If you are trying to get Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, they may ask you to attend an examination with one of their doctors. You should attend this exam and here are some tips to help you with it:
Arrive 15 minutes early.
Take a driver's license or other valid photo ID.
Take all prescription medications in their original bottles, properly labeled.
Ask someone else to drive you to the exam and go into the office with you.
Dress neat and casual, like you would for any other doctor's appointment.
Have a mental outline of your medical history: what are your diagnosed conditions? Past surgeries?
Be courteous with the examiner and answer questions to the best of your ability.
Try to perform the maneuvers the examiner requests. If you cannot perform a maneuver due to pain simply explain this to the examiner.
Avoid trying to convince the examiner that you are disabled or need benefits. He/she cannot make this determination.
Don't ask the examiner if he/she believes you are disabled.
Be careful what you say to the examiner. Casual comments like, "I am doing very well," or "I am just fine" can be reported and taken literally.
Don't exaggerate your symptoms/conditions but don't minimize them, either. Just be honest.
Talk about your symptoms but avoid medical terms. It's better to say "I have severe back pain" than to say, "I suffer from lumbar radiculopathy."
Be specific when possible. "I have severe low back pain when I stand longer than ___ minutes," is better than "My back hurts a lot."
Avoid talking about things you aren't asked about. Don't bring up recent trips, vacations, hobbies, home repair projects, etc.
Remember, you are not there to argue your disability case with the doctor. Social Security has sent the doctor specific instructions to check certain things during the exam. Doctors are not permitted to state whether an individual is disabled or whether they are able to work. Those decisions are reserved to Social Security.
Of course, do not expect any treatment and no medications will be prescribed during a consultative examination. This examiner has a one time appointment with the claimant and will perform only the examination requested by Social Security. There will be no followup. You do have a right to see the examiner's report after it has been submitted to Social Security. You may contact Social Security and request to see the report along with any other documents in your file.
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Excellent Social Security disability representation is available by Charles W. Forsythe, The Forsythe Firm, Huntsville, AL. Free consultation. Never any fee unless you win. Call
(256) 799-0297
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