Never trust Social Security doctors. Pure and simple, you should always keep that in mind.

There are many reasons why you should never trust Social Security doctors

For starters:

1. These doctors are not your friend, even if they say you are disabled.
2. They have limited resources to really examine you.
3. If you think they are on your side, think again!

The worst part is that they are paid by Social Security to tell them if you are disabled:

In One Visit!!

Now imagine that you have seen your doctors for years and your doctors know about you and your impairments. Also, imagine that you were denied disability on your first or second round because one of these doctors who saw you only ONCE says you are not disabled.

Still think they are fair?

Don’t rely on Social Security Doctors if you are not seeing your own doctors

We just talked about how despite your own doctor’s assessments of disability, you were denied because some Social Security doctor, who only saw you once, says you are not disabled.

Can you imagine what would happen if you were not seeing any doctors or the wrong doctors?

You are right if you said “a guaranteed denial”.

If you have been keeping up with my blog you know I talk about medical treatment and medical records like a “broken record”.

If you want to learn more about improving your medical records take a look at my posts about the importance of medical records. Also, check my post about fixing your medical records to win your claim.

The point of all this is that you want your own doctors and you want to go to the right doctors.

There are many reasons Social Security relies on these doctors to deny your case

1. They give the appearance of a “credible” source to Social Security because it is someone they trust.
2. They are “certified” to be the “eyes” that will tell Social Security if you are disabled or not. Understand that your “case worker” is not a doctor so they rely on these doctors to tell them about your disability.
3. They are trained by Social Security to follow a protocol so that the examination is “standardized” in every case.

While that would be understandable to filter out “fakers”, the end result is that good people like you keep getting denied due to “poor level” examinations.

There are many reasons why the Social Security doctors examination is flawed

1. Like I said above, they are only seeing you only once. Can you imagine what happens in “invisible illness” cases with a doctor seeing you only once? Your own doctor took many months to figure out what you had. Do you think these doctors will be able to tell in one visit if you are disabled?

2. It is not uncommon for Social Security to give these doctors just a few pages of your “extensive” medical file. Then, Social Security asks them if you are disabled based on that. And you have no control on what they give to the doctor.

What if they give only records from your sinus infection and not your heart attack?

3. It is not uncommon for Social Security to send you to a physical doctor when you have a mental impairment. Of course, the doctor will say you are not physically disabled!

4. Also not uncommon for Social Security to send you to a psychologist when you allege a physical impairment. Once again, of course, you are not disabled based on that.

I can’t tell you how many times I had to bring that to the attention of the judge.

“My client is physically disabled due to a spine or rheumatoid arthritis and the only doctor seeing him was a psychologist?”

Not cool! (Yes, it’s a legal term!)

The Examination is Mandatory

You can’t skip these exams. They are mandatory. But there are many things you can do to prepare yourself, not only for the exam but also for a potential denial after these exams.

1. You can take a copy of your medical records to the exam. It doesn’t mean they will be looked at. But put the doctor in the position to say “I don’t want to see them”. Or he can say “I already have your records”. Make a mental note of those statements. You can use that refusal against their report.
2. Take a note of everything that happens during the exam while it’s still fresh in your mind. Write down how long you spent there, what the doctor did or didn’t do. Note how you were treated by the doctor including statements that were favorable to you.
3. Save these notes for your attorney. There are many things an attorney can do with those statements.
4. If you are representing yourself, bring those notes to tell the judge how you were treated. Or better yet, write down an affidavit and submit it with your records describing the flaws in the exam.

Most flawed exams tend to be the physical exams. The most common flaws are: the exam was too quick. Or the doctor barely did anything. Or the doctor only asked you to grab his finger and walk down the hall.

So, What Happens During These Consultative Exams Anyway?

Physical Exams:

1. These exams tend to be very quick. You may spend more time waiting for the doctor than being with the doctor.
2. It is not uncommon for the doctor to ask you to do only 3 things. You walk down the hall on your toes, squat once and grip his finger once.
3. Watch out for doctors “accidentally” dropping your ID. They are trying to see how quickly you bend to pick it up. A better idea is to ask them if they could please pick it up for you.
4. Watch what you do in the parking lot. They may be observing you before you even enter their office. This method has helped filter out many “fakers” who were moving a “little too well” in the parking lot. When they were in front of the doctor they were almost dying. Be careful!
5. If the doctor asks how you are doing, don’t fall into that trap. Most people will politely say “I’m doing well”. But you are NOT doing well, are you? Then, say it: “I’m not doing well, Doctor”. That goes for men who usually try to be “tough guys”. There is no shame in admitting you are not well. Plus if you say you are doing well, that will not help your case.
6. Watch how you squat or sit on the examining table. Always look for a place to hold on to if you need help getting up after squatting or kneeling.
7. If something hurts when the doctor touches you, tell him.
8. Never refuse to do something unless it’s dangerous. Always advise the doctor that you can try and do try. But watch your limits.

Mental Exams:

1. These exams tend to take a little longer than physical exams.
2. They tend to be more thorough than physical exams.
3. If you also suffer from a physical impairment let them know. And if you need to switch positions on a chair or stand up, let them know you are uncomfortable. They tend to write that down (Psst! it’s a good thing!).
4. The doctor will ask about your upbringing, traumas, education.
5. Also, a mini-mental test to see if you have any cognitive impairments.
6. Other appropriate mental testing to assess if you have Depression, Anxiety or any other mental diagnoses.
7. They rarely write that you are disabled from your conditions (unless they are super visible like the person is out of reality).

To Recap:

1. The Social Security Doctor is NOT your friend. Even if he says you are disabled.
2. Watch out for traps like the doctor “accidentally” dropping your ID or asking how you are doing.
3. Write everything that happened during the exam while it’s fresh in your mind.
4. Give those notes to your attorney or prepare an affidavit if you are representing yourself.

I hope this post clarifies a few things about these consultative exams.

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Books By Realtactics4DisabilityClaims

Learn the ins and outs of filing your Social Security Disability Claim with Real Tactics For Filing Your Disability Claim. This book was written by Yours Truly and it was created for those claimants who wish to learn more about the process in language they can understand.

You will also learn how to read your medical records so you can see if they are supporting your claim, and learn how to organize your file so you never lose track of your treatment. Finally, I offer an exclusive Facebook group just for the book where you can ask questions about the concepts you learned in the book.

My book is available on Amazon Kindle and paperback. Simply click on the image below and grab your copy today!

 

 

 

Courses by Realtactics4disabilityclaims

 

It is finally here!!!

 

⇒ The Ultimate Adult Function Report Tutorial

After months and months of careful preparation, I have created The Ultimate Adult Function Report Tutorial that will teach you step-by-step how to complete one of the trickiest forms Social Security requires you to complete.

You will learn why this form is so tricky and how to phrase your answers in a way that will make it very clear to Social Security how difficult things are for you.

This is the same method I use with my own clients to help them complete the form properly. The wrong answers CAN and WILL be used against you if Social Security wants to deny your claim.

Take a quick “free sneak peek” before you purchase the course and learn why it is so important to complete this form the correct way!

Simply click on the image below to sign up for the course. It is priced very reasonably so you can learn to complete this form without breaking the bank!

 

You just learned some tips and tricks on how to deal with the consultative examiner. You also learned never to rely on their medical assessment because they are not your doctors. But do you know how to read your own medical records to see if they are actually supporting your disability?

Learn how to read and how to improve your medical records like a pro with my new course “Medical Records Reading 101 for Disability Claimants”. Stop wasting time “hoping for the best” with your current records. The course also includes a Checklist and Worksheet so you can keep track of your treatment to make sure you don’t have any “gaps” that could jeopardize your claim. Take a quick “free sneak peek” before you purchase the course and learn the ins and outs of improving your medical records with actionable instructions from Yours Truly (Yes, Me!).

 

If you were denied disability and you are looking to appeal with “better” evidence, I created a course about using a Residual Functional Capacity Report to add to your medical records. This is a form you can take to your doctor to complete in support of your claim. The course includes forms for physical or mental impairments and instructions on how to ask your doctor to complete them. You can take a “free sneak peek” to see if this course is for you. Click on the image below and you will be directed to the course page:

Also from Realtactics4disabilityclaims

If you are looking to file for disability and don’t know where to start, I created a course called the “5 Day File your Disability Claim”Guide where I teach you every step you should take to file your claim.

Simply click on the image below and it will take you directly to the course page. Take a “free sneak peek” of the first lesson to see if this course is for you.

You know the blog, now you can take one step further and learn the process of preparing and filing your claim.

 

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Until next time,