Regularity of Treatment

Medical evidence is typically the only thing an individual has that proves their disability, other than their own word.

While a health problem may seem obvious to you, Social Security needs proof. The Social Security Administration tends to work under the philosophy that if it is not on paper, or in digital records, then it does not exist. So, seeing a doctor, and seeing them regularly, is one of the most vital things to being approved. Even an individual with the most obvious health problem, like an amputation for example, will never be approved if they do not have current and ongoing medical records. Typically, professionals will recommend that claimants see a doctor as regularly as possible but at least every 3 to 4 months.

It is also helpful if a doctor is willing to provide direct support for your disability. Very often well-meaning doctors are afraid of being wrapped up in a litigious process and resist filling out questionnaires or writing notes in support of an individual’s disability claim. Even if a doctor is not willing to fill out a questionnaire or write a note of support, their medical records will be retrieved and will be useful if you see them regularly. However, when a doctor is willing to fill out a questionnaire, called a residual functional capacity report (RFC), it can make all the difference. Often the reviewer’s at Social Security are tasked with going through hundreds or thousands of pages of medical records. When a doctor fills out a short questionnaire or writes a brief note, it just makes their job easier. When a reviewer at a Social Security office can briefly look at a few pages and get a comprehensive picture of a doctor’s opinion, it is much more likely for them to approve your claim.