How to Find the Right Disability Doctor
When you’re applying for Social Security disability (SSD), you’ll typically need to provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) with a lot of medical documentation. Exactly what type of medical information is required will depend on your medical condition or conditions. The medical records SSA is looking for may include doctor’s notes, diagnostic test results, and other documentation.
The first question many SSD applicants have is where to get the documentation they need. Here’s what you need to know about finding the right doctor to work with to gather the documentation you need.
Your Own Doctor Can Be Your Best Resource
The SSA doesn’t require that medical documentation come from a doctor on their roster or one they’ve pre-approved. In fact, they often prefer information from the doctor who has been treating you. Your own doctor may already have test results and other documentation the SSA wants to see. That makes the process more efficient and saves them from having to pay a doctor to conduct exams or run tests.
Your own doctor may also be able to provide more in-depth information about the limitations you face and the progress of your medical condition, since you may have been seeing them before you became disabled, or started treatment with them early in your disability.
What if Your Doctor Won’t Participate?
Some doctors are reluctant to get involved in the SSD application process. This can happen for different reasons. In some cases, the doctor doesn’t believe disability is warranted. In others, they simply don’t want to take on the extra work of providing a statement and other information. Others have different reasons.
If concern about the complexity of the process and time commitment is an issue, you may be able to persuade your doctor to participate by doing the legwork and showing them exactly what would be required–it’s not very time-consuming. If they still don’t want to participate, you can:
- If you’re being treated by both a general practitioner and one or more specialists, ask your other doctor(s) to complete documentation
- Obtain your medical records and test results from the non-participating doctor
- Seek a new doctor who will cooperate with the SSD application process
You’ll want to consider practicalities in finding the right doctor, such as working with someone in an accessible location and making sure the doctor is in-network for your medical insurance.
Your Disability Benefits Advocate Can Help
If you’re working with a disability benefits advocate to secure SSD benefits, your advocate may be able to help you find a doctor who will work with you, and help coordinate the collection of the information you need from your physician. That’s just one of many ways an experienced advocate can help keep your claim moving forward smoothly. To learn more about how Disability Help Group can assist with putting together the strongest application or appeal possible, call 800-800-3332 right now, or fill out our contact form here.
