Tips to Keep in Mind When Working on Social Security Disability Cases
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Claiming social security disability benefits is not easy and involves a comprehensive analysis of the applicant’s medical records to determine disability. Almost 67% of all initial applications for disability benefits are denied by the SSA (Social Security Administration). Social security disability cases are complex and time-consuming and when a claimant is approved for the benefits he/she deserves, it is immensely gratifying for the attorney. To speed up the entire claim submission and appeal process, paralegals working for an attorney can utilize the service of a reliable medical record review company. Medical review services provided include organizing and indexing of all relevant medical records and preparation of a chronology and case summary, which will help the paralegal understand the case very well and present it appropriately. To secure SSDI benefits for a client, here are some helpful and important tips to keep in mind.
Both SSDI and SSI have a rigid definition for disability, which makes the claim approval a difficult prospect. The SSA considers an adult disabled when he/she is unable to engage in any substantial gainful work activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to last for 12 continuous months or result in death.
About one in four of today’s 20-year-olds will become disabled before reaching age 67.
The disability must be a permanent one.
To represent a claimant before the SSA, the attorney has to file Form SS 1696 – Appointment of Representative with the SSA.
The time frames for appeals are 60 days to appeal after an initial rejection and 60 days to appeal after a rejection at the Recon stage (when a hearing is requested before an ALJ or Administrative Law Judge).
The Office of Hearings and Appeals is called ODAR or the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review.
The average wait time for a hearing is around 12 – 18 months and even longer sometimes.
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Ensure that all medical evidence related to the claimant is submitted at the initial application itself. This includes objective test results such as X-rays, blood work, MRIs, EMGs, EEGs, EKGs, CT scans and so on along with the treating physicians’ treatment notes, and ER visits and hospitalizations. All details about the claimant’s doctors, specialists, hospitals including ER and urgent care visits, chiropractors, clinics, therapists and counselors should be provided to the SSA. The SSA will use the medical release the claimant signed to obtain medical records from all medical providers.
Get the claimant to have his/her medical providers to write a letter about their conditions or fill out an RFC (Residual Functional Capacity) form.
Make sure that the attorney is kept updated by the client at least every two months so that your case is current and up to date.
Ensure that a denial is appealed immediately because there are set time limits to appeal.
www.mosmedicalrecordreview.com
1-800-670-2809