Copies of your medical bills don't prove disability

This is true, they don't. But they do prove that you paid for a procedure or whatever to back up your claim. Think about it that way.

They do not care what med bills you have paid for. It has noting to do w/proving disability. More people than not do not pay their medical bills because of no insurance and/or economical reasons. Ever heard of FREE clinics and/or hospital charity cases?

SS goes by medical reports and especially the doctors NOTES.
When you list all the prescriptions on the forms make sure you list every single side effect AND how the side effects affect your everyday life. Make sure you mention same to all of your treating physicians.

This is very important. When you chit-chat w/your doctor watch what you say. Doctors write everything down in their NOTES which SS reads w/a fine tooth comb.

What you state on the SS forms must match up to what are in the medical reports and the doctor's NOTES!


Hope this helps a little bit!

I totally agree with everything you are saying. But, if a person does have receipts, it does help to prove their claim. It may not have any bearing on the final decision. But it is documented proof that you have taken steps to prove your claim. And yes I have heard of free clinics and hospital charity. There again, this is documented proof for your claim even though it comes from a free source. A medical document is just that, a medical document. It dose not matter where it came from or if you paid for it or didn't pay for it.

excellant post Mz migraine. sometimes doctors dont accurately record what you told them. thats why its a good idea to review your medical records and correct any errors before a hearing or even before you file which you are entitled to do under HIPAA.

One of the things I did that I did not see mentioned was I went back to all my doctors that I had seen in the 5 years before I filed. I updated each doc on what I have tried since seeing them, and any changes. I asked each type of doc if there is anything else I could do to decrease my pain, or increase my mobility. Since I have multiple diagnosis, this meant going to the physiatrist (movement doc), pain management doc, family doc, orthopedic surgeon, two neurologists (one specializes in injections like botox and so I also go to a "regular" neuro also), foot surgeon, orthotic maker (he makes my toe to knee plastic AFO braces), rheumatologist, physical therapist, medical massage therapist, asthma and allergy specialist, eye doctor.... etc. I told all the docs I was thinking of filing for disability. The ones that seemed to agree with that, I asked to write a letter for me describing my limitations. Even had a letter from my asthma doc stating the conditions I could not work in (dusty... etc). He actually may have been really helpful with his letter, as he has been treating me for 30 years and spoke of the decline he has seen in me in the last 10 years, how limited I was am in stamina etc. My eye doctor is also a surgeon, not just an optometrist... and he put in a letter how my medications affect my eyes, and the difficulty I have seeing to read, use a computer etc. ( I am very, very nearsighted)

I began to see a pain psychologist right after I stopped working in Dec. 2009, and continue to see her.

I got copies of all my records after seeing each doc.

During the months it took to do all of this, I kept a little notebook. I kept it with me. Every time I had problems doing something, either physically or mentally, I made a note in the book. If I had to adapt things, I made a note. Such as, I use a hook to reach a seat belt because I can't reach it due to my physical problems.

I also kept notes from 3 different days - a good day, a bad day, and a day away from home doing a few errands. I wrote down exactly what I did each day, from the moment I woke up. I included difficulties doing things, pain levels, sleep, medications, problems with personal hygene etc. I used these notes as examples of my average days.

I went in to the local social security and filled out the initial application for me. The woman saw me coming in, with braces on, using a service dog, and clearly saw the change in me during the nearly 3 hours it took for us to go thru all my info - how my concentration and comprehension went down when my pain levels went up. I think she helped me a lot by filling the initial application out much better than I would.

When I got my forms in the mail to fill out - a function report & symptom report... I called my case manager and told her it would take me a long time to do them. The symptom report took me about a month, and so did the function report. I ended up getting a dictation program for my Mac, and a microphone to be able to type all the answers to the questions. I am using that software now. I explained why it was taking so long to the manager - that I had trouble typing, seeing, and also my comprehension.

I think my function report was 35 typed pages, and my symptom report was over 20.

I didn't have to see any of their doctors.

Even though I had sent all my records in (with my notes attached to them for things like a doc writing down right arm instead of left arm), SS still sent for all the records from each doc anyway. Knowing this, I would still do it the same way, as it was important to know what each doctor had to say, and it helped me figure out what symptoms I've had how long etc.

I applied the last week of May 2010 and got approved first time, beginning of Sept. 2010, with recheck in 5-7 years. I am 52, high school education, worked in the same trade since I was 17.

I did not use a lawyer to file. I did talk to one for a few minutes on the phone. He told me he didn't think I had much of a chance because my main diagnosis was RSD, which is not one of the "automatic" diseases, and because I barely missed any work in the last couple years. I do know a person casually that lives halfway across the country from me, and is one of the people who works SS and decides if you get SSDI or not. She did give me a little advice, such as keeping track of what I did over a few days, and noting all the problems, pain, etc. in detail.

Once I decided to try for disability, I took on filing for it like a job. I tried to cover all the bases. It took me quite a while - almost 6 months. Some of that was time waiting to get in to see doctors because some were so booked up, it was months before I could get an appointment.

Still, I feel incredibly lucky to get it first time. It was kind of odd when it went through so fast, and with the 5-7 year re-evaluation. It really got me down for a couple months, because it was like a validation of the severity of my physical issues.

I think being as prepared and detailed as you can be really helps.

Copies of your medications do come into play when filing for disability, this is from the SS disability site. Example; you claim to have severe pain, what's going to be more convincing you're taking over the counter pain medication, or something prescribed by a pain medication doctor?

Evidence Relating to Symptoms

In developing evidence of the effects of symptoms, such as pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue, on a claimant's ability to function, SSA investigates all avenues presented that relate to the complaints. These include information provided by treating and other sources regarding:

* the claimant's daily activities;
* the location, duration, frequency, and intensity of the pain or other symptom;
* precipitating and aggravating factors;
* the type, dosage, effectiveness, and side effects of any medication;
* treatments, other than medications, for the relief of pain or other symptoms;
* any measures the claimant uses or has used to relieve pain or other symptoms; and
* other factors concerning the claimant's functional limitations due to pain or other symptoms.

The information above is from the link under evidentiary requirements.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disabi...videntiary.htm

Who paid for the procedure is not an issue SSA cares about.

Having had , say, an MRI proves NOTHING.

Having an MRI report that says xyz is wrong and the medical records that correlates your symtoms and physical limitations with an abnormal MRI finding is very helpful. All of that info is not on your bill.