Social
Security Disability Consultative Examinations
At some point during the
application process for Social Security Disability or SSI,
you may be sent by Social Security to an examination by a
physician. If your case also involves mental health
issues such as anxiety or depression, you may be sent to
an examination by a psychiatrist or a psychologist.
These examinations are called consultative examinations.
The physician or psychologist
will write a report that will become part of your
application process. Social Security will use this
report along with the reports from your treating
physicians in deciding your case. The more favorable
the report is from the consultative examiner, the better
your chances of winning your Social Security Disability or
SSI case.
The following are some do’s
and don’ts for you to follow to help your consultative
examination go as favorably as possible.
Do's
for Your Social Security Disability Consultative
Examination
Do
try to make sure that Social Security has
received all of your medical records before
the consultative examination. You can
bring records with you to the examination.
Do
bring your prescription medication to the
examination. The doctor will want to
know what medication you are taking. The
doctor may check the date of your prescription
and count the pills in the bottle to see if
you are taking the medication according to
your doctor's instructions.
Do
tell the doctor about all of the medical
problems that you have.
Do
bring someone with you to translate if you
have trouble with the English language, .
If
you regularly use a cane, a wrist splint or
some other medical device, do bring it with
you to the examination.
If
the doctor performs any tests to see if
certain movements or positions cause you pain,
be accurate with your responses. The
doctor may perform some "tests" that
are just designed to see if you are
exaggerating.
Do
dress and groom yourself the way you normally
dress and groom yourself each day.
Dont's
for Your Social Security Disability Consultative
Examination
Do
not say you have pain "all over" or
"everywhere.". This type of
answer
may make it difficult for the
doctor to pinpoint what is wrong with you;
may make the doctor think you are
exaggerating;
may make the doctor think that
none of your answers can be trusted.
Do
not try to make it seem that you are
physically more limited than you really are.
The doctor will be observing your
movements even when you do not think you
are being examined. The doctor or
his or her staff may check to see how you
move about in the waiting room or even on
or your way into and out of the building.
The doctor will observe how
easily you get on and off the examining
room table.
The doctor may tell you
that he is checking one part of your body
when he is really checking another
part. You do not have to be a
complete invalid to qualify for Social
Security Disability or SSI.
Exaggerating your condition or pain may
result in your case being denied for being
untrustworthy when your true limitations
would have been sufficient for your to win
your case.
The doctor has specialized
medical and forensic knowledge. He
or she has examined hundreds or thousands
of persons. You cannot fool the
doctor. You will only hurt your case
by trying to do so.
Do
not try to answer incorrectly if you are given
a memory or intelligence test by a
psychiatrist or psychologist. Try to do
your best. As part of the exam, you may
be given a very simple memory test that
requires you to remember the letters A,B,C,
the numbers 1,2,3 and a circle, square and
triangle. A poor score on this type of
test will make it seem that you are
exaggerating your mental condition.
Do
not try to minimize problems that you may have
had with alcohol or drug abuse. The
doctor very well may have seen past medical
reports that discuss your substance abuse
problems. Denying these types of
problems will make it seem that you are being
untruthful. A history of alcohol or drug
abuse does not disqualify you for Social
Security Disability or SSI.
Do
not bring a cane to the examination if you do
not need the cane to get around. The way
you hold and use the cane may show the doctor
that you really do not need the cane and he or
she may then think that you are trying to make
your condition look worse than it really is.
When You Need a Social
Security Disability Lawyer,
Rely on Us for Skill,
Determination and Experience.
