Hi all, thank you in advance for your help and advice. I am new to the SSDI forum but not for others at NT. I was wondering about the docs that SSD sends us to, how long after applying should we be sent to one and when will we find out the results from the appt? What have your appts been like? I am 38 with a ton of dx that all have appeared within the last year and unfortunately most have no cure only treat the symptoms and pray they can find a combination that helps. Anyways, thank you again for any advice that you can give me about these appts.
Hobbles

You don't receive those findings.....they go straight to SSA to determine if you are disabled.

you can receive a copy of their report, just tell them you want a copy sent to you when you go for your appointment and they will charge you for it.

Hi Hobbles ~ I can't remember how long it was before they sent me to one. It wasn't very long if I remember correctly. I will tell you tho that FOR ME, it was the WORST doctors' appointment I've ever had! I was treated as if I was a leper ~ with disrespect, rudeness, and just overall nastiness. You would have thought he was going to have to pay the disability out of his own pocket!! I'm sure he gets a lot of "faker" in to see him, but don't treat me like that BEFORE you even do the exam!!! It was obvious AFTER the exam that I was NOT faking!

I wrote a letter to Social Security, complaining about this "so-called doctor" as we shouldn't have to be treated like this. If you are treated badly, do the same!

Best of luck and I hope you're approved quickly. God bless. Hugs, Lee

Not every applicant is sent to a SSA doctors appointment. If your medical records are sufficient, chances are you will not have to see an SSA doc.

I didn't have to go to an SSA doctor. I had 10 + years of dr stuff.
Good luck to you!

I know it's not funny, but the way you put it I had to laugh. I've heard people say this before. I've read some of the doctors reports and I know what you mean. This one psychiatrist went on and on about one of my clients not wearing make up. I don't understand til this day what makeup has to do with anyone's physical or mental health.

if you are depressed you may not take care of yourself the way you should. if the psychiatrist is using the lack of makeup as a clue to someone not being disabled then i dont have a clue either.

Yeah, but there are many many ways to take care of yourself and using just one thing to show that someone isn't taking care of themself is quite ridiculous.

I am a 24 year old female and have never worn makeup. The only thing close is lip balm. If I walked into a place with ratty hair, looking and smelling like I hadn't showered in a week.. that may be different. But some people choose not to wear makeup for many many different reasons, and that's not equal to not caring for yourself.

I shower, brush my teeth, wash my clothes, etc etc etc. So, if I look fine but don't wear makeup because I have extremely sensitive skin, that means I don't take care of myself? I don't think so.

And I know you were just giving a reason why that may have mattered, and that you are not the doctor who wrote that--my problem is not with you.. my problem is with anyone who looks at one tiny aspect of someone's life and jumps to a major conclusion.

Just as it would not be fair for a doctor (or anyone else) to judge that a person is fully capable of working just because that person can get up and walk. That's just silly..

It is true that many of the doctors used by SSA, for these evaluations, are not as competent or as thorough as one would hope. Therefore it is quite important that, under SSA regulations, you have the choice of having your own treating phsycian or specialist (MD, DO, or clinical psychology only).

As long as your doc is available, qualified and willing to perform said exam (for the small sum that DDS usually pays), you can insist that your doc be allowed to do it.

Unless your treating doc is unsupportive of your disability claim, you are almost always better off performing any requested examination that SSA or DDSs deems necessary.