Maybe I can help shed some light on the subject...

When we request records, we give the doctors/hospitals about 3 weeks to get back to us. If we don't receive records in that time frame, we contact the office and make sure they got the request, check the status, etc. Sometimes offices are just backlogged and we take that into account. However if the records aren't sent there is nothing we can do. I personally will generally call the claimant to let them know and have them see if they can call the doctor too.

If I were you I'd call your examiner regularly (regularly meaning maybe once a week, not twice a day) and see how things are coming or if you can help out in some way. Try to be as involved in your case as you can :)

And remember, if your doctor doesn't submit records, that's not YOUR fault. Your examiner will not see you in a negative light because of what the hospital/doctor didn't do.

If we don't get the records and there is insufficient medical evidence in file, then we generally have to send you to an exam with one of our contract doctor, which is another topic entirely.

Hope this helps.

Yes, this does help.

I'm embarrassed to say I don't know who my examiner is or that I could contact them. All I know is the name of the guy that contacted me via email after I completed my ap on line in early July. Every time I go to a new doctor I send him the info and he always replies, 'sent to medical examiner'. I guess I'll ask him for the examiner's phone number and/or email.

When I check online to find out my status it always says it's under medical review.

Thanks for the feedback.

You are not going to get much more specific answers from the online status.

I found out who my examiner is! I called him and he's just waiting on the psychiatrist info before he sends my info 'off to the doctors'. I wanted to ask him what that meant but he didn't sound like he wanted to be on the phone much longer.

Sorry if this sounds routine to you but I don't know this process and don't want to tick anyone off at SSA by bugging them.

I visited the psychiatrist for the first time three weeks ago so it's understandable that they're waiting on him. And to think this wasn't even the doctor I thought was dragging his feet...

It sounds like a decision should be made 60-90 days from when the doctor's get it, according to the info 'kallixenia' posted.

Thanks to all!

Just so you know, the 60-90 day average starts when the examiner gets the case. Once the doctor gets the case, he or she has 2-3 weeks to review it and make their recommendation and you would probably be 20-40 days in already. The case can take longer if the doctor wants more info.

If you want to help out you could get in touch with the psychiatrist and remind him or her that you have a disability claim pending so they can send the records.

The examiner receives the records, reviews them, summarizes them, and refers it to a doctor for consultation (this is what your examiner means by "sent to the doctor"). And don't be afraid to ask your examiner to clarify any questions you have, and please don't be intimidated by him! We want to help you out in any way we can. You might have caught your examiner at an "off" time when you called, but don't let that put you off.

I hope that helps! If you have any other questions about the process feel free to ask or PM me :)

kallixenia, you're very kind to help. Great info.

It just so happens I have an appointment with the psychiatrist tomorrow so I'll ask him.

I don't like the feeling of not knowing what's going on in a new situation and this forum has helped immensely.

Thank you.

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your lucky he sent them. i had one psychiatrist that never sent them in at all to ss