Applying for disability benefits is a tedious process for several reasons. You need to present evidence for your current disability, how this disability affects you now, and how this disability will affect your job performance in the future. While having a doctor diagnose you with a disability is often not enough to earn you disability benefits, keeping appointments with your doctor that are related to your disability can be key for keeping your disability benefits. If you have questions about this, be sure to talk to an experienced Pennsylvania individual disability insurance lawyer. 

Should I See My Doctor

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has certain standards for who and what qualifies for disability benefits. Even after you are approved and have been receiving disability benefits for months, you could still lose those benefits if you fail to cooperate with your doctor or treatments for your condition. The SSA will interpret noncooperation or missing doctor’s appointments as a sign that your disability is not that severe.

During the application process for disability benefits, the SSA may require you to participate in a medical examination managed by the SSA. The SSA will schedule this medical examination for you with a doctor of their choice. You may be asked to take a test on your condition. The doctor will perform an examination to determine whether parts of your disability claim are true or false. 

This is done to screen out people who exaggerate their disability for monetary gains, but this is also done to gather a complete picture of your disability according to SSA standards. After the examination, the doctor will write up a report based on what was found during the exam and will send this to your state agency. 

Can I Skip the Medical Evaluation?

Not attending an SSA medical examination or failing to cooperate during the exam may result in a denial of disability benefits. When the SSA requests a medical examination, many people interpret this with fear or worry. However, a medical examination is often a sign that the SSA views your disability claim as valid and they are ready to move to the next step of verifying your claim. 

If you have already avoided an SSA medical examination, do not panic. You can still have the adjudicator reschedule the examination for another day. When scheduling conflicts prevent you from attending an SSA examination, be sure to let the SSA know as soon as you can. This shows willing cooperation on your part. 

Disability Lawyer in Pennsylvania 

Navigating through the complex process of applying for disability insurance can often feel confusing. Making decisions about whether you should do this or that can be difficult to determine without adequate information. Consider hiring a Pennsylvania delayed insurance benefits lawyer for guidance during the application process or if your disability claim has been delayed. Call Edelstein & Nelson at 1-800-300-0909 today for a consultation. Our team of lawyers will work with you to figure out what you need to submit to the SSA to increase your chances of receiving benefits.