Some people with disabilities refuse surgery because of medical costs while others refuse surgery out of fear. Others might refuse surgery because they have reached a point where they feel like nothing will make a difference. Certain surgeries might come with greater risks than benefits, leaving people undecided. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not always see it this way. Consider reaching out to a Philadelphia disability lawyer if your disability claim was denied.

Your Disability Claim When You Refuse Surgery

Whether you are refusing surgery for logical or personal reasons, the SSA may not take it this way. From the SSA point of view, someone who refuses surgery is someone who is not taking every step to improve their disability. In other words, the person’s disability could potentially improve with the right treatment.

This is called failure to follow prescribed treatment. The consequences of not following disability treatment could mean losing disability benefits or having your disability claim denied. For some people, this can cause major financial problems.

However, your disability benefits may have a chance depending on your specific circumstances. The SSA can only remove or deny your disability benefits if certain conditions are met. All of these conditions must be met first:

• You would be eligible for benefits based on your application
• Medical evidence and records show you could receive treatment
• Evidence shows you refused treatment or did not do what treatment required

By treatment, the SSA means things like surgeries, medications, counseling, using an assistive device like a prosthetic, or medical equipment. To prove this, the SSA will need evidence from your medical records. There are certain things that may not count as refusing treatment. Try contacting a Philadelphia disability lawyer to learn more.

What Else Can Hurt My Disability Claim?

Denying surgery or other treatments is not the only way you could lose disability benefits. Other causes of denied disability claims include:

• Not cooperating with your doctor or treatment in general
• Lack of medical evidence for your disability
• Multiple denied disability claims in your past

Failing to cooperate sounds similar to failure to follow treatment but is slightly different. You can still decide to agree to and try to follow a treatment and not cooperate. Not following through on treatment instructions or quitting treatment halfway are some examples. A lack of cooperation with the SSA also counts. This would be something like not sending in requested documents.

The lack of medical evidence for a disability is the most common reason disability claims are denied. Without sufficient evidence, the SSA will not consider the rest of your application. Talk with your doctor about what other evidence you can submit.

Disability Attorney in Philadelphia

It may not be completely over if your disability claim was denied because you missed surgery or any other treatment. Feel free to ask a Philadelphia denied benefits appeal lawyer for help if your claim was rejected. All you have to do is call Edelstein Martin & Nelson today at (800) – 300 – 0909 for a consultation. Our team of Philadelphia disability attorneys can help you file an appeal to increase your chances of receiving disability benefits.