Tips for obtaining Social Security disability benefits

Here are some suggestions that should help New Jersey Social Security disability applicants to improve their chances of obtaining benefits:

1. Likelihood of success. If your (a) physical or mental disability is severe, (b) condition limits your activities of daily living, (c) medical impairment will last or has lasted longer than 12 months, and (d) doctor agrees with this assessment, you should apply for Social Security disability.

2. Irrelevant evaluation factors. The Social Security Administration has a strict definition of disability that ignores many real-life aspects of the job market. Difficulty finding a job, thinking that no one will hire you with your condition, believing you could not pass a job-required physical, or even knowing that the pay you would receive for the work you can do is too little to live on … all of these important real-world considerations do not matter to the Social Security Administration when evaluating your claim for benefits.

Proof from doctors

3. Medical evidence. As is the case with most legal claims, what counts in disability evaluations is what you can prove. If no medical records exist to support your claim of disability, you are unlikely to be successful. The Social Security Administration figures that if your medical condition is severe enough to keep you from working, then it should justify doctor visits, tests, diagnosis, and treatment.

4. Failure to follow treatment. The Social Security Administration expects you to try to get better. That means doing what your doctor prescribes. If you do not believe that your doctor’s recommended treatment will help, then be sure your doctor documents the treatment’s odds of success or failure.

5. Keep good records. Conversely, if you do follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment, document your efforts. Without records, you are unlikely to remember the date of every doctor visit, lab test, medicine taken, and therapy received. Obtain the business cards of every doctor you see and file them. Save your pill bottles. Keep notes of your pain and other medical events. See Keep a symptom diary to help prove your New Jersey Social Security disability claim.

Evidence from you

6. Symptoms vs. diagnosis. The Social Security Administration does not expect you to be an expert on medical conditions. Even if you are, the Social Security Administration would rather learn about your impairment from your doctor and your medical records. What Social Security wants to receive from you are details about your symptoms. For example, how severe is your pain? Is it constant or intermittent? What aggravates your pain? What reduces it? Do you suffer from shortness of breath or fatigue? No one knows your symptoms better than you. Do your best to explain them in detail without exaggerating or minimizing. Do not omit or gloss over any lesser conditions just because you have one severe condition and several minor ones.

7. Physical restrictions. What can’t you do? Sit for lengthy periods? Stand and walk? Lift and carry? Bend, twist, kneel, and stoop? Manipulate objects with your hands? Social Security disability is a functional program. The Social Security Administration will focus on your limitations rather than your diagnosis.

8. Effect of symptoms and restrictions. How does your medical condition affect your daily activities? Tell the Social Security Administration about the impact on your personal care (hygiene, dressing, bathing), errands and housework (driving, shopping, cleaning), and social functioning (hobbies, sports, interaction with friends and family).

Final point

9. Consistency, accuracy, and honesty. Contradictions, errors, memory lapses, and discrepancies all work to erode your credibility, and nothing will sink your claim faster than questions about your truthfulness.

Assistance with your claim

We are available to assist you if you are not already represented by a New Jersey Social Security disability attorney. To obtain our evaluation of your case, briefly describe your claim using the form to the right. Or contact us at:

Zager Fuchs, PC
New Jersey Social Security disability attorneys

E-mail
Phone: 732-747-3700
Fax: 732-747-2533

P.O. Box 489
268 Broad Street
Red Bank, New Jersey 07701