Supplemental Security Income

Ideas for Back Conditions and Social Security Disability

Dirk May Help, Medical, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income

Social Security Disability cases are difficult to win these days.

Therefore, you must make sure you do everything you can to explain your situation and how it affects your daily activities.

With back injuries and conditions Social Security often thinks you are limited, but that you can still work a sit down job.

The problem with most back injuries is that the pain is ongoing and interferes with concentration and focus, and the medications often cause sleepiness and low energy.

Here are some ideas to help with your case:

Every time you go to the doctor explain your pain level and the problems you have. Make sure that you are honest with the doctor. Do not pretend that you are fine, and explain the level your pain is most of the time. Remember Social Security will read these medical records and use them to decide whether you are disabled.

Tell the doctor what problems your pain causes. For instance, I have to spend most of the day laying down because of my pain. My pain is so bad that I cannot focus on anything else for several hours until it gets under control.

Tell your doctors if you have any side effects with your medications. Such as, it makes me very sleepy and I have to take a nap every afternoon.

If you need a cane get a prescription from your doctor.

Keep track of what you do every day and the problems you have.

Make sure that you have a family member or friend write a letter for you that explains your problems and how you are limited at home.

Questions about how disability works? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

If you’re terminally ill, you still must wait for Social Security benefits | cleveland.com

Dirk May In the news, Law, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income

Sens. Sherrod Brown and John Barrasso want terminally ill patients to get benefits while they can.

Source: If you’re terminally ill, you still must wait for Social Security benefits | cleveland.com

Click above to read.

It is true that you must wait 5 months to get paid disability benefits. You must also wait many months for Social Security to determine whether or not you are disabled.

Complaining and Social Security Disability

Dirk May Help, Law, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income

Sometimes it is important to be a complainer.

In Social Security Disability it is very important to complain to your doctor.

If you do not tell your doctor about your problems, limitations and side effects of medications then you will most likely lose your disability case.

Complaining means explaining how often you have pain, how it restricts you and how severe it is.

For instance, I have low back pain that starts out moderately and reaches severe pain by noon. This happens every day. I have to lay down for 3 to 4 hours of the day. My medications make me very sleepy and I fall asleep most afternoons for two hours.

Do not go to the doctor and tell her that you are fine if your are in pain.

Do not tell the doctor that your medications are helping you if this is not true.

Do not fail to tell the doctor that you have side effects from your medications if this is true.

In other words, if your medical records do reflect your ongoing pain and limitations then you will lose your case.

Do not be the person who says I should have won my case but I forgot to tell my doctor everything.

Questions about how to win your case? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

Reality Check: Social Security Disability Holdup – WLOS – ABC

Dirk May In the news, Law, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income

Samuel Gardner, 19, suffers from cerebral palsy.

Source: Reality Check: Social Security Disability Holdup – WLOS – ABC

The terrible truth is that it takes several years to get your Social Security Disability hearing. People are lose their homes and die while they wait. It is a bad way to run a program yet it is the only thing we have going.

Talking With Your Doctor and Social Security Disability

Dirk May Help, Medical, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, Your questions

What does a talk with your doctor regarding your Social Security Disability look like?

What follows is a fictional account of a meeting with a person who has filed for disability and their doctor.

This represents a one time visit but should be carried out at each doctor appointment with each specialist or medical provider that you treat with.

Doctor: How are you doing today, Ann?

Ann: Not so good doctor.

Doctor: What seems to be the problem?

Ann: My arthritis has really been flaring up. It kicks in as soon as I start using my hands for holding things or moving my fingers. At night it
wakes me from my sleep.

Doctor: Have you been taking your medicine as prescribed?

Ann: Yes, I follow what it says on the bottle and do what the pharmacist says.

Doctor: Do you want to try a different dosage or more therapy?

Ann: Sure, I am willing to try anything to get the pain under control. Do you think it will get worse?

Doctor: It will usually progress over time, however we hope we can slow the arthritis down.

Ann: Is it possible to get another xray of my hands to see how they look now?

Doctor: I can order the xray. The last one was 2 years ago.

Ann: Thank you very much, doctor.

The doctor will record in her medical records the reason you come in, your problems, symptoms and the treatment plan. It is important that the doctor understand that you are having problems and it limits your daily activities. Objective findings such as Xrays, MRIs and other tests support problems such as pain.

Questions about your disability claim? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.