WHY YOUR DOCTOR WON'T SUPPORT YOUR DISABILITY CLAIM

One of your most powerful allies in the fight for Social Security disability benefits can be your doctor.

But all too often, doctors won't "get involved" in helping you get benefits.

What you really need from your doctor is a Residual Functional Capacity statement.  This statement does not draw any conclusion about whether you are disabled or whether or not you can work.  Rather, it places limits on your ability to perform certain specific activities:  sitting, standing, walking, bending, lifting...,etc.

There could be any number of reasons why your doctor refuses to help you with paperwork that might help you get a fair evaluation
by the Social Security Administration (SSA).  


1.  Your doctor doesn't want to invest the time.  Time is really what the doctor sells.  He or she needs to be an efficiency expert in order to be profitable.  The doctor knows how many patients he needs to see each day.  He also knows how much time should be allocated to each patient.  It takes some time, obviously to complete a disability form.  Some doctors won't invest the time.

2.  There is nothing in it for the doctor.  If the doctor doesn't charge the patient for completing a form, there is nothing in it for the medical practice.

3.  Your doctor may fear Social Security, or "the government."  A doctor may feel that she could be called to testify at your hearing, which would waste most of her day and cost thousands of lost dollars.  This is an unfounded fear, for doctors are never called to testify, but many of them don't know this.

4.  Your doctor may not believe that you are disabled and doesn't want to say so.  It's easier to just refuse to complete the form.

5.  Perhaps your doctor never knew about your request to complete the form.  Busy doctors surround themselves with employees who guard the doctor's time and how much access patients have to the doctor.  You may have been intercepted by a receptionist, nurse or office manager who sees her job as protecting the doctor from people who want to "waste his time."  Have you tried talking to your doctor during a scheduled appointment, or handing the form directly to your doctor?  

Thankfully, there are a good many compassionate doctors who will invest a little time to give their patient an honest, fair and useful assessment of their abilities.