imaging studies, blood tests, etc.) and is not inconsistent with substantial medical evidence in the file, you should win.

If you are interested in applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, or private Short-Term or Long-Term Disability benefits, you will need a supportive doctor.

For many applicants, this is a difficult task as they may not have insurance. Nearly all Social Security applicants are in difficult financial situations, and healthcare can be expensive. However, if you are too injured or ill to work, investing in health care could also be an important step towards winning a disability claim.

Author: Attorney Lonnie Roach has been practicing law for over 29 years. He is Superlawyers rated by Thomson Reuters and is Top AV Preeminent® and Client Champion rated by Martindale Hubbell. Through his extensive litigation Mr. Roach obtained board certifications from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Lonnie is admitted to practice in the United States District Court – all Texas Districts and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Highly experienced in Long Term Disability denials and appeals governed by the “ERISA” Mr. Roach is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Austin Bar Association, and is a past the director of the Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association (Director 1999-2005) Mr. Roach and all the members of Bemis, Roach & Reed have been active participants in the Travis County Lawyer referral service.